The Perceptual Engineering Lab, MIT CSAIL is Now Inviting Applications for Multiple Ph.D. Positions Beginning Fall 2026 and one Postdoctoral Position

The Perceptual Engineering Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), led by incoming Assistant Professor Jas Brooks, is now inviting applications for multiple Ph.D. positions beginning Fall 2026 and one postdoctoral position starting in Summer or Fall 2026. The lab will be part of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) and the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL).

The lab’s research focuses on reimagining how humans perceive and interact with the world through the design of novel sensory interfaces. Working at the intersection of computer science, engineering, neuroscience, and design, the Perceptual Engineering Lab explores new ways to engineer and compute with the senses—building what Brooks describes as an “operating system” for smell, taste, and interoception.

Through an interdisciplinary approach, the lab develops wearable and embedded interfaces that can modulate or extend human sensory experiences. Research projects may involve the creation of electrodes and recording methods for the chemical senses, models capable of decoding and generating neural sensory signals, and devices that reconfigure how people perceive temperature, touch, taste, and smell. The lab also applies these technologies to domains such as health, well-being, and environmental safety, while engaging with their broader cultural and artistic dimensions through collaboration with media, design, and the humanities.

Ph.D. Opportunities

Prospective Ph.D. candidates are admitted exclusively through the MIT EECS Ph.D. Program. Applicants interested in joining the Perceptual Engineering Lab must submit their application through the EECS admissions portal by December 1, 2025, and list Professor Brooks as a potential advisor. Applications outside MIT’s official process cannot be considered.

The lab seeks curious, driven researchers from diverse academic backgrounds, including computer science, electrical engineering, neuroscience, cognitive science, food science, and media arts. Students are not expected to be experts in all fields; instead, the lab values complementary skills, interdisciplinary collaboration, and an eagerness to learn.

Ideal candidates will have a demonstrated commitment to exploration and experimentation, evidenced through research papers, independent projects, creative works, installations, or prototypes. The lab especially welcomes projects that link computation and engineering with fields such as food sciences, medicine, media arts, digital humanities, and the cultural history of smell and taste. Collaborations with other domains—such as robotics, gender and sexuality studies, and cognitive technologies—are also encouraged.

Because the lab receives a large number of inquiries, direct responses to all messages may not be possible. Applicants are advised to review the EECS Ph.D. program details and submit their application before contacting the lab. Once the EECS application is submitted, prospective students may email Professor Brooks with the subject line [Prospective PhD Student], including:

• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• A 1–2 paragraph cover letter describing relevant research experience, future interests, and motivation for joining the lab
• (Optional) A note indicating how the applicant learned about the lab

Postdoctoral Opportunities

The Perceptual Engineering Lab is also recruiting one postdoctoral researcher for a 1–2 year appointment, beginning in Summer or Fall 2026. Priority consideration will be given to candidates who bring their own funding, though internal funding is available for one position. The lab also supports applications to major postdoctoral fellowship schemes, including the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship and the NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship.

The ideal postdoctoral candidate will possess expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Embedded systems design for wearables, particularly in miniaturized device prototyping
• Electrophysiology and neural signal analysis, focusing on sensory interfaces or computational neuroscience
• Multimodal machine learning, including modeling of sensory data or perceptual processes

There is no fixed research topic for the postdoctoral role. Selected candidates will have the freedom to develop their own research directions in collaboration with Professor Brooks while contributing to mentorship and technical skill development within the lab.

To apply, interested candidates should email jasb [at] mit.edu with the subject line [Prospective Postdoc], including:

• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• A 1–2 paragraph cover letter outlining previous research experience, key accomplishments, and intended contributions to the lab’s research agenda

The Perceptual Engineering Vision

The Perceptual Engineering Lab embodies a forward-looking vision of how technology can augment, reconfigure, and collaborate with human sensory systems. By uniting computational precision with biological understanding, the lab seeks to develop interfaces that not only interact with the senses but actively expand them.

From wearable olfactory systems and adaptive taste interfaces to neural signal modeling and multisensory computing, the lab’s work aims to transform how humans experience and design their sensory worlds. Candidates joining the lab will engage in groundbreaking research that merges technical innovation with creative exploration—shaping the future of sensory computing and interactive design.

For more information, applicants should consult the MIT EECS admissions page and review Professor Brooks’s research profile and recent publications.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the seeking entity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.