Instructor / Postdoc / Graduate student / Intern Openings

Instructor in Applied Mathematics

Every year, the Mathematics Department at MIT invites applications for teaching positions at the non-tenure-track instructor level. These positions are for 2 or 3 years. The salary is competitive. Instructors are qualified to apply for grants to seek additional summer funding. Candidates should apply to the regular instructor position via mathjobs. Additionally, candidates who have an interest in computational mathematics and wish to be considered in the Imaging and Computing group should contact Laurent Demanet via email. The message should contain "Instructor position" in the subject and should indicate any overlap of research interests with those of the group. The deadline is that indicated on mathjobs (around December).

Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Mathematics

Openings are announced on twitter @laurentdemanet. Current opportunities (December 2022): two postdoctoral associate positions broadly in applied and computational mathematics, with focus on (1) UQ and deep transfer learning, and (2) the inverse problem of estimating properties of porous rocks behind a steel casing. Review of applications is beginning on January 1, 2023. Remember to have your recommendation letters sent.

The Imaging and Computing group in the Department of Mathematics at MIT invites applications for postdoctoral positions in computational mathematics. The group's research directions include: computational wave propagation, optimization, inverse problems, applied harmonic analysis, sparse and low-rank recovery, fast algorithms, uncertainty quantification, seismic imaging. The balance of work between theoretical and computational will depend on the candidate's affinities. The position may be offered for 1, 2, or 3 years. The salary is competitive. There is some amount of flexibility in the start date.

The application file should contain a CV, a list of publications, and a research statement. The research statement should, in no more than a few pages, summarize the candidate's past research accomplishments and vision for possible future research. The letters should be sent directly by the referees and should not be seen by the candidate. Follow either of the following two options to apply for the position:

1. apply via mathjobs.org for MIT's instructor position, and send an email to Prof. Laurent Demanet to express your interest in the postdoctoral position;
2. or alternatively, the application package should be emailed to Prof. Laurent Demanet. The candidate's message should contain "Postdoc position" in the subject. In addition, the candidate is responsible for at least three recommendation letters to be sent to the same email address. The letters should be sent directly by the referees and should not be seen by the candidate.

Applications will be considered immediately after the deadline until the position(s) is (are) filled. For positions aligned with the regular calendar cycle, the dealine is January 1st, with decisions made from January to April.

Some FAQ:

• I usually just list references in my CV, and I don't ask them to email the letters. Is that a problem? Yes, your referees will not be contacted. Your file will only be complete once we have received 3 (or more) recommendation letters. If you want to minimize the burden on your referees, rest assured that it's very standard to ask a secretary to dispatch the letters for you.
• I am a geophysicist -- is this the correct posting to apply to? Yes.
• Am I qualified to apply? Is your research area sufficiently close to what I've done so far? Will you consider me even though [insert special circumstance here]? If there were more than 24 hours in a day we would be glad to reply to these perfectly valid inquiries.

Graduate Students

Students interested in joining the Imaging and Computing group for a Ph.D. thesis must formally apply to a graduate program. In addition, it helps if you signal your interest to Prof. Demanet in November of the year preceding the start date. The standard procedure is to apply via the Mathematics Department at MIT, in the applied math section. An overview of the application procedure is here. Express your interest in the group's research in your statement (and/or that of any faculty member who could become your advisor.) The deadline is December 15 of the year preceding that of the start date.

Even though we prefer applications in math, there are at least two other ways to join the group as a graduate student: (it's OK to apply to different departments in any given year.)

• Candidates with a geophysics background should consider applying via the EAPS department and mention their interest in the group. Graduate students in this program are considered Earth sciences students.
• Candidates with a computational/engineering background should consider applying via the CSE Ph.D. program and mention their interest in the group. The CSE program now has a Mathematics track and a stand-alone CSE track.

Summer Interns

Every year, the Department of Mathematics at MIT has an opening for one or more 12-week research internships during the summer. The successful applicant is expected to work on a project funded either by the NSF, or the DoD, or industry; on computational wave propagation, inverse problems, optimization, seismic imaging, radar imaging, or theoretical signal processing.

This position is intended for people who are near completion of their bachelor's degree, at the master's level, or at the very early Ph.D. level.

The application deadline is January 1.

Preference will be given to a student in mathematics or computational mathematics, with a strong academic record. Familiarity with partial differential equations, numerical analysis, and experience with Matlab, Python, Julia, C, C++, or Fortran are preferred. Experience with parallel programming is a plus.

A stipend will be provided to cover travel and local expenses. The internship can take place during the summer, but there is some flexibility in the dates.

Interested applicants should send cover letter, CV, transcripts (past grade sheets) by email to Prof. Demanet. Additionally, each applicant should have at least one letter of recommendation sent (by the letter writer or by a secretary) to the same contact email. The letter should not be seen by the applicant.

The documents should be in English. The cover letter should detail the candidate's academic interests, dates he/she would be available, and possible career plans. MIT is an equal-opportunity employer; women, minorities, and nonresident aliens are all encouraged to apply.

Important remarks about eligibility. The internship is open to everyone, including international students. Earth scientists with affinities for mathematics or programming are strongly encouraged to apply. The internship is normally not suited for students in business administration. Ph.D. students who already have an advisor are usually not considered for this position. The students who already have an advisor should only apply in case (i) the internship makes sense as part of completing their Ph.D. thesis, and (ii) the advisor strongly encourages them to do so. When possible, a summer research assistantship position at the home institution is often the best academic option for Ph.D. students near graduation.

We do not respond to email inquiries on whether you are eligible or qualified for the internship. To be considered for the internship, you have to ask a professor to write a letter of recommendation on your behalf. Do not send an email indicating your interest in the internship unless you also take steps to have a letter of recommendation sent.

UROP Interns

MIT undegraduate students who wish to be considered for a UROP project in the Imaging and Computing group should contact Prof. Demanet. For the spring and fall semesters, applications are due before the first Friday of the first week of classes. Summer UROPs are also possible. An (old!) writeup of possible projects is here, but you would more likely be working with a graduate student or postdoc on a topic of immediate relevance to their research.