New Faculty and Instructor Orientation

Welcome to the MIT Mathematics Department!

In fall of 2010, four new faculty members and eleven new instructors are joining the Department. This page is specific to the Mathematics Department and provides information that we think you will find helpful. Information about the Institute, benefits, and helpful websites will be provided separately.

Department Headquarters (HQ)

Located in 2-236 (Building 2, Room 236), Department Headquarters is the administrative center of the Department. HQ is the place to get help navigating MIT financial and administrative policies and procedures. Staff members in HQ can help with purchasing, supplies, facilities problems and office space.

Math Academic Services (MAS)

MAS is located in 2-108 and handles organizational matters for graduate and undergraduate classes. They can answer questions regarding MIT and departmental policies concerning education and students.

The Department is responsible for teaching a number of large service subjects. MAS provides support for these subjects by organizing the recitation assignments, collection and grading of homework, exam proctoring, recording homework and examination grades.

MAS also maintains online copies of syllabi, lecture notes, exams, and handouts from prior years and can tell you which faculty are in charge of teaching assignments for various subjects.

Department Website

Department website presents current information regarding the Department organization, committees, events, and other news.

Computer Assistance

The department has its own computer network and staff. We provide and support Linux desktop computers for all faculty and instructors. Other types of computers (laptops, Windows PCs, Macs) are tolerated on our wireless network but are not supported, though that we will help you connect to the network. See the department's website for additional information, including the location of our printers, color printers, scanners, ways to get help, etc.

Administrative Assistance

Every faculty member is assigned an assistant who can help with typing, photocopying, keeping track of editorial correspondence, making travel arrangements, arranging for visitors, among other things. Assignments are made by our HR Coordinator in 2-236.

Teaching

Faculty generally teach a mixture of undergraduate and graduate subjects, and occasional recitations. Instructors mostly teach recitations in their first year here, and a mix of recitations and undergraduate subjects thereafter. In teaching load calculations, a recitation counts as 1.5 hours, a regular subject as 3 hours, and leading a large lecture subject counts as 4.5 hours. Teaching assignments and other useful information is posted at the internal portion of this website. You may refer students to MAS for general help, undergraduate research opportunities, registering for the Putnam competition, etc.

Security

Items occasionally "disappear" from offices, especially laptops, wallets, bicycles, and other small items. Office doors should be locked when you leave (even for a minute) and valuables left overnight should be kept within a locked compartment like a desk drawer. A locked bicycle room is on the first floor, 2-154. See Tony in HQ for the door code or if you have any questions about security.

Social Events

The Department hosts afternoon tea and cookies for all Department members every weekday at 3:30 during the semester in 2-290.

Funding Opportunities

Faculty and instructors who wish to apply for federal or non-federal funding should review the funding opportunities page on the department website and then make an appointment to see the Financial Administrator. He or she can discuss funding options, help you create a budget, and assist you with moving the proposal through the MIT approval process. It is best to see them early in the process; preferably as soon as you consider applying. Completed proposals must be turned in for processing 2 weeks before the sponsor deadline

The Math Department allows Instructors to apply for federal grants as Principal Investigators. Postdoctoral Associates who wish to apply should be listed as Co-investigator or Key Personnel on an MIT faculty member's grant.

Funds for Traveling

The Department provides all new, unfunded instructors with $1000 in the first year for travel expenses. Instructors who apply for funding but who fail to get a grant will be given $1000 for travel expenses in the subsequent year. (federally funded travel must be on American carriers). New faculty should use their discretionary funds for travel. Students may be eligible for travel funds to attend conferences to deliver talks. Student travel policy can be found in the internal portion of the website.

Funds for Seminars

The Department provides selected seminars with an annual budget to subsidize speaker travel and after-talk dinners. Please confirm the budgetary guidelines with seminar organizers before inviting speakers to dinner.

Department Administration

• Headquarters (2-236): grants, financial matters, supplies, facilities problems, other administrative questions Sarah Smith Administrative Officer, Tony Pelletier, Susan Ferguson.
• Human Resources (2-236): visas, faculty, staff and visitor appointments, parking, administrative assistants HR Coordinator (Dan Delgado)
• Math Academic Services (2-108): math majors, graduate students, teaching, scheduling. Debbie Bower, Michele Gallarelli, Galina Lastovkina, Anna Ferrigno.
• Computer Support (2-235): hardware and software purchases, wireless access, websites.
  Ali Hussain, Lika Yurkovetsky, Techsquare Associates: Frank Tilley and Matt McKinnon. For support, email help@math.mit.edu .
• Administrative assistants: Shirley Entzminger (2-345), Avisha Lalla (2-263), Jan Wetzel (2-177).
• Assistant to the Department Head: Dennis Porche (2-265).
• Journals: Michael Collver (2-382).

Main Faculty Committees and Chairs

• Department Head, Michael Sipser
• Associate Head for Education, Haynes Miller
• Pure Math Committee, Tomasz Mrowka.
  Pure math recruitment and promotions.
• Applied Math Committee, Michel Goemans.
  Applied math recruitment and promotions.
• Education Committee, Haynes Miller.
  Policy and staffing for undergraduate subjects.
• Undergraduate Advisors, Steven Johnson, Julee Kim.
  Policy and oversight for undergraduate math majors.
• Graduate Committee, Bjorn Poonen, Peter Shor, Gigliola Staffilani.
  Graduate student issues and admissions.