Ragon Institute Initiatives
Our initiatives aim to inspire and engage students from surrounding communities with economic need, 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 who are interested in learning about immunology and related fields. RISE aims to inspire young people from 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 2026 are open now.
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 enrich 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 surrounding communities with economic need, 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.
Application: December 15th, 2025
Application Deadline: January 18th, 2026
Program Dates: Saturday, March 7th, 2026 – Saturday, April 25th, 2026
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.
Support Our Vital Research
As a non-profit institution, the Ragon relies on the generosity of our benefactors to advance our world-changing research. Whether giving to labs at the Ragon, outreach programs in the Boston area, or research programs in South Africa, one of the greatest catalysts in going from novel ideas to treatments and cures is flexible philanthropic support from donors — and your gift could make all the difference.
Ragon News
Shalek Lab Study Reveals How a Key T Cell Protein Keeps Immune Responses in Balance
Apr 30, 2026 Research Highlights
A new study led by the Shalek Lab at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard, as well as the Broad Institute, published in Science, shows how a protein called LAT coordinates the many signals that drive T cell activation. The findings reveal that LAT does not switch these signals on separately. Instead, it holds […]
An Interview with Caroline Sokol, the Neuroimmune Allergy Researcher Joining the Ragon Faculty
Apr 28, 2026 Features
The Ragon is pleased to welcome Caroline Sokol, MD, PhD, as our newest faculty member. She leads the Sokol Lab as a Member of the Ragon Institute, while also serving as an Assistant Physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. A physician-scientist specializing in allergy and immunology, […]
Gaiha Lab Identifies T Cells With Robust Expansion Capability That Help a Rare Group of People Naturally Control HIV After Treatment Interruption
Apr 22, 2026 Research Highlights
A small number of people living with HIV are able to durably suppress the virus after stopping antiretroviral therapy, a phenomenon that has long interested researchers searching for a functional cure. A new study from the Gaiha Lab at the Ragon Institute, published in Science Translational Medicine, helps explain why, and points to a specific […]
Dang Lab Study Shows Why the Immune System Fails to Eliminate a Dangerous Fungal Pathogen
Apr 20, 2026 Features
A new study from the Dang Lab at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, has found that the body’s immune system inadvertently protects a dangerous fungus from being destroyed, helping to explain why certain infections linger in the lungs for years and can reactivate with […]