HMS Graduate Program

Human-Machine Systems Traineeship

  • child smiling while interacting with therapist
  • a robot serves a drink to a person in a wheelchair
  • Student presenting her research on “Bioprinting of Piezoelectric Scaffolds for Treatment of Skeletal Muscle Defects”.
  • Lexie Mallinos in an Orthotics and Prosthetics lab.
  • Harness

Human-Machine Systems for Physical Rehabilitation Graduate Traineeship

A National Science Foundation Research Traineeship Program

Accepting Students for Fall 2024

Rolling Admission Priority Date January 1, 2024

Is this program for me?

If you are interested in getting a graduate degree (MS or PhD) and using technology to transform the lives of people with disabilities, this program is for you.  If you want to work on teams with people with disabilities and students and faculty members from different disciplines, this program is for you.  We want students seeking degrees in all engineering fields, computer science, urban studies, psychology, and exercise science to participate.  This is an opportunity to explore a career path that is meaningful and significant and touches lives.  Students with disabilities and students from minority groups that are underrepresented in these fields are especially encouraged to apply.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability we very much want you to apply to participate in our program.  From travel, to housing, to everyday work in the lab, to field trips, and to peer support, we will work closely with you so that you have what you need to succeed in our program.  Check out our Students with Disabilities page for answers to frequently asked questions and testimonials from program alumnae and alumni who have disabilities.  

What will I do in this program?

You will work toward your MS or PhD in your home program of study.  You will also participate in our traineeship in human-machine systems for physical rehabilitatoin which integrates into your home program without adding any time to your degree completion.  The traineeship includes taking a set of core courses with students from other fields, partcipating on a transdisciplinary research team, participating in our Community of Convergence Practice, and doing two community, clinical, or industry internships.  

What are the benefits? 

  • Work across disciplines in engineering, computer science, occupational and physical therapy, psychology, urban development, and exercise physiology
  • Participation in cutting-edge assistive technology and rehabilitation research
  • Work directly on research teams with people with disabilities
  • Individual career development plans with mentoring from experts in multiple fields
  • Opportunity to travel to and present your research at conferences
  • $34,000 annual stipend for supported PhD students
  • Free tuition for supported PhD students

NSF logoCenter for Human-Machine Systems logo