Visiting MIT
1. Overview of Visitor Types and Support Available
The MIT Portugal Program at MIT receives frequent short-term visitors (stays of two weeks or less), as
well as two types of longer-term visitors: visiting students (stays from three weeks to 12 months) and
visiting scholars (usually stays for two weeks or longer).
Visiting students and visiting scholars are formally affiliated with one of the Focus Areas, and the initial
point of contact for approving their stays are the Focus Area Leads in Portugal and at MIT. Once a visit has
been agreed to by the Focus Area (and the relevant MIT and PT faculty, as appropriate), MIT Portugal
Program Headquarters staff provides support in the following ways:
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For scholars, facilitating interactions with MIT’s International Scholars Office (see below)—
primarily for processing of visa documents, as well as making MIT appointments (where
applicable), arranging health insurance coverage, etc.
For students, facilitating interactions with MIT’s International Students Office, primarily for
processing of visa documents, and making connections with the Portuguese student associations:
the Portuguese American Post-Graduate Society-PAPS, and the Portuguese Student AssociationPSA (see below).
Helping to identify and arrange appropriate lodging, in coordination with MIT’s Housing Office
(see below).
Helping make arrangements for office space, as available (see below), and providing initial
IT/computer support.
Processing the Inventions and Proprietary Information Agreement (IPIA) form, which all visitors
must fill out in accordance with MIT policy and the intellectual property arrangements written into
the MIT Portugal Program Collaboration Agreement.
Arranging regular lunch meetings with other MPP visitors and invited speakers to get acclimated
to MIT, and develop knowledge and contacts in various areas of interest.
For shorter-term visitors, and those coming on business visa waivers (WB status), we also provide letters of
invitation to visit MIT, to facilitate clearance at the point of entry into the United States.
2. Key MIT Portugal Program Administrative Contacts
Headquarters
Flavia Cardarelli
Visiting Students/
Scholars
flavia@mit.edu
EDAM
Terra Cholfin
terra@mit.edu
Focus Area Lead:
Joel Clark
Jennifer Kratochwill jpclark@mit.edu
Assistant Director
krat@mit.edu
Bio-Engineering
Nira Manokharan
nira@csail.mit.edu
Energy
Focus Area
Lead: Ernie Moniz
ejmoniz@mit.edu
Co-Director:
Dava Newman
Education and
dnewman@mit.edu Research
Coordinator:
Stephen Connors
Co-Director:
connorsr@mit.edu
Bruce Tidor
tidor@mit.edu
Transportation
Focus Area Lead:
Chris Zegras
czegras@mit.edu
Education Coord.:
Lizzie Woods
ewoods@mit.edu
3.The Essentials
* Important Note for Visiting Students and Scholars *
All Visiting Students (J1 visa status) must check in with the International Students Office, which hosts the
Visiting Student program, and all Visiting Scholars (J1 or WB status) must check in with the International
Scholars Office. Call the office to make an appointment as soon as you arrive on campus, and bring your
passport and visa documents when you go. If you have questions regarding your visa at any time during
your stay, contact Flavia Cardarelli (flavia@mit.edu; MIT Portugal Program) or the International Students
Office.
Office Space
A suite of offices is available for Portugal Program visitors on a first-come-first-served basis. The suite is
conveniently located in MIT building E38, in Kendall Square. The Kendall Square T Station (the T’s “Red
Line”) is steps away from Building E38. The office suite has wireless Internet, phones, a fax machine, and
a scanner/photocopier/printer. Please contact Flavia (flavia@mit.edu) to make a reservation and to obtain
office keys.
International Scholars Office
http://web.mit.edu/scholars/
Building E38-219; 617-253-2851
Walk-in hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
If you are not a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident of the United States, you must check in with the
International Scholars Office within your first three days at MIT. Be sure to bring your passport and visa
documents with you. If you have any questions at any time during your stay, please contact the MIT
Portugal Program Headquarters, or the International Scholars Office (iso@mit.edu).
International Students Office (ISO)
http://web.mit.edu/iso
5-133; 617-253-3795
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; closed Tuesdays 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Identification Card (MIT ID)
http://web.mit.edu/mitcard/
W20-021 (basement of the Stratton Student Center); 617-253-3475
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Soon after arrival, longer-term visiting scholars with MIT appointments and all visiting students should go
to the MIT Card Office in the basement of the Stratton Student Center, W20-021, and have their picture
taken for an MIT ID. (We recommend calling the Card Office first to make sure you are in the system and
are eligible for an ID.)
MIT Housing Office
http://web.mit.edu/housing/
MIT can help you find on-campus or off-campus housing. The Housing Office provides apartment/house
listings, neighborhood descriptions, and lists of realtors. Their website offers links to temporary housing
lists, MIT-owned housing, and instructions regarding how to sign up for waiting lists for on-campus
housing.
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On-Campus Housing/Graduate Housing W59-200; 617-253-0191
graduatehousing@mit.edu
Contact: Adam Keyes
On-Campus housing is available to visiting students and scholars after full-time MIT students
have been placed. This is a good resource for housing, but please note: If your appointment has
you staying past August 15, you will be asked to leave your residence on campus. You will be
placed in another (or the same) unit only after full-time MIT students have been placed for the fall.
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Off-Campus Housing
http://housing.mit.edu/off_campus/off_campus_housing
W59-200; 617-253-1493
Contact: Linda Patton (general@mit.edu)
Visiting Students and Scholars can email Linda directly for off-campus housing information.
Because you will not have a Kerberos ID until you arrive on campus, before your arrival at MIT,
Flavia Cardarelli can e-mail the housing office on your behalf to confirm your status at the
Institute.
A list of helpful websites for living in the Boston/Cambridge area is
http://housing.mit.edu/off_campus/bbs_guesthouses_home_stays
MIT Affiliate Health Plan
http://web.mit.edu/medical/p-affiliate.html
E23-308, 617-253-4371
If you have an unpaid Visiting Scholar appointment at MIT, are working more than 50% time, and will be
at MIT for three months or more, you must have adequate health insurance. In addition, all J-1 and J-2
Exchange Visitors—for any length of visit—must have health insurance that meets U.S. Department of
State standards. If you have health insurance that meets certain standards of coverage, you may waive
MIT's health insurance by completing a waiver form on the above website. To enroll, please contact the
MIT Affiliate Health Plan Office at 617-253-4371 to schedule an orientation.
MIT Student Health Plan Office
http://medweb.mit.edu/healthplans/student/
E23-308; 617-253-4371
Visiting students must check in with the Student Health Plans office to either enroll in health insurance or
to complete a waiver form. The International Students Office can help guide you on this topic. If you have
questions before you arrive on campus, please email the Student Health Office at stuplan@med.mit.edu.
Using the Web at MIT:
Wi-fi, MIT E-mail (Athena), the Kerberos ID, and Web Certificates
Most visitors to MIT are eligible for an MIT email (Athena) account, which comes with a Kerberos
(security) ID. Once you have MIT e-mail, sign up for MIT Web Certificates— security “passes” that enable
you to access certain MIT webpages and services that are not available to those outside the MIT
community (see below for more about Certificates).
Computer support is provided (email pt-tech@mit.edu), working directly with the MIT Portugal Program.
Web and e-mail policies differ depending on your visitor status:
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Short-Term Visitors (at MIT up to 14 days)
Although short-term visitors to MIT are not given MIT e-mail accounts, the Institute offers such
guests wireless Internet access (available in all MIT buildings). If you are a short-term visitor
seeking wi-fi access and are on campus, try accessing the Internet. You should see a screen that
instructs you about access. Some visitors (including those using Vista) may not see the login
screen. In that case, please contact MIT Portugal Headquarters.
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Visiting Scholars with MIT appointments
If you are a visitor with an MIT appointment, you will be provided an MIT ID number in your
appointment materials. Having this ID number enables you to go directly to the e-mail registration
page to sign up for an account (web.mit.edu/register). Once you have registered and have an MIT
e-mail address and a Kerberos ID, sign up for MIT Web certificates—both the personal certificate
and the MIT CA (certificate authority) certificate—at http://ist.mit.edu and https://ca.mit.edu/ca/
Note: MIT Web Certificates are browser-specific—you need to sign up for them on each browser
you use.
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Visiting Scholars without appointments
If you are a visiting scholar without an appointment and will be at MIT more than 14 days, contact
MIT Portugal Headquarters, and we will arrange for you to get a guest e-mail (Athena) account.
You can then sign up for MIT Web Certificates (see Visiting Scholars with MIT Appointments,
above).
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Visiting Students
If you are a visiting student, instructions for obtaining an MIT e-mail account will be provided
early in the process. Once you have an MIT ID, an e-mail account, and a Kerberos ID, sign up for
MIT Web Certificates (see Visiting Scholars with MIT Appointments, above).
Employee Self Service
http://web.mit.edu/sapwebss
For longer-term visitors with appointments only: You can use the above site to update your contact
information in the MIT Web directory. Please go through this site during your first week at MIT to make
sure all your information is correct. If you are paid by MIT, please complete your Direct Deposit and Tax
Withholding information in the “Money Matters” tab of this site within your first three days at MIT.
4. Other Important Things to Know
Campus Map (printable version)
http://whereis.mit.edu/map-jpg
MIT People Directory (also available on the MIT home page)
http://web.mit.edu/people.html
MIT Facts
http://web.mit.edu/facts/index.html
Athletic Facilities
http://web.mit.edu/athletics/www/
MIT staff and affiliates may purchase a membership to MIT athletic facilities. For information, visit the
MIT Athletics website or call 617-452-3690. The Wang Fitness Center and Alumni Pool, both part of
MIT’s athletic facilities, are on the first floor of the Stata Center. Visiting students and scholars can join for
a discounted rate.
Holidays
http://hrweb.mit.edu/holidays.html
MIT is closed 12 holidays each year. Visit MIT HR for a list of administrative holidays.
Reading Room, Libraries
http://libraries.mit.edu
Your MIT ID card will allow you to borrow books from any of the MIT Libraries, as well as many other
university libraries in the Boston area. Visit the MIT Libraries or call 617-324-2275 for information.
Emergency Preparedness, Personal Safety and Theft
Much of MIT is relatively open space, especially during the workday. There have been thefts of computers,
cell phones, and wallets from offices and open areas, so please make sure to secure your area and do not
leave valuables unattended.
Dial 100 or 617-253-1212 from a campus phone for all police, medical/ambulance, fire/explosion, and
other emergencies. Non-emergency injuries should be reported to your supervisor and the MIT Medical
Department, E23, 253-1311 (open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week). After contacting the proper
authorities, please also let Jennifer Kratochwill (krat@mit.edu) know within 24 hours about thefts and any
injuries.
In addition, please be cautious when walking around campus at night. Safe Ride is a free safety shuttle
service around campus, and is available to all members of the MIT community. The schedule can be found
on the Parking & Transportation website: web.mit.edu/facilities/transportation/shuttles/index.html
5. Portuguese Student Associations
PAPS – Portuguese American Post-Graduate Society
PAPS represents the interests of Portuguese researchers and graduate students in the United States. Its most
important goal is to strengthen the influence of its members in American society while simultaneously
promoting Portugal. It also acts as a support structure for its members. Established in 1998, it has almost
400 active members and 300 alumni/ae members are spread across the US, working on the group’s research
and educational programs.
PLT – Portuguese Leaders of Tomorrow
The PLT is a student group that supports prospective Portuguese students who are applying to educational
programs at MIT.
PSA – Portuguese Student Association at MIT
Founded in 1992, the Portuguese Student Association promotes cultural, social and educational activities
among the members of the MIT Portuguese student community and other students interested in Portugal
and its past and contemporary civilization, language and culture.
PSA contacts at MIT:
Francisco Feijó Delgado / feijo@mit.edu
Ana Paula Leite / apleite@mit.edu
Rogério Candeias / candeias@mit.edu
David Braga Malta / dmalta@mit.edu