President Sally Kornbluth appeared on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” to discuss the impact of federal funding cuts, the new endowment tax, and the value of curiosity‑driven research. She highlighted MIT’s support for quantum technology, artificial intelligence, and even a soft‑serve recommendation.
She emphasized that the best science comes from scientists following their instincts, with long‑term experiments largely funded by federal grants. Federal support has fallen about 20%, limiting graduate admissions and threatening future breakthroughs. Researchers must wander down many blind alleys before achieving impact a decade later.
The endowment tax forced MIT to make substantial budget cuts, tightening everyone’s belt. Kornbluth cited Robert Weinberg’s discovery 45 years ago that RAS mutations drive many cancers; today RAS is shown to be druggable and is being turned into therapies for pancreatic cancer. Immunotherapy similarly rests on 40‑50 years of immunology research.
Restrictions go beyond money. About 40 % of MIT’s graduate students are international, yet the Trump‑era four‑year visa cap is incompatible with the typical five‑to‑six‑year PhD timeline. She stressed the vital contributions of international scholars to U.S. research and the economy.
Despite funding pressures, Kornbluth is optimistic about AI and quantum technologies. She believes AI will not replace PhD students but will make each one act like a “mini‑faculty” with AI agents exploring ideas alongside them. She also outlined work with Governor Maura Healey to launch a Quantum Systems Laboratory that will link different quantum computing platforms.
The interview ended on a sweet note: she championed the soft‑serve at MIT’s new Eastern Edge food hall and recommended Momma’s Grocery near Porter Square for its maple‑creamy flavor.
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