12 Internships for High School Students in Oregon
Internships can help you explore potential career paths while building practical and professional skills during high school. Many internships include research, mentorship, technical training, and project-based work that introduce you to fields like healthcare, engineering, environmental science, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence. You can also gain exposure to professional environments while learning from researchers, faculty, and industry mentors through structured experiences.
Why should you intern in Oregon?
Oregon is home to many universities, healthcare centers, research labs, and community organizations that offer valuable, structured internship opportunities for high school students. You will have the chance to work in cancer research labs, dentistry programs, heart health programs, environmental projects, engineering labs, nursing mentorship programs, and even AI and biomedical imaging internships. Programs at places like OHSU, the University of Portland, and the Port of Portland allow students to work with professionals, attend seminars, complete lab work, and present their research through posters or symposiums.
To make your search easier, we have curated a list of 12 internships for high school students in Oregon.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
1. Ted R. Lilley CURE Program at OHSU Knight Cancer Institute
Location: OHSU Knight Cancer Research Building, Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: Free; $4,000 stipend ($12.50/hour)
Dates: June 22 – August 14
Application Deadline: Typically, mid-December
Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors, or seniors from Oregon high schools, ages 16 and above, with a 3.0 GPA or higher, who have taken at least one lab science class, preferably biology, and have an interest in research
The Ted R. Lilley CURE Program at OHSU Knight Cancer Institute is a hands-on research opportunity for high school students. The program encourages student participation from underserved backgrounds and aims to address health equity issues. You will engage in 8 weeks of laboratory work, 40 hours per week. You will work alongside a faculty member, participate in weekly seminars, and align with the program curriculum and your mentor's expectations. The program concludes with a poster presentation attended by participants, directors, laboratory employees, and other staff members.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships span a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech to AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are, on average, high-growth companies that raise over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long. Apply now!
3. Apprenticeships in Science & Engineering (ASE) Program
Location: Oregon and Southwest Washington (Around 100 internship positions are offered)
Cost: Non-refundable $40 application fee; Fee waivers are available
Dates: Intern matching will begin on April 15
Application Deadline: March 6
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, or 12th graders living within 50 miles of the internship location
Apprenticeships in Science & Engineering (ASE) Program offers part-time and full-time internship opportunities to high school students. You will be connected with mentors in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The program will allow you to learn by observing the mentors' work. The mentor organizations include research institutions, universities, and hospitals. The program offers opportunities in a range of areas, including research on developing novel viral vectors for gene therapy, the effects of genetic and environmental factors on the brain, Alzheimer's therapeutic research, and more. You will have the opportunity to share your research presentations at a formal Symposium organized by the program.
4. Research Internship Program – OHSU School of Dentistry
Location: OHSU School of Dentistry, Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipend of $15 per hour or the current minimum wage is paid
Dates: June 22 – August 14
Application Deadline: Opens in November
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students ages 16 and above
Research Internship Program – OHSU School of Dentistry offers multiple paid research opportunities to high school students. You will receive mentorship from an experienced researcher, gain advanced knowledge and skills, and explore careers in dental, oral, and craniofacial research. Some of the labs offering summer internship opportunities through the program include biomaterials, oral microbiome, tissue engineering, clinical orthodontics, and dental public health. The program concludes with a research symposium where you'll have the opportunity to present your work.
5. High School Nurse Camp at the University of Portland
Location: University of Portland, Portland, OR
Cost: Free
Dates: July 13 – 16
Application Deadline: Closed for now
Eligibility: High school students at least 16 years old
High School Nurse Camp at the University of Portland is a four-day free learning opportunity for high school students. The program will allow you to gain in-depth knowledge in the health care fields and engage in a range of activities, including academic, clinical, and community services. You will interact with current nursing students along with the faculty, staff, and nursing alumni. While not a traditional internship, you will gain knowledge about a range of concepts and techniques, including Infection control and proper handwashing, taking blood pressure and vital signs, and college and nursing school preparation. The program aims to encourage high school students from diverse, low-income, and first-generation backgrounds to pursue nursing.
6. Knight Cardiovascular Institute Summer Program
Location: Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR
Cost: Free
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: April 6
Eligibility: Oregon high school students ages 16 and above; Current 10th or 11th grade students are given preference
The Knight Cardiovascular Institute Summer Program offers high school students a hands-on learning opportunity. You will explore careers in cardiology and learn real-world applications in cardiovascular medicine, while also gaining knowledge about treatment and prevention. The program offers a research track that will help you understand the field's complex nature and gain in-depth insights into the importance of cardiovascular health to our overall well-being. The program will allow you to gain clarity about the cardiology profession, develop valuable skills, and explore future career paths.
7. Port of Portland Internship Program
Location: Port of Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided
Dates: Typically 12-months
Application Deadline: Varies by position
Eligibility: Students enrolled in school during the term of employment. Must have a minimum 2.5 GPA
The Port of Portland Internship Program offers on-the-job work experience to support high school students in the early stages of their careers. You will explore opportunities in a range of disciplines, including construction and information technology, business, transportation and land use, public affairs, legal engineering, and finance. You will work on job assignments, receive professional training and development, and learn from corporate mentors. The internships last 12 months, with students working full-time during the summer and part-time during the school year.
8. Future of Nursing Mentorship Program- Portland Workforce Alliance
Location: Portland, OR (Multiple nursing schools and hospital sites)
Cost: Free
Dates: Vary by locations
Application Deadline: October 16 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors in the Portland area
The Future of Nursing Mentorship Program - Portland Workforce Alliance is a five-week, free learning opportunity for high school students. You will engage in practical activities, interact with nursing students, and learn from nursing school admissions officers and educators as you explore different career paths in the field. The problem will allow you to develop and sharpen job-specific skills and gain practical workplace insights from employees at nursing schools and hospitals.
9. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: All 50 states + Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico
Cost/Stipend: Free; a $3,000 stipend is paid
Dates: Eight weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and rising college freshmen
Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an eight-week summer learning opportunity for high school students. You will have the opportunity to observe fisheries professionals up close and receive mentorship from them. The internship program encourages students to explore and pursue careers in marine, aquatic, and environmental sciences. You will gain insights into environmental issues, their solutions, contribute to marine conservation, and become well-equipped to pursue a fisheries career. You may also engage in outdoor activities such as electrofishing, data processing, microscope examination of specimens, snorkeling, and more.
10. Fluorescence Molecular Imaging Internship Program – Gibbs Laboratory
Location: Gibbs Laboratory, Portland, OR
Cost: Free
Dates: 10 weeks, flexible start date
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors, and college students
Fluorescence Molecular Imaging Internship Program – Gibbs Laboratory is a 10-week flexible learning experience for high school students. You will engage in hands-on work to improve imaging technologies by developing novel contrast agents. You will gain knowledge about a range of concepts, including spectroscopy, organic synthesis, biconjugation, cell culture, image analysis, fluorescence imaging, and analytical characterization. The internship will allow you to gain the knowledge and skills to pursue a career in biomedical engineering and science.
11. HEART Internship
Location: Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: June 24 – July 12 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: March 15 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: High school students
HEART Internship is a three-week summer program for high school students. The program will allow you to explore the interdisciplinary fields of engineering and biology. You will gain hands-on lab experience, attend workshops, and participate in research talks. You will develop an in-depth understanding of fetal and embryonic heart development and learn about improved approaches and strategies for diagnosing heart defects and preventing heart malformations. The program will allow you to learn a range of topics, including how blood flow works, congenital heart disease, the influence of genes on heart development, and the engineering methods used to study heart development.
12. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,400 + $45 Application fee
Dates: Session A: June 15 – 26 | Session B: July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school students ages 14 and above living in the U.S.
Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship introduces high school students to AI in health and medicine. You will receive technical training, mentorship, and gain exposure to real-world clinical challenges. You will attend technical lectures and work on collaborative projects while exploring a range of topics, including datasets, model evaluation, clinical applications, machine learning basics, medical imaging AI, and responsible AI. You will have the opportunity to interact with experts and guest speakers from academic, non-profit, healthcare, and government sectors. The program is a strong opportunity to learn about AI in healthcare while also forming meaningful friendships with like-minded peers.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
With Veritas AI, which was founded by Harvard graduate students, you can work 1-on-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we have had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. Check out a past student’s experience in the program here. You can apply here!