For Nicholas Maurer, an international PhD student from Australia pursuing his degree in social and engineering systems through the Institute of Data, Systems, and Society, MIT was a lifelong goal. Growing up in Australia with a background in physics and engineering, he worked as a researcher, but never stopped wondering what it would be like to study at MIT. When the opportunity came two years ago, he and his wife Andrea made the leap across the world, bringing their young children Elaine, 5, and Zachary, 3, with them. 'It was always on my radar,' Maurer recalls. 'Coming to MIT felt like a dream come true.' Maurer's wife, Andrea, explains that it was 'always in the cards' for the couple to travel for his studies, but neither of them expected this step to come after they had kids. Nevertheless, when Nicholas received multiple PhD offers, the decision came down to one crucial factor: support for their family of four. Together, the couple researched resources before deciding on the...
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