Train at Broad

The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard is a research organization that convenes a community of researchers from across many disciplines and partner institutions, including MIT, Harvard, and the Harvard-affiliated hospitals, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Broad is a collaborative community that unites more than 500 faculty and thousands of scientists to empower and support a new generation of scientists to tackle ambitious challenges in basic biology and disease.

Postdoctoral Researchers are Integral to the Broad’s Scientific Vision

Through their work, researchers drive the Broad’s scientific mission, including postdocs across academic labs and areas of research.

Academic Labs
Each core faculty member at the Broad leads a laboratory consisting of students, postdoctoral fellows, and scientific staff. These labs mirror much of the structure and membership of partner institutions; however, rather than being physically embedded within a department where every faculty member is from the same discipline, the core faculty labs are physically adjacent to scientists from other disciplines and interests. Trainees in core faculty labs are typically engaged in one or more of the Broad’s programs and often benefit from and collaborate with the Broad’s platforms. Learn more about the Broad’s Academic Labs.

Disease Areas
The Broad’s scientific programs and initiatives bring together academic and professional staff scientists to develop transformative new approaches to biomedical research, understand the fundamental basis of genome and cell biology, and advance knowledge and practice in diseases with unmet medical needs. Learn more about the Broad’s Disease Areas.

Technology Areas
The Broad is committed to technology and technology development. In-house teams carry out large-scale projects and work closely with Broad scientists and collaborators to tackle scientific challenges too complex for a typical laboratory. Learn more about the Broad’s Technology Areas.

Scientific Areas
The Broad’s scientific platforms focus on discovering, developing, and optimizing critical technological tools. Scientists use these tools and leverage data to make biological insights and support drug development. Learn more about the Broad’s Scientific Areas.

Professional Development for Postdocs

The Broad is committed to the training and encouragement of the next generation of scientists. Postdoctoral researchers represent these scientists, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and scientific communicators. The Office of Academic Affairs is dedicated to providing the postdoctoral community with the resources necessary to succeed in all future endeavors.

The Office of Academic Affairs offers:

Workshops and seminars discussing career pathways, preparation for the academic and non-academic job markets, and soft skills training in areas such as leadership, writing, and mentoring.
Individual Development Plans (IDPs) to assist postdoctoral researchers in strategizing and implementing their future goals.
Funding opportunities such as the BroadIgnite Award to provide the base for launching an independent career. Learn more about the BroadIgnite Award.
Information sessions with employers from non-academic industries such as pharma, biotech, and venture capital.

Fostering the Trainee Community

There are nearly 200 postdoctoral scientists whose primary appointment is at the Broad Institute. They join another 1,500 postdocs and graduate students from MIT, Harvard, and Harvard-affiliated hospitals to make a robust academic trainee community.

NextGen Association for Postdocs and Graduate Students
The NextGen Association is the Broad’s professional association for Broad-affiliated academic trainees. NextGen’s mission is to enrich the training experience for the academic trainees working at the Broad. Working with the Broad’s Office of Academic Affairs, NextGen sponsors social and community-building activities, implements career and professional development programming, and serves as a liaison for the trainee community and Broad leadership. Learn more about the NextGen Association.

Affinity Groups
Affinity Groups provide opportunities for Broadies who share common interests to come together to advance great science, networking, and career development. Current groups exist to support the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, women, and more.

BroadLife: Making Life Work
The mission of BroadLife is to help make life work for all members of the Broad’s diverse community by offering resources and workshops that make it easier to integrate work, personal, and family commitments.