Student Researchers & Interns – Responsible Innovation Lab

Join the RIL Deal

What is the Responsible Innovation Lab?

The Responsible Innovation Lab (RIL) is a nonprofit innovation studio that partners with students to design, test, and launch projects that make a real impact on campus and in the community.
Students can join one of four tracks based on their interests and strengths.

Our Four Student Tracks

1. AI Workforce Agenda (PIIC + NOVA)

For students who want to shape how AI and innovation are done responsibly in the real world.

• PIIC – Principled Innovation & Impact Collective: ethical leadership, innovation cases, reflection-driven decision making.
• NOVA – Ethical Innovation Certification: help build and test tools that evaluate organizations on responsibility, sustainability, and long-term impact.

2. Food & Health Systems Track

For students who care about food insecurity, housing, and community health.

• Hunger-Free Campus Initiative: research, mapping, ambassadors, and policy/program concepts to reduce student hunger.
• HouseKey Resource Platform: AI-assisted navigation for food, housing, and essential student resources.
• POTS / COVID Tracker (health data module): public health and data awareness as part of our food and health systems work.

3. AI Literacy in Education Track

For students who want to understand and explain AI, not just use it.

• SDG Campus: applied learning worlds (EcoCafé, EcoConcern, CulinaryHemp, and more) using AI and critical thinking for sustainability and community projects.
• AI Literacy Media Lab: TikToks, explainers, and media projects about AI and misinformation.
• Ask Mave: an AI teaching assistant focused on reflection and responsible use made especially for a certificate program.
• Midlife College: our adult-learning AI literacy program that students can help adapt and improve.

4. Nonprofit Development & Lab Operations Track

For students who want to help build the lab itself: programs, partnerships, systems, and strategy.

• Program development and documentation for all tracks.
• Support for partnerships, internships, and student onboarding.
• Grant research, alignment, and proposal preparation.
• Website and resource updates across the RIL ecosystem.
• Impact reports, case studies, and quarterly lab updates.
• Operational support for cohorts, pilots, and workshops.

What Students Do

Across all tracks, students may:

• Join research pods and project teams.
• Co-design tools, pilots, media, and educational resources.
• Work with community partners and campus offices.
• Help build internal systems, onboarding, and documentation.
• Create portfolio-ready work (reports, tools, videos, designs).

Opportunities include

• internal RIL internships
• external partner internships
• directed research
• capstone/practicum projects
• volunteer research pods.

Who Should Get Involved?

Students from any college or major who:

• Care about people, systems, and real-world impact.
• Are curious about AI, sustainability, food systems, ethics, or nonprofit work.
• Want experience they can talk about in interviews, grad school, and future jobs.

Join the RIL Student Interest List

Tell us which track(s) you’re excited about, what skills you bring, and your availability.
We’ll follow up with opportunities for Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Read the Student Program Guidelines first. 🚨

Option 1: Fill Out the Student Application 🙋

Option 2: If you’re not ready to apply but want updates, just join the newsletter below or send us your email and we’ll add you to the RIL student interest list:
Questions? Email chris@responsibleinnovationlab.org

Join the mailing list for updates on opportunities and product launches.