A World of Possibilities

A recipient of the prestigious Ryan Scholarship, CJ Hamilton ’25 appreciates being part of a community of students with “big ambitions.”

For CJ Hamilton ’25, attending URI has opened a variety of pathways, allowing him to explore his many interests.

“URI gives students opportunities to figure out who they are, to change their mind about who they want to be and what they want to do with the rest of their life,” says Hamilton, a molecular neuroscience major and Thomas M. Ryan Scholar from New London, Conn., who is interested in a medical career and also has an emerging interest in medical research.

“The Ryan Scholarship has provided me with the opportunity to excel in my academics without concerns of creating a financial burden for both me and my family,” says Hamilton. “It has also provided me with a community of other successful students with big ambitions, which is amazing to feed off of.”

His interest in medical research was sparked after his sophomore year when Hamilton was accepted as a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow for RI-INBRE (R.I. IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence). During the 10-week paid summer research program, he worked in the Manuel Lab at URI’s George & Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience.

Researchers in the Manuel Lab investigate the complexities of the motor system and how pathological conditions affect motor function. Using advanced techniques such as in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology, viral approaches, and advanced imaging, lab researchers seek to uncover the mechanisms behind motor function and dysfunction.

Emily Reedich, a postdoctoral fellow in the Manuel Lab, says Hamilton is “a great student,” who took on the challenge inherent to the lab’s work “head-on and with an ever-positive attitude.”

Hamilton joined the team at the Manuel Lab, Reedich says, just as they were beginning a study about whether the timing of neuromuscular system development is altered in a model of cerebral palsy.

“It’s always a challenge getting a new project off the ground, especially such a large-scale one: This project involves tracking the progression of a developmental phenomenon and analyzing that data at not just one, but several time points throughout the early postnatal period,” says Reedich. “CJ learned very quickly how to independently perform the experiments, including how to operate a complicated microscopy system.”

Hamilton furthered his interest in medicine by volunteering as a first responder at URI Emergency Medical Services, which helped him to become a licensed EMT for an off-campus ambulance service.

“I learned to navigate emergency scenarios calmly,” says Hamilton, adding that the off-campus ambulance service “primarily caters to elderly populations, allowing me to enhance my communication skills across different age groups.”

Hamilton has also supported URI as a campus tour guide and as a student ambassador. Both experiences, he says, helped him hone his presentation and social skills.

“In my first year on campus, my roommates, who were already tour guides, convinced me to apply for the job, and I am grateful for their encouragement,” says Hamilton. “As a student ambassador, I have mentored prospective and incoming students. I am passionate about mentoring, as I wouldn’t be where I am today without the mentors I have had.”

Entering his senior year, Hamilton is considering several educational and career paths in addition to medicine or medical research, including pursuing graduate studies in neuroscience or business or becoming a physician’s assistant.

“URI has helped shape me into a person who can prepare himself for anything to come,” says Hamilton. “I have not only grown academically, but I have also matured professionally through the extracurricular opportunities I have immersed myself in.”

—Gary E. Frank

PHOTO: SETH JACOBSON

The Thomas M. Ryan Scholarship

The Thomas M. Ryan Scholars program provides full scholarships for four years for selected students. It also offers access to the University’s Honors Program, as well as leadership and advising opportunities and access to special University events.

The scholarship is part of a $35 million gift from Thomas M. Ryan ’75, Hon. ’99, and his wife, Cathy Ryan, to support expanded research and teaching capacity in neuroscience and attract high-performing students like CJ Hamilton ’25.

Learn more about URI admission scholarships.