Ragon Institute

Education & Outreach

The Office of Education & Outreach supports the Institute’s mission and its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by offering programs and educational opportunities to the Greater Boston community and beyond.

Initiatives

Our initiatives aim to inspire and engage students from underrepresented communities, providing them with opportunities to explore careers in medical research, immunology, and STEM fields. By partnering with local schools, organizations, and community groups, we create pathways for students to gain hands-on experience, mentorship, and exposure to cutting-edge scientific research. Our commitment extends beyond education; we also focus on building strong community connections, ensuring that science becomes accessible and impactful beyond the walls of the Ragon Institute.

Ragon Institute Summer Experience (RISE)

The Ragon Institute Summer Experience (RISE) internship program engages high school and undergraduate students underrepresented in medical research who are interested in learning about immunology and related fields. RISE aims to inspire young people from underrepresented communities in the Greater Boston area to consider a career in medical research and immunology by offering a paid, structured, and mentored internship with extended supports. Applications for Summer 2025 will be available in late January.

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Catherine Othieno Sempa Memorial Post Baccalaureate Scholars Program

This two-year program engages talented graduates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Puerto Rican universities in immersive immunology research experiences. Participants work as full-time research technicians under the mentorship of Ragon Institute Principal Investigators or Post-Doctoral Research Fellows, receiving a competitive salary, benefits, and a $3,000 travel allowance. In addition to hands-on research, scholars benefit from academic and professional development activities, including scientific communication training, seminars, workshops, and graduate school preparation. This program aims to diversify the field of academic research by providing recent graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary for successful careers in scientific research.

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PRISM and STEM Scholars

The Program of Ragon and IMES in Science and Medicine (PRISM) Science Club

The PRISM Science Club, for high school students from underrepresented communities in the Greater Boston area, meets on Saturdays in March and April. PRISM is a joint effort between the Ragon Institute, MIT’s Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES), and the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST), housed at IMES which launched in 2022. Each week features a different program, with a talk, discussion, and an activity. The club is facilitated by graduate students from IMES/HST.

STEM Scholars

STEM Scholars is an after-school program in collaboration with the Cambridge Housing Authority. Ragon scientists and staff have the opportunity to volunteer by assisting students in grades 8-12 with their homework in STEM subjects and providing mentorship over two hours each week during the school year. STEM Scholars aims to foster a supportive learning environment and build strong relationships with students, giving back to the community around us and helping mold the scientists of tomorrow.

Ragon News

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Governor Maura Healey Signs Mass Leads Act at Ragon Institute

Dec 10, 2024 Features

This morning, the Ragon Institute had the privilege of hosting Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll for the ceremonial signing of the Mass Leads Act (H.5100). This landmark legislation is designed to solidify Massachusetts’ position as a global leader in emerging industries like climatetech, applied artificial intelligence (AI), and life sciences while promoting […]

Ringel Lab Study Reveals Age-Related Decline in Tumor-Fighting T Cells and Its Impact on Cancer Treatment

Oct 1, 2024 Research Highlights

Researchers at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard have uncovered critical insights into how aging impairs the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. A study led by the Ringel Lab at the Ragon Institute and published in Cancer Immunology Research shows that as the body ages a type of immune cells called CD8+ T cells, essential for […]

New Research from the Ragon and Broad Unveils the Protective Role of CD4+ T Cells in Tuberculosis Reinfection

Sep 24, 2024 Features

Researchers from the Shalek Lab at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard, in collaboration with the Broad Institute, have uncovered key insights into how prior Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection primes the immune system for enhanced protection against reinfection. This study, published in Immunity on August 30, used a non-human primate model to demonstrate that […]