This page covers research opportunities and internships for undergraduate students at Rhode Island colleges and universities, including on-campus labs, summer research programs, cross-border Boston-area programs, and public health research.
On-Campus Research
Brown University: Brown is a major research university with federally funded laboratories across the biomedical sciences, neuroscience, public health, engineering, and computational biology. Undergraduate research is deeply embedded in Brown’s culture; the Undergraduate Teaching and Research Awards (UTRAs) provide stipends for students conducting summer research with Brown faculty. The Karen T. Romer Undergraduate Teaching and Research Program supports semester-time and summer research. Brown’s biology, chemistry, neuroscience, and biomedical engineering departments all actively recruit undergraduate researchers. To join a lab, review faculty profiles, read a recent paper, and email the professor with a specific, professional inquiry. Brown’s open curriculum gives pre-med students the schedule flexibility to dedicate meaningful time to research without sacrificing course requirements.
University of Rhode Island: URI faculty across biology, chemistry, pharmacy, biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences, and ocean sciences accept undergraduate researchers. URI’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Innovation supports students in finding mentors and applying for funding. The Undergraduate Research and Innovation Fund provides grants for student-led research projects. URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography conducts environmental and marine health research with connections to public health topics like water quality, microplastics, and environmental toxicology. URI’s College of Pharmacy provides research opportunities in pharmacology, drug delivery, and clinical pharmacy that are directly relevant to healthcare careers.
Rhode Island College: RIC faculty conduct research across the sciences and accept undergraduate assistants. RIC’s smaller scale means less competition for lab positions and more personalized mentorship. The annual RIC Undergraduate Research Symposium provides a venue to present your work. Providence College, Roger Williams, Salve Regina: Faculty at these institutions conduct research and welcome undergraduate collaborators. The smaller student bodies mean research mentors are more accessible than at large universities.
Summer Research Programs
Brown University Summer Research: Brown’s UTRA program and departmental summer research positions provide paid summer research experiences for Brown students. Some Brown-affiliated summer programs may accept students from other Rhode Island institutions, particularly through diversity and pipeline initiatives. Check with Brown’s Office of Undergraduate Research for current eligibility.
NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU): Rhode Island institutions and neighboring state universities host NSF-funded REU programs in biology, chemistry, biomedical engineering, and environmental science. REU programs provide 8 to 10 week paid summer research with stipends ($5,000 to $7,000), housing, and travel support. Search the NSF REU database at nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu for programs in Rhode Island and the broader New England region. Applications typically open in December with deadlines in January through March.
Cross-border Boston-area programs: Rhode Island students should actively apply to summer research programs at Boston-area institutions, which are approximately one hour from Providence by car or Amtrak. Programs at Harvard, MIT, Tufts, Boston University, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Broad Institute all accept students from any institution. These programs are competitive but provide access to some of the most productive biomedical research environments in the world. The NIH Summer Internship Program (Bethesda, MD) is also accessible and highly prestigious. See our Massachusetts page for Boston-area program details.
Public Health Research
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) conducts epidemiology, disease surveillance, and community health research and may hire interns and research assistants. Brown University’s School of Public Health conducts community-engaged research on health disparities, substance use, mental health, and other topics relevant to Rhode Island communities. URI’s health science departments conduct research in nutrition, physical activity, and health promotion. These positions combine research skills with direct community impact and are valuable for students considering MPH degrees or public health careers. See our Public Health career page.
Presenting and Publishing Your Research
The value of research experience is amplified when you communicate your findings. Present your work at your institution’s undergraduate research symposium (Brown’s Spring Research Symposium, URI’s Undergraduate Research and Innovation Showcase, RIC’s Undergraduate Research Symposium). Apply to present posters at regional conferences (New England Science Symposium, Experimental Biology, and discipline-specific meetings). Discuss co-authorship opportunities with your mentor. Even if your project does not result in a publication, a poster presentation demonstrates your ability to synthesize and communicate scientific findings, a skill medical schools value. See our Research Experience page.
Finding and Securing Research Positions in Rhode Island
The process for joining a research lab is the same regardless of institution: identify faculty whose work interests you, read at least the abstract and conclusions of one or two recent papers, and send a brief professional email expressing your interest. At Brown, where research culture is strong and faculty expect undergraduate involvement, most professors respond positively to well-crafted inquiries from students who demonstrate genuine interest in their work. At URI, where the student-to-faculty ratio in science departments may be larger, persistence matters; if your first contact does not respond, follow up once and then try other faculty. At RIC and smaller schools, faculty are often eager for undergraduate help and may be more accessible than professors at larger research universities.
Timing is important. Approach faculty about research positions at the beginning of the academic year (September for a spring start, January for a summer start). For competitive summer programs (Brown’s UTRAs, NSF REUs, Boston-area programs), application deadlines typically fall between December and March. Set calendar reminders and prepare your application materials (resume, personal statement, letters of recommendation) well in advance. Apply broadly to multiple programs and lab positions to maximize your chances of securing a placement.
Industry and Government Internships
Rhode Island’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector is smaller than those in Massachusetts or Connecticut, but opportunities exist. CVS Health, headquartered in Woonsocket, RI, is one of the largest healthcare companies in the country and offers internship opportunities in pharmacy operations, health analytics, and corporate healthcare management. Local biotechnology startups and contract research organizations in the Providence area may offer research assistant positions. The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) hires interns for epidemiology, disease surveillance, health data analysis, and community health projects. Brown’s School of Public Health and URI’s health science departments conduct community-engaged research that may include undergraduate positions. These non-academic research experiences broaden your understanding of the healthcare system beyond the laboratory bench and provide talking points for medical school interviews and application essays.
Rhode Island students should also actively seek industry and research internships in neighboring Massachusetts, where the pharmaceutical and biotech sector (concentrated along the Route 128/I-95 corridor and in Cambridge/Boston) is among the largest in the world. Companies including Moderna, Biogen, Takeda, Sanofi, and numerous startups hire summer interns. The commute from Providence to Cambridge or Boston is approximately one hour by car or Amtrak, making these positions practical for RI-based students who are willing to commute or relocate for the summer. Many summer internship programs in the Boston area provide housing or housing stipends, which further reduces the logistical barriers for Rhode Island students. The investment of a summer in a top-tier biotech or pharmaceutical company can significantly strengthen your application and expand your professional network beyond Rhode Island’s small healthcare community.
References
NSF. “REU Programs.” NSF, 2025. https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/. Accessed March 2026.
Brown University. “Undergraduate Research.” Brown, 2025. https://www.brown.edu/. Accessed March 2026.
URI. “Office of Undergraduate Research.” URI, 2025. https://www.uri.edu/. Accessed March 2026.