CAMBRIDGE, MA—August 30, 2023: An MIT professor has died following injuries sustained in a bicycle accident last week.
Thomas Rose, 37, from Berlin, Germany, was involved in a collision with a vehicle at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Memorial Drive around 6 a.m. on August 21, according to Cambridge Police. He was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he passed away on August 30.
The driver remained at the scene. The incident is under investigation; authorities have not released details on the circumstances of the crash or potential charges against the driver.
Rose was an assistant professor of materials science, specializing in ancient metalworking. He was preparing to open his lab and teach courses in the upcoming fall term, beginning next week. MIT representatives remembered him as a dedicated mentor and a collaborative colleague.
According to a statement from senior lecturer Michael Tarkanian, “He was everything you could have asked for as a colleague and a person.” Rose's research focused on the role of metals in shaping early human society.
Outside of academia, he enjoyed rowing on the Charles River, dancing, reading manga, and participating in MIT's Archery Club. Tarkanian noted that “the students loved him,” highlighting the strong bond he shared with his students.
The investigation into the accident remains active.