First, well done on following the brief perfectly.
From Google I see Edward Farhi really is MIT’s theoretical physics director. His profile page says “He, Guth and others also studied obstacles to constructing a time machine” & I found an interview where he says “If you took that little trip and you went into the future and you wanted to come back, that would be a little more problematic”. I like how you’ve anchored the story in reality by turning a real, googleable but not ultra-famous person into a character. (Should’ve mentioned this in a comment: I could easily have missed it.)
The story is pretty well thought out and written, but the stranded traveller idea is an old one, and it lacks a new perspective to really make it stand out. You could’ve added character by showing Farhi impressed with 26C physicists for overcoming obstacles to backward travel.
One criticism on specifics: I don’t think “convey” is the word a physicist would use here. “Transmit” or even “send” sounds better.
Zerrakhi, nice catch seeing that Farhi is a real person. It was actually an interesting bit of serendipity that got me there.
I had most of the story all typed out, but the character’s name was Edwin and he was from UCLA. Then I wanted to change it to MIT since it’s shorter. I decided to check their faculty roster for a real name and Farhi was the first name I clicked on. And, as you pointed out, all of those little details just kind of worked.
Thanks for the feedback re: the story. Certainly something to consider if I try for a sequel where he reaches the in-person interview portion of the application process.
And you’re right, re-reading it I must have still been in “50s radio sci-fi script” mode when I chose the word “convey.” Because that’s the format I heard this story in as I was typing it – a Dimension X (or some such) episode – and it sounds like the kind of cheesy word they’d use.
ElshaHawk (LoA) 
Zerrakhi 
Enoxice 
BiC