Ragon Institute

Education & Outreach

The Office of Education & Outreach supports the Institute’s mission 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.

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.

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.

Other Programs

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

Biohaven Leadership Visits Ragon Institute

Mar 17, 2025 Features

Earlier this month, the Ragon Institute welcomed leadership from Biohaven for an insightful visit and discussion with our team. Biohaven CEO Vlad Coric, MD, and board member John Childs toured the Institute and met with Bruce Walker, MD, the Ragon Institute’s founding director, to explore mutual interests and opportunities in the fields of immunology, infectious […]

Ragon Institute Launches Scientific Editing Platform

Mar 14, 2025 Features

The Ragon Institute is pleased to announce the launch of our internal Scientific Editing Platform. Created with the support of the scientific director Facundo Batista, PhD, the platform aims to assist our research community in developing impactful and compelling grant applications. The platform provides scientific editing to enhance our Institute’s grant submissions. The services are […]

New Study Reveals How Regulatory T Cells Prevent Autoimmune Attacks Without Weakening Immunity

Feb 27, 2025 Research Highlights

A new study published in Science by researchers from the Ragon Institute, NIH/NIAID, and the University of Chicago reveals a critical function of the immune system: how regulatory T cells (Tregs) selectively suppress autoimmune reactions while allowing protective responses against infections. The immune system must constantly balance two opposing forces—attacking harmful invaders while preventing damage to healthy […]

Yu to Speak at IAS 2025: Advancing HIV Science on the Global Stage

Feb 13, 2025 Features

Xu Yu, MD, a faculty member at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard, and Harvard Medical School, has been selected as a Featured Speaker at IAS 2025, the 13th IAS Conference on HIV Science.  This prestigious international event, taking place from July 13–17 in Kigali, Rwanda, brings together leading HIV scientists […]