When I first arrived in Cambridge and MIT, I loved how easy it was to make new friends and connections. Every day was an exciting adventure to discover all the fantastic opportunities on campus. I was thrilled to feel MIT people’s passion for research, engineering and taking actions. I found a dedicated community which is eager to do impactful projects and change the world positively. Moreover, the diversity of the people I met was blissful. I made friends with whom I play soccer and squash, go to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, birdwatch, enjoy a Boston afternoon walk, go on weekend trips, cook, read and many other activities!
I first lived in a graduate residence on campus. I loved my life there: very easy to meet new people, wonderful roommates, many events organized, including coffee hours, weekly brunches, night parties, Celtics or Red Sox trips, apple picking,… I then moved to Boston during the pandemic and enjoyed the experience as much, although differently. As a nature lover and bird watcher, I particularly appreciated the proximity to many parks and wild areas accessible by less than 20 minutes of bike. I find Boston one of my favorite cities in the US, if not the most. The incredible college student body around makes it even more exceptional; you feel the friendly and energetic spirit all around.
On top of this, being a student at the Operations Research Center is a fantastic chance. We are a warm family, helping each other and often collaborating actively and sharing our knowledge. I was initially admitted as a Master’s student and decided to pursue the Ph.D., a process that went smoothly. After seeing how much I enjoyed my life in Boston and my everyday activities, I was glad I could make this choice.
At the ORC, as an Informs Officer, I organized several social events for our department and we accommodated the pandemic situation with fun and welcoming virtual activities. To facilitate the integration of new students with the remote context, we also innovated a lot and made sure everyone had a chance to connect and build new friendships.
On the other hand, the research I lead explores extremely diverse topics covering many of my interests. I build my projects around all my passions, including, for example, Healthcare, Computer Vision, Wildlife Monitoring, Weather forecasting, and Robust and Interpretable Deep Learning.
I must emphasize, like others, the importance of choosing the right advisor for you. Fortunately, the Open House is a privileged moment to get to know the different Professors and ask for feedback from the current students. You can also reach out to us at any time; we are always happy to share our experience!
In conclusion, in Boston, MIT, and the ORC, you will find an amazing environment to make lifelong friends, build the career of your dreams, and make impactful research!
