MIT Rocca Project

The Roberto Rocca Project is a collaboration between MIT and Politecnico di Milano, funded by the Fondazione Fratelli Agostino ed Enrico Rocca to honor Dr. Roberto Rocca (1922–2003), an alumnus of both institutions.

Since 2005, the Project has provided more than $250,000 annually to support the two-way flow of people, ideas, and scientific practices between MIT and the Politecnico in the fields of materials science, mechanical engineering, bioengineering and life sciences, energy, electrical engineering, and computer science. Projects focusing on buildings, infrastructure, and planning are considered only if they emphasize mathematical and physical modeling and the innovative use of materials. Priority is given to collaborations involving younger scholars—junior faculty and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and new projects. Proposals and applications are evaluated and selected by members of the MIT-Italy Program Scientific Committee.

The Rocca Project has initiated more than 30 MIT-POLIMI faculty collaborations and has funded nearly 100 Rocca Fellows, both doctoral and postdoctoral, at MIT and POLIMI. Many of these collaborations have led to joint publications and other forms of academic recognition. In September 2020, the Project was extended until 2025.

Typical awards range from $2,500 for exploratory travel grants to $42,500 for a one-year Rocca Postdoctoral Fellowship at MIT. Specifically, the Project supports:

• One-year Roberto Rocca Postdoctoral Fellowships at MIT for recent Politecnico PhDs
• Six- to twelve-month Roberto Rocca Doctoral Fellowships, which bring Politecnico PhD students to MIT as visiting students
• Three- to six-month research fellowships at Politecnico for MIT PhD students and advanced undergraduates
• Seed funding (up to $15,000) for collaborative projects between MIT and Politecnico faculty
• Lectures by MIT faculty at Politecnico, and vice versa.
• Small MIT-Politecnico workshops on topics under joint investigation

The Roberto Rocca Project is managed through the MIT-Italy Program. Its priorities and directions are set out in the agreements signed by the Rocca Foundation with MIT and the Polytechnic University and are reviewed annually by the Project's advisory board, composed of representatives from MIT, the Polytechnic University, and the Fratelli Rocca Foundation.

More Info
progettorocca@polimi.it
Presentation and Testimonials 

The Project funds 6-12 months research stays at MIT for 5-6 Politecnico di Milano doctoral students each year.

Priority will be given to students participating in collaborative projects between MIT and Politecnico di Milano research groups. Please note that, in addition to academic excellence, a good fit between the applicants' interests and those of the host laboratories is an important selection criterion. High-quality candidates are sought.

The Roberto Rocca Doctoral Scholarships amount to $6,500 per semester, plus a one-time travel allowance of $1,500. The scholarships also cover processing and quarterly fees for visiting students, but do not cover health insurance.

Successful applicants come to MIT as visiting students. As such, they have access to MIT facilities and laboratories and can supervise seminars and lectures with the instructors' permission. However, they cannot receive credit or enroll in language courses and are not eligible for an MIT degree. Due to the termly fees charged by MIT and to facilitate their integration into host research groups, students should schedule their stays to coincide with MIT semesters: from early February to the end of May for the spring semester and from early September to the third week of December for the fall semester.

Applications are due April 15th for the fall semester and October 1st for the spring semester. All documents must be submitted electronically. Applications must include:

• A one-page description of the student's research project at MIT.
• The name of the MIT faculty that will host the student
• An indication of the desired length of stay at MIT (one, two, or three semesters)
• A letter of recommendation from a Politecnico faculty
• A letter of acceptance from the host MIT faculty
• Authorization to study abroad from the applicant's PhD coordinator
• A recent CV specifying the applicant's place and date of birth, citizenship, and current residence
• The applicant's academic record and undergraduate and graduate transcript
• Proof of English language proficiency (TOEFL or similar test)

Submit your complete application electronically to the Graduate School of Politecnico di Milano at progettorocca@polimi.it

Applicants will be evaluated by members of the MIT-Italy Program Scientific Committee and the relevant faculty.

Selected applicants must meet all necessary MIT financial and visa requirements (J-1).

Admission to MIT as a visiting student is subject to the following procedures, which take approximately 90 days:

Your host faculty must have your visit approved first by their department head and then by the MIT Vice President for Research. Your host department must also enter your basic information into the MIT database. Your host professor must initiate these procedures.
Once your visit to MIT has been officially approved, the MIT Office for International Students will request a DS-2019 form on your behalf. This form is required to schedule an appointment at the US Consulate in Italy and apply for a J-1 visa. To initiate the visa process, you will need to provide the following:

• Passport information - upload PASSPORT BIOGRAPHICAL PAGE
• Program information - upload LETTER OF ENROLMENT from the Politecnico on letterhead, certifying the student's current enrollment in a degree program, expected graduation date, and good academic standing. Upload
• Letter of invitation from the host department/lab (will be provided by the MIT hosting department)
• Address information
• Financial information - More than 51% of the total funding must come from a source other than personal or family funds. (This includes the Rocca Fellowship.) - Upload FUNDING DOCUMENTS
• Medical certification - All visiting students must purchase MIT's Extended Student Insurance Plan or provide proof that their insurance meets the requirements specified by federal regulations for J-1 student visa holders. The MIT Student Health Plan Office requires that all visiting students' insurance cover pre-existing conditions. All questions about medical insurance should be directed to the MIT Student Health Plan Office at stuplan@med.mit.edu

The Rocca Project awards up to two 12-month postdoctoral fellowships per year to recent Politecnico PhD graduates in the fields of materials science, mechanical engineering, bioengineering and life sciences, energy, electrical engineering, and computer science. Projects focusing on buildings, infrastructure, and planning will be considered only if they emphasize mathematical and physical modeling and the innovative use of materials.

These awards are intended to recognize and support young researchers of exceptional promise, but also to encourage ambitious collaborations between MIT and Politecnico faculty. The merits of the proposed collaboration will be crucial in the selection of Fellows. Proposed collaborations must last at least two years. In the second year, as provided for by the Roberto Rocca Agreement, Rocca fellows will return to Politecnico where they will continue working on the joint project with funding from the Politecnico Principal Investigator.

Proposals may be submitted by faculty from MIT or the Polytechnic University of Milan and must be signed by two Principal Investigators, one from MIT and one from the Polytechnic University of Milan. Only regular faculty members may sign as PIs.

Please note that the availability of funding for the second year from the Polytechnic University of Milan is a prerequisite for a successful application for this type of grant.

Funding is currently available for two of these projects per year: only one 12-month grant per project. The deadline for submitting proposals for the two-year Roberto Rocca collaboration is April 15th for the fall and spring semesters (a single deadline). The selection will be made by members of the MIT-Italy Scientific Committee.

Conditions and Regulations:

Applicants must have completed their PhD for a maximum of two years at the time of application.

Applications must be sent by email to the President of the Politecnico di Milano at progettorocca@polimi.it.

Scholarships, unless otherwise specified, will begin in January and end in December.

Research projects must be signed by two Principal Investigators (PIs), one from the Politecnico di Milano and one from MIT.

Applications must include: A project description – no more than three pages – signed by the two PIs.

The CVs of the two PIs – no more than two pages each.

A letter signed by the Politecnico di Milano PI and the Head of Department indicating financial support for the collaborative project at the Politecnico for the year following the stay at MIT.

The applicant's CV.

Academic record and grades.

TOEFL or other proof of English language proficiency.