Campus Services, Resources and Tips

Community Programs 

MIT has numerous resources for MIT community members, including spouses, partners, and families:

  • The MIT Work-Life Centerlocated in NE49-5000, provides support and information for members of the MIT community and their families in areas that include life quality, work-life balance issues, parenting, school, and child-care. All postdocs have access to the Center’s one-on-one consultations and a wide range of resources and support systems programs that address specific life issues and events. See this Postdoc Benefits and Services Resources flyer from the Work-Life Center
  • MIT MyLife Services: MyLife Services is a free, confidential MIT benefit that can make life a little easier for you (and any family members). One call puts you in touch with a network of experts who can provide counseling, work-life consultations, and referrals. All MIT postdocs have access. For more information visit the MyLife Service website or call 844-405-5433.
  • Childcare Information, Back up Child and Adult Care Program, and MIT Childcare Scholarship Programs at the MIT Work-Life Center.
  • MIT Spouses & Partners Connect: This is a dedicated network for the significant others of MIT students, postdocs, staff and faculty who have relocated to the Boston area. Regularly scheduled groups and activities help individuals to meet people, share experiences, discover work and career opportunities, improve English, and get information about living and parenting in Boston. Resources include The Newcomer’s Guide
  • The Language Conversation Exchange is open to the entire MIT community and is a way to meet someone new from a different part of campus, speak a language you're learning or wish to improve (including English) with a native speaker, and share your culture and interests while learning about someone else's.
  • Mind+Hand+Heart: The MindHandHeart Initiative is tapping into MIT’s passionate community spirit and innovative problem-solving skills to enhance mental health and well-being at MIT. Students, faculty, staff, and mental health and wellness experts are working together to launch new efforts and coordinate existing support services.
  • Community Wellness at MIT provides classes, programs, and resources related to health, well-being, and family life.

Campus Services

  • Card Services: (located in E17-106) issues MIT ID cards and photographs for passports.
  • The MIT libraries have access to extensive collections plus services for writers and researchers. The Exhibits and Galleries include historical documents, photographs, rare books, maps, artwork and artifacts from Libraries’ Distinctive Collections, as well as artwork from the community.

Computer-related Assistance

Disability and Accessibility Resources

Intercultural Clubs and Activities

  • Employee Resource Groups are open to all postdocs. They are employee-led groups formed around common interests, issues, and/or a common bond or background. MIT’s current ERGs are: African, Black, American, Caribbean @MIT; Asian Pacific American ERG; Disabilities ERG: Latino ERG; Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender Queer(LBGTQ) ERG; Millennials ERG; and Women in IT ERG
  • MIT’s many intercultural clubs provide events and programming. While they are often student run, most welcome the affiliation and participation of postdocs. For two comprehensive lists, see Global MIT and the ASA Student Group List . For a partial list of international organizations and clubs in the Boston area, see the ISchO International Organizations list.
  • The International Scholars Office (located in E18-209) assists MIT faculty and staff in bringing international scholars to campus, advises on immigration and other matters, issues visa documents, and holds weekly orientation sessions. They also have links to cultural groups and resources.
  • LBGTQ+ Services (“An Intercultural Resource for Diverse Gender, Romantic, and Sexual Identities”) - Consult this website for resources, programs, and information. LBGTQ+ Services' support, programming, and educational endeavors aim to enhance the experiences of MIT's LBGTQ+ community. In addition, all postdoctoral scholars are welcome to this Employee Resource Group: Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender Queer(LBGTQ) ERG. Also, the postdoc specific qtPhDs @ MIT group runs regular events; contact qtphds-admin@mit.edu to join their mailing list. 
  • MITAC (MIT Activities Committee) plans special MIT events and offers discounted tickets for cultural, recreational, and sporting events, and for movies and museums.
  • MIT Chaplains representing many of the world's religions, are available for counseling, private talks, and program development. Also, many of the religious groups represented by the chaplains meet weekly and many student religious groups are active on campus.
  • Independent Activities Period (IAP) is a special four-week term at MIT throughout January. Activities include lecture series, forums, tours, “how to” sessions, and recitals. Non-credit activities are open to all members of the MIT community. Typically the schedule is posted in November.

Maker Spaces and Services

  • MIT Hobby Shop - Located in W31-031. Membership is open (for a fee) to the MIT community, including spouses. The Hobby Shop is a fully equipped wood and metal shop, teaching design and providing tools, training, and assistance. 
  • MIT MakerWorkshop is a student-run makerspace at MIT where a community of students, faculty, and staff work on any project from research-and-classes to hobbies-and-gifts. 
  • 3D Printing - Project Manus in collaboration with MIT Copytech runs a service where members of the MIT community can submit 3D print jobs online, then we 3D print them for you and let you know when you job is ready for pickup.

Training at MIT

  • See Information for New Postdocs and Career sections (Responsible Conduct of Research; Postdoctoral Mentoring and Advising Toolkit; and other)  
  • Computer-related Training with IS&T 
  • Training and Development at MIT: (All of the following sites require an MIT certificate.) Go to Atlas then choose Training from the left side menu. Click on MIT Learning Center to see MIT course listings. Choose Course Catalog to see listings of online courses from SkillSoft, Lynda.com and EdX.

Athletics/Exercise

MIT Health offers Exercise and Fitness programs, including Community Wellness classes in yoga, Pilates, and more. The MIT Recreation facilities include the Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center, the Wang Fitness Center and Alumni Pool, playing fields, and more. The membership fee for MIT Postdoctoral Associates and Postdoctoral Fellows is the MIT Faculty/Staff/Postdoc rate. Note: MIT Postdoctoral Fellows who have an "Affiliate" ID card require a certification letter with their MIT ID to qualify for that rate. This is not necessary for any postdoc with an “Employee” ID card. See prices and MIT Recreation Member Services for information about facilities, services, and enrollment.

The Postdoctoral Association has a Sports Committee and PDA Sport Facebook Group, and runs or advertises activities such as running, soccer, volleyball, and yoga.

Fitness Benefit

Depending on your health insurance plan, members of MIT Recreational Sports and certain other health clubs may be eligible for a $150 annual reimbursement. MIT-specific information is available through MIT Health, with additional guidance for MIT Recreational Sports members under Health Insurance Reimbursement information. Unfortunately, members of the MIT Student Insurance Plan (MIT SHIP) are not eligible.