The CELS Summer Research Fellowship program provides URI undergraduate students with opportunities to participate in ongoing research, education, or public outreach programs designed to address current environmental and/or societal issues.
Environmental and societal issues are complex. They demand expert problem solvers, adept at addressing emerging problems and implementing programs that draw on a range of disciplines and technologies. This requires skills acquired through both classroom/lab and research experience. The CELS Summer Research Fellowship Program bridges these two worlds to maximize opportunities for students by better preparing them to enter the job market with the industry training and professional skills needed to succeed.
Explore Cooperative Extension Fellowship Programs
Why become a CELS Summer Research Fellow?
- Gain experience in your field of study.
- Participate in various research and public outreach projects.
- Get hands-on experience in the ultimate outdoor classroom or lab.
- Present YOUR research at a scientific poster symposium.
- Network, Network, Network!
Fellowship Program Details:
- Fellows are matched with URI faculty working on research, education or an outreach project. Fellows also have the option to work with an outside company or organization.
- Summer portion of the Fellowship runs for 10 weeks from mid-May to the end of July.
- Fellows work 20-40 hours per week while receiving an hourly wage.
- Students from disadvantaged communities and backgrounds are encouraged to apply, and might be eligible to participate in a cohort based program that includes room and board.
- Fellows may be provided the option to continue research over the fall for 5-10 hours per week, while receiving up to 3 academic credit hours. This is based on research availability.
- During the Fall Semester fellows are required to take a 2-credit seminar course: EVS 366- Communicating Environmental Research and Outreach. This class guides students, in a step-by-step process, through the analysis and synthesis of their fellowship work.
- Program culminates with the CELS Research and Extension Fellowship Symposium where students present a scientific research poster reflecting the work they conducted over the summer.
Who Should Apply?
Interested undergraduate students in College of the Environment and Life Sciences, as well as other URI majors, who are in good standing with the University and enrolled full-time through December of the program year are encouraged to apply. Those students who demonstrate communication skills, work well with others, and express a willingness to engage in current research topics will be considered.
News and Stories
Tracking mosquito-borne disease across Rhode Island: Q&A with Azaliah Lopes September 23, 2026 - CELS Summer Research Fellow Azaliah Lopes spent the season in the field with RIDEM's mosquito abatement program, trapping and identifying mosquitoes across the state and testing for West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and Jamestown Canyon Virus. 
On the Front Lines of Mosquito Surveillance: Q&A with Mame Issa Ndoye September 23, 2026 - Mame Issa Ndoye identifies mosquitoes across Rhode Island as part of RIDEM's surveillance effort to track West Nile, Triple E, and Jamestown Canyon virus.
CELS Summer Research Fellows examine flooding, pollution, and stormwater in Rhode Island September 23, 2026 - Carissa Sherman and Jaired Flanagan '26 used GIS, hydrologic modeling, and environmental data to investigate how water moves through Rhode Island communities — and how better stormwater management can protect local waterways and Narragansett Bay.
From Penguins to Rabbits: URI Undergraduates Help Improve Success of Conservation Breeding Programs for Imperiled Species September 23, 2026 - From penguins to rabbits, URI students are helping give imperiled species a better chance at survival. Under the mentorship of URI's Justin Richard and in partnership with leading zoos and aquariums, these CELS Summer Research Fellows are contributing to conservation efforts that reach far beyond the classroom.