Internship at MIT linQ – Catalyst

Posted: 08/01/2026

About the Company/Organization:

MIT linQ – Catalyst
Type: Other
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https://catalyst.mit.edu/

Catalyst is built on a principled methodology for needs identification and opportunity development, and an organizational model that fosters a vibrant multi-stakeholder community. The Catalyst mission is to increase the potential impact of biomedical research and improve the likelihood that newly developed solutions will address unmet health care needs.

MIT linQ developed the Catalyst methodology to challenge the generally accepted research paradigm in academia by shifting the focus to a clinical needs-driven approach, rather than pushing an existing line of work driven by a need to secure funds, to publish or other objectives different than creating valuable products. The Catalyst model also departs from the classic approach by bringing together multiple disciplines and professions at the outset, so that the work isn’t constrained by the expertise and work of a single lab or institution.

Internship Project/Opportunity

Location: Boston, MA and virtual
Anticipated internship dates: January–early July 2027
Target intern experience level: Graduate Students, Postdocs
https://catalyst.mit.edu/apply/

Begin your journey with a focused engagement of 10–15 hours per week from January through mid-July. During this phase, teams meet weekly online and participate in periodic multi-day, in-person “intensifications” that accelerate collaboration and progress.

Catalyst is a program located in the United States. We anticipate that Fellows will be physically present in the US from January to July 2027. Note that we do not provide sponsorship for visas.

January–early July 2027:

  • January 4, 2027: First meeting
  • Availability to meet during program schedule
    • Weekly sessions: Wednesdays 10:00am – 1:00pm ET
    • Weekly discussion groups: Mondays 10:00am – 11:00am ET
    • Three 3-day working sessions in person at MIT: January 19–21, March 9–11, and May 4–6.
  • June 30, 2027: Final session
  • Compatibility with current job, training, or activity
  • As appropriate, approval of your supervisor
  • See FAQs for more details: https://catalyst.mit.edu/faqs/

Beyond July

This is more than a short-term experience. Pending project proposal approval in July 2027, teams may continue into a multi-year, Fellow-led research phase—an exciting opportunity to advance innovation from concept to impact alongside committed peers and expert mentors.

Practically speaking, the time required will continue to be at least 10-15 hours per week, but many Fellows have found ways to devote more time than that to accelerate their progress. Again, no a priori commitment is expected, but if you are certain that it would be impossible to go beyond the initial six month period, consider holding off your application until there is some possibility of continuing. Feel free to reach out to us to discuss your situation (catalyst-program@mit.edu).

Cost

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and partners, this program does not require individuals to pay tuition.

Applications due August 10
The Catalyst application is a multi-stage process designed to help prospective participants get to know the program, and vice versa:

  • Complete your Expression of Interest (EOI): This collects basic contact and biographical information about you, and gives you a chance to ask questions to help you decide if you want to proceed to full application
  • Full application: Anytime after submitting your EOI you can complete your application. All applications completed by August 10 are prioritized.
  • Interview: Selected applicants will be invited to a full day of virtual activities and interviews is planned for Monday, September 21, 10am – 5pm ET. Please reserve the time/date to attend.

Start with your Expression of Interest: https://catalyst.mit.edu/eoi/

Contact: Email