Enhancing human physical capability

Please read our FAQs before sending an email.

1. How do I call?
2. Employment Opportunities (Research Scientists, PostDocs, Research Specialist, Technical staff / MITemps):
3. MIT Graduate School Opportunities (Masters / Ph.D. programs): In order to be considered for a Masters or Ph.D. candidate in the BIomechatronics lab, you must first be accepted into one of the following MIT Graduate School programs:
4. Getting Involved in the Research - Clinical Testing Opportunities (Human subject testing):
5. How do I know if surgery is the best option for me?
6. Visiting Student Requests (Domestic / International):
7. What direction should I take my studies in order to pursue a future in the field of bionics?
8. I am a physician/researcher interested in collaboration, how do I schedule a meeting with Professor Herr?
9. Internship Requests:
10. MIT UROP Requests (undergraduate research opportunities program):
11. Media / PR requests:
12. Tours / Visiting the Biomechatronics Lab:
13. How do I get fit for a prosthesis/orthosis?
14. How do I get in touch with one of your Research Associates?
15. How can I get one of Professor Hugh Herr’s Bionic legs (Biom / Empower)?
16. How much do the BiOMs cost? Where do I get affordable prostheses?
17. My family/friend/loved one needs a prosthetic device. They are too expensive. Will you provide one for us?
18. Are the BiOMs available in countries outside of the United States?
19. Myself (or a loved one) suffers from MS, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, polio, spinal muscular atrophy, spinal cord injury, stroke, cancer, or other condition. What products are available from your lab?
20. I am inspired by Professor Herr’s TED talk. Where do I get a powered dancing BiOM?
21. My child may benefit from the research in your lab, how do I make an appointment?
22. Do you make prostheses for hands and/or arms?
23. Is it possible to get legal counsel?
24. I have a great idea for an invention, how do I get feedback?
25. We are a start-up company, will you product test our device?
26. Our company develops a product that is applicable to your research. How do we initiate collaboration?
27. Do you make prostheses for pets?

1. How do I call?

   We are a research group working diligently to bring bionic technology to the public, but we are not a commercial or public entity.  Due to the high volume of incoming inquiries, we cannot return individual phone calls.  

2. Employment Opportunities (Research Scientists, PostDocs, Research Specialist, Technical staff / MITemps):

   • All employment opportunities must be processed through an official application process found on the MIT Employment Database: https://hr.mit.edu/careers. You may search for open positions in any lab at MIT. If you do not see an open position for the Biomechatronics Lab, please continue to monitor at a later date.
   • MIT Media Lab website also lists currently open positions in each lab: About

   • Additional employment opportunities may be available as a MITemp (MIT Temporary Employment). These are short-term paid positions (no benefits). Biomech typically will hire MITemps during the Summer:https://hr.mit.edu/managers/hiring/temp

3. MIT Graduate School Opportunities (Masters / Ph.D. programs): In order to be considered for a Masters or Ph.D. candidate in the BIomechatronics lab, you must first be accepted into one of the following MIT Graduate School programs:

   • The Biomechatronics Lab is part of the MIT Media Lab. The Media Lab offers a graduate program in Media of Arts and Sciences (MAS): https://www.media.mit.edu/graduate-program/about-media-arts-sciences/
   • Mechanical Engineering (MechE) graduate program: http://meche.mit.edu/education/graduate
   • Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology graduate program (HST): https://hst.mit.edu/academic-programs/memp
   • Above graduate schools within MIT are our most common departments, however if you apply to another program at MIT, you are welcome to pursue the Biomechatronics lab if allowed. We are always open to hosting a student from another lab to fulfill a Lab Rotation requirement.

       *** Please note we will not schedule interviews with Professor Herr until after you have been accepted into one of the above graduate school programs. Upon acceptance, please send your resume  / CV to the Lab Administrator, Lindsey Reynolds: a2biomech@media.mit.edu to schedule an interview. 

4. Getting Involved in the Research - Clinical Testing Opportunities (Human subject testing):

   • If you are an able-bodied/amputee individual and want to find out about participating in our on-going research studies, please complete this Request for Research Participation Information form  If our current enrollment is aligned with your background, we will contact you accordingly.

5. How do I know if surgery is the best option for me?

   • We cannot offer medical advice in any capacity. However, our collaborators at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH Boston) may be able to assist. Please email Corey Liam Sullivan: CLSULLIVAN@bwh.harvard.edu the Senior Clinical Research Coordinator for the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery to request an appointment with Dr. Matthew J Carty, MD. 
     
   • BWH may also provide advice regarding our clinical trials actively recruiting participants related to optional surgeries. More info here.
   • Please contact your healthcare provider and/or Surgeon for medical advice and guidance for your individual needs. 

6. Visiting Student Requests (Domestic / International):

   •  The Biomechatronics lab accepts visiting students through the MIT Visiting Student Program (both Domestic and International candidates): https://eapsweb.mit.edu/academic-resources/visiting-students

   • If you are interested in pursuing a Visiting Student Appointment, please send your resume / CV to the Senior Lab Administrator, Lindsey Reynolds: a2biomech@media.mit.edu

    *** Please note due to budgetary constraints, the Biomechatronic lab is only accepting Visiting Students who are self-funded through their own institution, fellowship or other programs. You may find the costs associated with being a visiting student on the Visiting Student Link above.

7. What direction should I take my studies in order to pursue a future in the field of bionics?

   Consider augmenting your background with electrical, mechanical, biomedical, computer science, medicine…it really depends on what you love, because school will be a 24/7 job!  If you like design and controls, that would be more like software and embedded systems.  If you like to build, that would be more like hardware.  If you like to do everything, that’s great, because bionic systems will need to be interfaced with the human body, electrical, and mechanical components!  Talk to as many people as possible.  Visit universities/colleges near you and read as much as you can.  While our lab does not have a volunteer or internship program available (please see above), many organizations actively recruit.  Apply for opportunities relevant to your interests and gain as much experience as possible.

8. I am a physician/researcher interested in collaboration, how do I schedule a meeting with Professor Herr?

   All requests for meetings must be scheduled with the Biomechatronics group Senior Lab Administrator, Lindsey Reynolds, lreynolds [at] media.mit.edu.

9. Internship Requests:

   • MIT Media Lab policy does not offer internships to undergraduate students from outside of MIT. Internships are reserved for MIT undergraduate researchers only (UROPS). No exceptions. 
   • MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP): Biomech does accept MSRP interns who have been accepted into this program:  https://oge.mit.edu/graddiversity/msrp/

10. MIT UROP Requests (undergraduate research opportunities program):

    • If you are interested in becoming a Biomech UROP, please send your resume / CV to the Senior Lab Administrator, Lindsey Reynolds: a2biomech@media.mit.edu. She will then forward your resume to the Biomech group. If someone in the Biomech group feels you would be a good candidate, that individual will contact your directly to set up an interview. 
    • All UROP questions and application processes must be directed to the MIT UROP office: https://urop.mit.edu/ 

    
    

11. Media / PR requests:

    • All interviews and filming requests must be sent directly to the MIT Media Lab Communications Department: press@media.mit.edu.  They will vet each request and determine if Professor Herr would like to participate. 
    • All outside speaking engagement requests must be sent directly to Professor Herr’s exclusive Speakers Bureau, The Stern Strategy Group: https://sternstrategy.com/
    • All requests for talks from Biomech Research Associates or guest speakers for an MIT class can send their requests to the Lab Administrator, a2biomech@media.mit.edu 

12. Tours / Visiting the Biomechatronics Lab:

    • All tour and visit requests must go through the MIT Media Lab visits office. We will not accept any outside visitors until the Visits office has approved the request. 
      

13. How do I get fit for a prosthesis/orthosis?

    Please work with your healthcare provider, surgeon, or physical therapist to recommend a reliable professional in your area.

14. How do I get in touch with one of your Research Associates?

    • You can send all requests and/or questions to the Senior Lab Administrator who will ensure the appropriate RA is contacted, a2biomech@media.mit.edu 
    • People section - The contact information for each RA can be found on our lab website: https://www.media.mit.edu/groups/biomechatronics/people/

    *** Please note the Biomechatronics Lab is an active research lab and therefore does not have the bandwidth to reply to all email requests. 

15. How can I get one of Professor Hugh Herr’s Bionic legs (Biom / Empower)?

    • The Biomechatronics Lab is an active research lab and does not provide commercially available products or prosthetics. You must visit the manufacturer directly for all inquiries: https://www.ottobockus.com/prosthetics/lower-limb-prosthetics/solution-overview/empower-ankle/

    
    

16. How much do the BiOMs cost? Where do I get affordable prostheses?

    Please contact BiOM to inquire about cost and insurance.

17. My family/friend/loved one needs a prosthetic device. They are too expensive. Will you provide one for us?

    Please understand that we are a research lab and do not manufacture commercial devices.

18. Are the BiOMs available in countries outside of the United States?

    Please contact BiOM.

19. Myself (or a loved one) suffers from MS, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, polio, spinal muscular atrophy, spinal cord injury, stroke, cancer, or other condition. What products are available from your lab?

    The only commercially available product is for amputees, the BiOM. Our powered ankle-foot orthosis and exoskeleton are currently in research phases and are not yet commercially available.

20. I am inspired by Professor Herr’s TED talk. Where do I get a powered dancing BiOM?

    The powered dancing ankle-foot was a custom design programmed into the commercial BiOM.  This custom design was developed specifically for the TED presentation and is not currently available.

21. My child may benefit from the research in your lab, how do I make an appointment?

    Please understand that our academic research must stay within the focus of our mission, and of our funding agencies.  You might consider identifying investigators and physicians who are currently active in pediatric research, and who may already have existing collaborations that target a patient population more similar to your child.

22. Do you make prostheses for hands and/or arms?

    We are conducting research on persons with upper extremity amputation at the transradial and transhumeral levels, with an emphasis on the interface of prosthetic devices with the body while intuitively controlling them with thought. For amputations at other levels, please consider other research initiatives, such as a pioneering surgical procedure known as Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR) that may allow control of a prosthetic arm with thought. 

23. Is it possible to get legal counsel?

    Whether you are a legal client or representing attorney, we are unfortunately unavailable to provide legal counsel.

24. I have a great idea for an invention, how do I get feedback?

    Please be advised that the Biomechatronics Group cannot review any materials due to intellectual property restrictions.

25. We are a start-up company, will you product test our device?

    Due to intellectual property restrictions, we cannot provide feedback to any product that is not yet patent-protected.  You may send public data sheets to the Biomechatronics group administrator, Lindsey Reynolds, lreynolds [at] media.mit.edu and request a time to meet with our group.  Please know that your research must be directly aligned with our mission, and that these requests are granted on a very limited basis.

26. Our company develops a product that is applicable to your research. How do we initiate collaboration?

    You may send public data sheets to the Biomechatronics group administrator, Lindsey Reynolds, lreynolds [at] media.mit.edu and request a time to meet with our group.  Please know that your research must be directly aligned with our mission, and that these requests are granted on a very limited basis.

27. Do you make prostheses for pets?

    Although we love animals, we do not yet have a research division that focuses on veterinary devices.  You might consider identifying researchers/veterinarians who are actively investigating prostheses for animals, and who may already have existing research collaborations that target our pets.