Momentum Course Assistant Application | MIT Office of Minority Education

Thank you for your interest in applying as a Momentum 2025 Course Assistant!

Momentum 2025 runs January 6-31, 2025 .

Application closes: October 30, 2024

Course Assistant Stipend: $1,672

Start date: November 12, 2024.

To learn more about Momentum from the student participant perspective, visit our website or watch a recap video.

This year, we are offering two challenges for Momentum students sponsored by Lincoln Laboratory. Course Assistants will work on one of the challenges.

Please review the preferred qualifications listed below for the respective projects.

Below is a summary of CA duties and preferred qualifications.

No single candidate will likely possess all the qualifications listed below, and we are very open to transferrable experiences. If you feel as though you would be a good match, please apply!

Duties include:

Take attendance during Momentum lectures, design sessions, and supplemental workshops.
Lead supplemental, skill-based workshops for students as needed (e.g., Introduction to Python).
Administer lecture surveys.
Create class name cards.
Maintain regular required meetings with a matched team to provide guidance and feedback.
Hold open Office Hours (approx. 4 hours per week).
Contribute written and oral feedback to all teams as requested.
Develop and implement an icebreaker activity for students during the start of Momentum.
Design the Momentum Competition program booklet.

Momentum 2025 challenges will require CAs to have beginner software knowledge in:

3D Modelling software, Python, circuitry, embedded processors & systems

Minimum Prerequisite Coursework:

Must be at least a Junior, Senior or Graduate student
Must be completed before IAP or receive credit from ASE
- 6.0001 and 6.0002 Programming Skills
- 18.01 Calculus I
- 18.02 or 18.022 Calculus II
- Physics I (any of the following: 8.01, 8.011, 8.012, 8.01L)
- Physics II (any of the following: 8.02, 8.021, 8.022)

Computer/ Hardware needs:

None

Preferred qualifications/experiences for the Lincoln Laboratory challenges:

Current MIT junior, senior or graduate student
Interest and/or previous direct experience in teaching, coaching, and mentoring undergraduates (student participants)
Commitment to detail
Project management skills, including time and task organization
Communication skills (ability to present complex ideas to an audience with different perspectives)
Programming experience
Algorithm development

Anticipated workload:

To attend two 1 hour planning meetings in November/December 2024.
Potentially attend required training session(s) based on familiarity and prior knowledge of software in November/December 2024.
Approximately 16 hours per week, 48 hours total from January 6th-31st, 2025.
The expected total number of hours is: 88
Up to 5 hours for debriefing in February 2025

Momentum 2025 Lincoln Laboratory Challenges

Lincoln Laboratory Challenge Statement: In cross-disciplinary teams, explore advanced technologies that address large scale disasters such as wildfires and environmental challenges such as tracking/monitoring of endangered right whales.

Whale Mission: Design a monitoring and early warning system to detect and report locations of North Atlantic right whales to be deployed near shipping lanes where right whales are commonly found.

Wildfire Mission: Investigate use of technology to mitigate wildfires, in particular how to integrate information from various sensing platforms to track and monitor wildfires, as well as potential ideas for enhancing protective gear for first responders.

Interviews for qualified candidates will be held on a rolling basis.

Please direct any questions to momentum [at] mit.edu (momentum[at]mit[dot]edu).