List of institute professors at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The names of Institute professor is an honor bestowed by the Faculty and supervision of MIT on the faculty colleague who has demonstrated exceptional distinction by a combination of leadership, accomplishment, & return in the scholarly, educational, & general intellectual life of the Institute or wider academic community.

Institute professor is the highest names that can be awarded to a university professor, or regents professor used at other universities in recognition of a professor's extraordinary research achievements and dedication to the school. At MIT, institute professors are granted a unique level of freedom and flexibility to pursue their research and teaching interests withoutdepartmental or school responsibilities; they version only to the provost. ordinarily no more than twelve professors work this distinction at any one time.

Institute professors are initially nominated by leaders representing either a department or school. The chair of the faculty then consults with the Academic Council and jointly appoints with the president an ad-hoc committee from various departments and non-MIT members to evaluate the attribute and make-up a documented recommendation to the president. Thedetermination is introduced based upon recommendations from professionals such(a) as lawyers and surveyors in the nominee's field. The effect is then reviewed again by the Academic Council and approved by the executive committee of the MIT Corporation. The position was created by President James R. Killian in 1951, and John C. Slater was the first to hold the title.