From St Cat’s to MIT: Caleb’s Fulbright Journey
Exploring research, innovation and student life in Boston as a Fulbright Scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Caleb Adams, a St Catherine’s College resident and Fulbright Scholar, is currently undertaking his master’s at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). From advanced research and hands-on engineering projects to life in Boston, Caleb shares an insight into his experience so far.
Life at MIT during winter in Boston
I landed at LAX in early August 2025, and since then it’s been an incredible experience.
Overall, my time at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has been amazing. In fact, it’s been so rewarding that I’m now seriously considering staying on after my master’s to complete a PhD.
Caleb exploring Boston during winter
Boston is a busy, high-energy city. It’s not just a hub of innovation, but also a cultural centre. Living on campus at MIT in a graduate dorm means I’m right near Kendall Square and Harvard Medical School—areas with some of the highest concentrations of biomedical innovation and investment in the world. You really feel that when you’re here. There’s so much happening that you can’t help but get drawn into the ‘anything can be built’ mentality.
“You’re surrounded by brilliant people and there’s a real sense that anything can be built, it’s hard not to get swept up in it.”
The MIT Dome in Cambridge during winter
At the same time, Boston is one of the oldest cities in the US, so there’s history everywhere. I’ve really enjoyed exploring sites connected to major moments like the Boston Tea Party. There’s always something to do, although the weather has been a big adjustment. Boston has had multiple heavy snowfalls and long stretches below 10 degrees, very different from Perth. I arrived without any snow gear and have had to buy everything here. My best purchase so far has definitely been a good pair of gloves, they’ve even come in handy for building snowmen.
Sport is also huge here. Boston has a team in almost every major league, and I’ve been to see the Red Sox, MLB, Celtics, NBA and Fleet, NHL. The atmosphere at games is incredible.
Game night atmosphere at a Boston sports stadium
MIT itself has been the standout. From a research perspective, the resources are exceptional. You’re surrounded by brilliant people and have access to everything from nanofabrication facilities to full machine shops. The regular talks and seminars are also eye-opening, recently, Nobel Prize winner Daron Acemoglu spoke about inequality and shaping the future of work.
Mechanical engineering work in the MIT lab
The classes are challenging in the best way. I’m currently taking Elements of Mechanical Design with Professor Martin Culpepper, which follows MIT’s “learning by doing” philosophy. We’re building a high-precision manual lathe from scratch.
Alongside six lectures a week, I’m also spending around 15 hours on a research project in Dr Krebs’ lab, focused on developing a precision actuation device to counteract tremor during writing. The aim is to improve autonomy for people living with tremor and contribute to our understanding of disease pathology.
I also recently travelled to Washington DC for an advocacy trip, meeting with congressional staff to discuss science funding and high-skilled immigration. It was fascinating to see policy development from the legislative side.
Advocacy visit to Washington DC with fellow students
It’s been great connecting with the Australian community here through the MIT ANZ Club and the Harvard Kennedy School ANZ Caucus. There are some incredibly talented Aussies studying over here, and it’s been a nice taste of home while being on the other side of the world, even if it means defending Vegemite.
Finally, Fulbright Australia has been incredibly supportive throughout this experience, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity. If you’re considering doing your master’s overseas, I’d strongly encourage you to look into the Fulbright program.
Interested in opportunities like Caleb’s? Discover how St Catherine’s College supports students to pursue global pathways and academic excellence here.