September 2007                                                                                                Memorandum 3813

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Graduate Office, Room 38-444

6.961  INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
AND COMPUTER SCIENCE 

6.962  SPECIAL STUDIES IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
AND COMPUTER SCIENCE

NEW FULL TIME GRADUATE STUDENTS WHO DO NOT HOLD A RESEARCH OR TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP:  6.961

To help you get oriented in the MIT environment, the Department considers it desirable for you to include 6.961, Introduction to Research in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, as part of your registration for your initial regular term and to limit the remainder of your registration to no more than three subjects; however, it is strongly recommended that you take only two graduate classes.  The intent of 6.961 registration is to provide you with an opportunity to investigate a research topic of personal interest to you under the supervision of a faculty member who shares a similar interest.  For some students, research study under 6.961 registration will provide an entry into a research problem that will be pursued in greater depth as a Master's thesis.  For others, it will be an opportunity to pursue a special problem along lines structured by the student in consultation with a member of the faculty.  You are encouraged to explore potential areas of mutual interest with several faculty members before reaching an agreement with a particular one for supervision of your special problem.  (If you are supported by a fellowship that is supplemented by a Research Assistantship, you should register for 6.991and not 6.961.)

To assist you in getting started, an orientation meeting will be held:

Wednesday, September 6, 2007 in Room 34-301, around 4:30 p.m.

(after the General Orientation meeting which begins at 4:00 p.m.)

Your exploratory contacts with the faculty should begin as soon as possible. To assist you there will be a series of 6.961 seminars during the first part of the Fall Semester.  It is expected that by the fifth or sixth week of the semester, you will have found a research problem and a supervisor.  You may find it helpful to examine the leaflet "Research Interests of Faculty Members Who Supervise Graduate Theses".

We hope you will find this experience a very worthwhile part of your graduate program.

INDIVIDUAL STUDY WITH A FACULTY MEMBER:  6.962

If you wish to pursue a topic at the graduate level that is not included in the Department’s regular graduate subjects, you may be able to make arrangements with a faculty member for supervised individual study.  In order to receive credit for individual study, you should register for 12 units of 6.962 or one of the other numbers in this sequence.

ALL STUDENTS IN 6.961, 6.962

As early as practicable during the term, you must submit to the Graduate Office a brief description of your research problem on the attached Form 3902.  In addition to signing the form yourself, you must have the supervisor indicate approval at the bottom of the form.  Please note that the supervisor will normally be an EECS faculty member.  Supervision by anyone other than an EECS faculty member must be approved by the Department.  (Contact Graduate Office, 38-444).  These subjects receive letter grades (A-F). 

AREA CHAIRS

Area I                Systems, Communication, Control and Signal Processing

Professor M. A.Dahleh, Room 32-D732, x3-3892, dahleh@mit.edu

Area II               Computer Science

Professor S. Teller, Room 32-333, x8-7885, teller@csail.mit.edu

Area III              Electronics, Computers and Systems

Professor H. S. Lee, Room 39-553A, x3-5174, hslee@mtl.mit.edu

Area IV             Energy and Electromagnetic Systems  

Professor L. A. Kolodziejski, Room 13-3065, x3-6868, leskolo@mit.edu

Area V              Materials and Devices

Professor L. A. Kolodziejski, Room 13-3065, x3-6868, leskolo@mit.edu

Area VII Bioelectrical Engineering

Professor L. D. Braida, Room 36-791, x3-2575, ldbraida@mit.edu

MAJOR RESEARCH LABORATORIES

(with which EECS faculty are involved)

Research Laboratory for Electronics - for information consult

Professor J. H. Shapiro, Room 36-419, x3-4179, jhs@mit.edu

Laboratory for Electromagnetic and Electronic Systems - for information consult

Professor J. G. Kassakian, Room l0-172, X3-3448, jgk@mit.edu

Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory - for information consult

Professor R. A. Brooks, Room 32G-430, x3-5223, brooks@ai.mit.edu or

Professor Victor P. Zue, Room 32G-470, X3-8513, zue@lcs.mit.edu

Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems - for information consult

Professor V.W.S.Chan, Room 32D-610A, x8-8222, chan@mit.edu

Center for Materials Science and Engineering - for information consult

Professor C. G. Fonstad, Room 13-3050, x3-4634, fonstad@mit.edu

Edgerton Center - for information consult

Professor J. K. Vandiver, Room 4-405, X3-4629, kimv@mit.edu

Lincoln Laboratory - for information consult

Professor D. H. Staelin, Room 26-341, x3-3711, staelin@mit.edu

Microsystems Technology Laboratories - for information consult

Professor A. P. Chandrakasan, Room 38-107, x8-7619, anantha@mtl.mit.edu

Plasma Fusion Center - for information consult

Professor R. R. Parker, Room NW17-288, x8-6662, parker@psfc.mit.edu

September 2007                                                                                                      Form 3902 (print version)

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Graduate Office, Room 38-444

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIAL STUDY AND/OR RESEARCH PROBLEM

6.961, 6.962, 6.991

In the space below, please give a brief description of the work to be performed under 6.961, 6.962 or 6.991 registration.  (Use a separate form for each subject.)  This statement must be endorsed by the faculty member who will give the grade.  This form is to be delivered to the Graduate Office (38-444) prior to the fourth Friday of the term for 6.962 and 6.991 and prior to the sixth Friday of the term for 6.961.  Registration of non-Course-VI students and/or supervision by a non-Course VI faculty member is subject to approval of the Department.  (Consult the Graduate Office, 38-444)

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Subject:  6.961     6.962     6.991  (Circle one)               Number of Units:   12     24  (Circle one)

Student Signature ___________________________­­­__________________________ Date _____________

FACULTY SUPERVISION AGREEMENT

The problem outlined is adequate for Graduate G credit.  I am willing to supervise the problem and submit an appropriate grade to Ms. Janet Fischer, 38-444, on or before the day preceding the final examination period.  For 6.961 and 6.962, permitted grades are A, B, C, D, F, I.  For 6.991, permitted grades are P or F.

Supervisor’s Signature ___________________________________________________ Date ___________

RETURN COMPLETED FORM TO ROOM 38-444 (print version)