RISE – Ragon Institute Summer Experience

The Ragon Institute Summer Experience (RISE) is a paid summer immunology internship at the Ragon Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for high school and college students from Greater Boston communities with economic need. Interns are matched with Ragon faculty mentors and work on projects in their research labs. Alongside lab work, the cohort starts with a first-week boot camp on how a research institute operates, takes a twice-weekly introduction to immunology course taught by graduate students, and joins lectures, journal clubs, college and career workshops, field trips, and social activities. The summer ends with a final presentation of each intern's work. The high school track lasts seven weeks at 25 hours per week, and in 2026 it paid $17 per hour. The 2026 high school program ran June 22 to August 7, 2026, in person.

Must attend or have attended high school in Boston, Cambridge, Everett, Revere, Lynn, Brockton, Chelsea, or another Massachusetts Gateway city; applicants with economic need are prioritized. For 2026, high school applicants had to be rising seniors or 2026 graduates and at least 16 years old. Must be legally permitted to work in the US, and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is expected. Must show interest in immunology and STEM and be able to work 25 hours per week and join all activities. The application asks for a resume, an unofficial transcript, teacher or mentor recommendations, and a personal statement.