With a Degree in Chemistry or Chemistry and Biology, students are prepared to pursue careers fields ranging from Chemical Engineering to Law.
Graduates of the Department of Chemistry have gone on to pursue careers in Chemistry, Biology, Law, Medicine, Business, Pharmaceutical Research, Biotech Research, Materials Science, Medical Research, Chemical Research, Science Journalism, Biological Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, and more.
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Current Job, Fellowship, and Academic Opportunities
Jobs
Sr. Academic Programs Assistant
Posted September 4, 2026
Click here to apply.
The Department of Chemistry seeks a Sr. Academic Programs Assistant to assist the Assistant Director of Academic Programs Administration in administration of undergraduate programs, coordinate events, provide essential office support, and work with the department’s faculty and teaching fellows/assistants and MIT administration on academic issues and concerns.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions*)
- Provide courteous, attentive customer service to faculty, students, staff, and visitors
- Maintain undergraduate student records and data and update faculty advisor files.
- Coordinate a variety of special events ranging from monthly student lunches to large-scale annual events, including undergraduate and graduate awards ceremonies.
- Coordinate special seminars and development events; serve as back-up for Sr. Assistant to the Department Head for additional Chemistry events management.
- Maintain financial records, including submitting reimbursements
- Coordinate the Visiting Student Appointment Process, including all associated paperwork and the visa process as necessary.
- Manage hourly student appointments, including hiring, payroll, and termination.
- Disseminate information related to students and faculty; assist in overseeing degree audits and with the departmental award processes and respond to inquiries.
- Act as liaison to Chemistry undergraduate clubs, including ClubChem, and assist with their participation in campus-wide and national events.
- Coordinate chemistry minor applications and completion documentation, transfer credit requests, collect and file problem sets and supervise exam distribution, and work with Assistant Director to monitor subject prerequisites.
- Coordinate–with other Chemistry Education staff–hospitality for MIT ACCESS program, orientation/teaching training, and admitted students’ visit
- Coordinate–with other Chemistry Education staff—department wellness and community service programs.
- Coordinate the department’s participation at different campus-wide events, including Academic Expo, Campus Preview Weekend, and UROP Expo.
- Order office and teaching supplies, create and update brochures and other informational materials, update relevant sections of departmental website, schedule rooms, coordinate facilities and audiovisual requests, maintain the office, and assist with special projects/events.
- With the Assistant Director and faculty, coordinate career development and outreach activities for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students.
- Other duties as needed or required.
Supervision Received
The individual will work for the Assistant Director of Academic Programs Administration.
Supervision Exercised
None
Qualifications and Skills
MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
A minimum of three years’ professional work experience, preferably in an academic setting; excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communications skills; experience with Excel, WordPress, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office; discretion and tact; ability to multitask; strong interest in training and working with students; and the ability to interact effectively with faculty, students, staff, and potential students. Deals with confidential information and/or issues using discretion and judgment.
PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
MIT experience desired, particularly that related to undergraduate student processes. Experience with event planning a plus. College degree preferred.
LOCATION:
This position follows a hybrid work schedule of three (3) days onsite and two (2) days remote per week. Additional onsite presence may be required during the initial orientation and training period, as well as at certain times to support operational and business needs.
Communications Officer
Posted September 3, 2026
Click here to apply.
The Department of Chemistry seeks a Communications Officer to serve as strategist and leader for the full range of departmental communications, internal and external, that promote Chemistry research and academic programs. This position will report directly to the Department Head. The primary responsibilities include leading the department’s news program by providing editorial oversight and content for its website, newsletters, and scientific writing, and by conceptualizing and writing science reports for lay readers, including news and feature articles, proposals, presentations, videos, and other promotional materials; providing direction, coordination, and support for communication and public relations efforts across the department, managing the department’s presence and message across print and digital news channels, including traditional and social media, while ensuring cohesive branding, style, and voice across all content and communications; attending MIT events and science conferences and staying up-to-date with the most recent scientific findings and current research activities; updating and maintaining department website content and working with external developers on periodic upgrades/redesigns; and working closely with the Senior Development Officer to create tailored communications strategies and collateral to engage prospects and donors.
Job Requirements
REQUIRED: Bachelor’s degree in communications or a related field; a minimum of five years in a professional communications role; solid experience with project management, communication technologies, social media, and public relations; strong interpersonal, writing, editorial, and presentation skills; ability to describe science concepts to scientific and lay audiences; and experience with graphics/imaging tools. PREFERRED: Experience in a scientific and/or academic setting; excellent relationship management; demonstrated experience in or capacity for developing creative and entrepreneurial approaches to marketing and communications; ability to collaborate and work successfully across organizational boundaries; demonstrated success managing competing priorities and deadlines; and the ability to be flexible, adapt, and learn quickly are also preferred.
Work Schedule: This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule. During the initial 6-month orientation and review period, the position would be on-site four days per week. Occasional evening/weekend work as needed.
Application Materials: Please include a cover letter, resume, and one writing sample (800 words or less) with your application. Please include links to any digital media and/or portfolio.
Senior Administrative Assistant to the Department Head
Posted August 28, 2026
Click here to apply.
The Department of Chemistry seeks a highly organized professional to provide comprehensive executive support to the Department Head and manage critical operations. This essential role offers the opportunity to foster academic excellence by supporting faculty affairs, coordinating major events, and ensuring the seamless administration of a vibrant intellectual community. This position will have the following duties and responsibilities:
- Provide executive level support to the Department Head including calendar management, scheduling, organizing meetings and disseminating information to key stakeholders, and initiating and coordinating department business (i.e., junior faculty reviews, NIH trainings, junior faculty searches, etc.)
- Coordinating faculty promotional cases and junior faculty reviews. Communicates needs and obtains all information required, including missing materials, researching biographical information, and drafting content as needed. Prepares dossiers and presentations requiring exceptional attention to detail.
- Provide administrative support to staff in Chemistry Headquarters, including distributing routine email remainders about appointments and meetings; aiding with financial and administrative filing; processing reimbursements for faculty or students traveling on department business; updating databases in Quickbase, Excel, and/or Google Sheets; maintaining office equipment and supplies and setting up purchase orders for supplies and equipment as needed.
- Manage and serve as the primary source of information about department head’s calendar, communicating changes, determining degree of urgency, and resolving/redirecting inquiries.
- Handle scheduling and logistics for a variety of meetings that involve both internal and external attendees, including making room reservations, arranging catering, setting up or ordering A/V support.
- Schedule, plan, and coordinate faculty and departmental events (i.e., annual faculty dinner, department holiday party, commencement and hooding receptions, faculty retreat, and other special events as needed).
- Maintain an annual calendar of recurring responsibilities (junior faculty progress reviews, NIH research trainings, instructions to seminar coordinators) and initiate and organize them as they arise.
- Independently coordinate complex travel (domestic and international) and appointment schedules of faculty search candidates and provide general information for Boston area; prepare associated financial paperwork and reimbursements.
- Provide information, as appropriate, on established MIT and departmental policies and procedures, to persons within and outside the department.
- Organize and coordinate faculty award nominations, working with the Awards Committee to build/maintain awards database.
- Oversee conference room calendars and assist with bookings internally and for outside departments.
- Represent the chemistry department both internally and externally by maintaining a positive and professional demeanor and communicating clearly in both verbal and written exchanges.
- Serve as a point of contact for general department inquiries and provide reception for visitors who come into the HQ office.
- Provide backup for visits of company recruiters.
- Process department’s prescription safety glasses orders.
- Handle clerical tasks: fax, mail (send & receive), copy, deliveries, pickup and distribute mail for headquarters daily, and assist with bulk mailings; maintain headquarters equipment and office and break room supplies; and organize and maintain files (paper and digital); post fellowship and lecture announcements.
- Manage special projects as needed.
- Other duties as needed or required.
Qualifications and Skills
MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Minimum 5 years of administrative, office, or related experience required. Demonstrated proficiency in English grammar and composition; highly developed organizational skills, an ability to handle multiple tasks, set priorities, attention to detail, and work in a challenging and fast-paced environment. Required computer skills include advanced Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat Pro, GoogleWorkspace, Slack, WordPress. Event planning experience required. Experience with handling confidential/sensitive materials. The ability to maintain confidentiality of confidential and highly sensitive materials/information is required, as is discretion and good judgment. Position calls for excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, project coordination experience, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to work well with all levels of internal management and staff, and outside vendors. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
A bachelor’s degree is preferred. Prior experience in higher education is preferred. Knowledge of SAP, SAPweb, Concur, and MIT financial processes, policies, and procedures
Work schedule: This is a hybrid role that requires work in person in Chemistry Headquarters at least four days per week. A few times a year, evening event work is required.
Faculty Positions
Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Wellesley College
Postdoctoral Positions
Postdoctoral Fellowships – MIT School of Science
**Deadline for applications is November 15, 2026. Apply here.**
The Office of the Dean, MIT School of Science, invites applications for its postdoctoral fellowship program. This three-year cohort-based program is expected to start September 2027.
We seek to assemble a diverse cohort of world-class scientists who are conducting research across disciplinary boundaries. In addition to their research, fellows in this cohort will participate in leadership, mentorship and professional development training.
Appointments may be extended with funding from the department and/or Principal Investigator (PI), subject to MIT’s policies on postdoctoral appointments and timelines.
REQUIRED:
PhD in scientific field (granted by Aug 2027), scientific excellence and an exceptional ability for innovation and cross disciplinary research.
Candidates must submit the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV);
- 2-page research proposal, describing how their research crosses disciplinary boundaries;
- Two letters of recommendation: one from a current supervisor; one from the MIT faculty who will mentor the research;
- (Optional) one paragraph description of how their appointment aligns with the MIT Values Statement;
Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee comprised of School of Science faculty and must be submitted online. The deadline for applications is November 15, 2026. Current postdocs at MIT and international candidates are eligible to apply.
This fellowship carries a stipend of $88,000, relocation allowance of $5,000, and a research allowance of $15,000. Fellows will have access to employee benefits such as health insurance. Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact potential mentors as early as possible.
See School of Science Research and Academics to find prospective mentors and learn more
about the research conducted within the school.
Contact: sos-dean-pd-fellowship@mit.edu
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