10 Research Programs for High School Students in Oregon
If you're a high school student looking to explore research before committing to a specific field in college, a structured program can be a good option to explore. These programs often combine lab work, coursework, or field-based study with mentor guidance, helping you build skills, gain exposure to new material, and develop connections. Whether your interests lie in biomedical science, ecology, computer science, or engineering, these programs can help you test out a field before deciding to pursue it further.
Why should you attend a program in Oregon?
Oregon offers research programs through institutions like Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon State University, and Portland State University. You could work in a cancer research lab, contribute to a machine learning or quantum computing project, or conduct field-based research at a marine science facility. Whether you live in Oregon or are coming from out of state, you can find a program suited to your interests and experience level.
To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 10 research programs for high school students in Oregon.
If you’re looking for programs in Oregon, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These 10 research programs for high school students in Oregon span biomedical and cancer research (OHSU PSI, Knight Scholars, CURE Program), quantum computing and machine learning (Saturday Academy ASE), and engineering (SESEY, Invention Bootcamp).
Several programs are free and offer stipends, including OHSU's Knight Scholars Program and the CURE Program ($ 500 to $1,500).
Many programs specifically prioritize underrepresented students, including those from low socioeconomic backgrounds, rural areas, or groups underrepresented in STEM, such as CURE, Knight Scholars, and SESEY.
Remote options like Veritas AI's AI Fellowship and the Lumiere Research Scholar Program let students pursue independent research regardless of location within or outside Oregon.
1. OHSU Partnership for Scientific Inquiry (PSI) Program
Location: Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, and optional summer in-person research component
Cost/Stipend: Free | Need-based Lewis Scholarship stipend available for summer component
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 16-week course: January - May | summer internship: June - August
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in the fall
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from the Portland, Oregon metro area | priority given to students without prior access to graduate-level education or from low socioeconomic backgrounds | no minimum number of completed science courses required
The Oregon Health & Science University PSI Program is a free 16-week biomedical research education program that runs from January through May. Students attend weekly two-hour evening sessions on Wednesday covering the scientific process, research methodology, and journal club presentations. As part of the program, each student presents a published research article with guidance from their assigned OHSU scientist mentor. Throughout the semester, students also develop an independent research proposal. The program concludes with an optional summer internship, placing students directly in a research laboratory at OHSU or a partner institution in the Portland area. Students must be at least 16 years old by June 1 to participate in the summer research placement.
2. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Tuition-based | need-based financial aid up to 100%
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts per year – winter, spring, summer, and Fall
Application Deadline: Rolling | You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI provides high school students passionate about AI with a suitable environment to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI Scholars program before pursuing the fellowship. The AI Fellowship program lets students pursue independent AI research projects. Students work on their research projects over 15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest. You can find examples of previous projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Testing Quantum Algorithms (Saturday Academy ASE)
Location: Portland State University, Portland, OR
Cost: Free. Learning stipend of 500-1,500 depending on internship hours
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive, one intern position
Dates: 8-10 weeks, mid-June through end of August
Application Deadline: Early March
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Requires comfort with math proofs and some Python experience
In this placement, you move past classical computing to work directly with the mathematics behind quantum computing. Your work centers on testing quantum algorithms and applying tools from combinatorics, linear algebra, and probability, rather than learning the concepts in the abstract. Because the internship draws on real proof-writing and programming skills, you spend your time working through actual problems rather than following a set curriculum. Like all Saturday Academy placements, the internship closes with a symposium where you present your findings alongside the summer's full intern cohort.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program - STEM Track
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type | full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort | Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. OHSU Quantitative Biology/Biophysics Internship (Galbraith Lab)
Location: OHSU, Portland, OR
Cost: Free. Interns receive a stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective, only 2-3 spots available
Dates: Eight weeks, starting in June
Application Deadline: Not yet announced for the upcoming cycle
Eligibility: Open to high school and undergraduate students
At the Galbraith Lab, you take part in active experiments and data analysis inside a working quantitative biology and biophysics research group. Your project will be scoped to match your current skill level, but you're expected to take real ownership of the work rather than just observe. Depending on the project, you might work with image analysis, super-resolution microscopy, nanofabrication, or basic molecular biology techniques. The internship ends with you presenting your project at a local conference, or in some cases being included as an author on a national abstract, giving your work a genuine research output rather than just a summer activity.
6. OHSU Knight Scholars Program
Location: Students' home communities (virtual, school year) and Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU, Portland, OR (summer, in-person)
Cost/Stipend: Free | stipend paid | travel and housing covered by OHSU for Portland activities
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24 - 36 students per cohort
Dates: Program year begins in August | virtual sessions during school year | in-person summer component | multi-year commitment
Application Deadline: Not publicly available
Eligibility: Oregon high school students | students from underrepresented communities and rural areas across Oregon are prioritized | must meet CDC immunization guidelines for healthcare workers before starting
The Knight Scholars Program is a multi-year, paid research internship for Oregon high school students focused on careers in cancer research, prevention, and treatment. The program begins in August with virtual school-year sessions held in students' home communities and transitions to in-person internships at the Knight Cancer Institute in Portland each summer. Students receive a stipend, and OHSU covers accommodation charges for students who travel to Portland for in-person activities. The program runs for up to three years, giving students sustained exposure to cancer research careers over successive summers. Students from underrepresented communities, including those from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and rural areas across Oregon, are specifically encouraged to apply.
7. Machine Learning Internship (Saturday Academy ASE)
Location: Portland State University, Portland, OR
Cost: Free. Learning stipend of 500-1,500 depending on internship hours
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive, one intern position
Dates: 8-10 weeks, mid-June through end of August
Application Deadline: Early March
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Programming experience is helpful but not required, since a willingness to learn is accepted in its place
You spend the summer contributing to methods for analyzing large datasets, working directly on a research problem in machine learning rather than a simplified classroom version of one. Since prior programming experience isn't required, the internship builds your technical skills as you go rather than assuming you arrive with them. Your mentor shapes the scope of the work around your starting point, so the specific techniques you pick up depend on the direction the research takes. The summer ends with a symposium presentation alongside the rest of that year's ASE cohort.
8. OHSU CURE Program (Ted R. Lilley Continuing Umbrella of Research Education)
Location: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: Free to participate | Selected interns receive a $4,000 stipend and a TriMet transit pass during the 8-week program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | small cohort | highly competitive
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: December 15
Eligibility: Portland-area high school students | students who excel academically and come from socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds | priority given to underrepresented minority students
The CURE Program is a hands-on biomedical research internship at OHSU's Knight Cancer Institute, specifically designed for Portland-area high school students from socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Students work in active research labs during the summer, gaining direct research experience while addressing health equity in cancer science. The Knight Cancer Institute and OHSU's Center for Diversity and Inclusion support the program, named for Ted R. Lilley, a long-serving OHSU leader. Participants who perform well may advance through multiple years of the program. The program prioritizes students who excel academically and come from disadvantaged backgrounds, specifically to increase participation of underrepresented students in biomedical research.
9. Oregon State University SESEY Program (Summer Experience in Science and Engineering for Youth)
Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR (residential and day options)
Cost/Stipend: Program costs $500, which covers housing, meals, and supplies | Full and partial scholarships are available for eligible students | No stipend is offered.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohort
Dates: Session 1: July 19 - 24
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school girls and students from underrepresented STEM backgrounds | Oregon and national students may apply
SESEY is a week-long residential or day program at Oregon State University's Corvallis campus for high school girls and students from underrepresented STEM backgrounds. Participants work in engineering labs on actual research projects mentored by OSU faculty and college student instructors, with past project topics including biomedical polymers, plastic recycling, and bioprocessing. The week combines morning laboratory work with computer instruction, guest lectures, and a field trip to OSU's Marine Science Institute in Newport. The program concludes with a student project presentation and awards ceremony at Corvallis da Vinci Days, where participants showcase their work to the public. Partial and full need-based financial assistance is available.
10. Portland State University Invention Bootcamp
Location: Portland State University, Portland, OR (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: Free (lunch provided daily)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students | competitive
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Applications open in the fall | close on March 6
Eligibility: All high school students encouraged to apply | no prior experience required | underrepresented students and those new to STEM especially encouraged
Portland State University’s Invention Bootcamp is a free summer research and innovation program that selects 25 high school students each year and hosts them at Portland State University. Students work in teams to handle engineering design and invention challenges, while being guided by PSU faculty and industry mentors. The program welcomes students of all experience levels and encourages applications from students who are underrepresented in STEM or who haven't previously considered a STEM career. Lunch is provided daily. Applications open each fall and close in early March.
Frequently asked questions
1. What are the best research programs for high school students in Oregon?
Strong options depend on interests. Students interested in cancer research might consider OHSU's Knight Scholars or CURE Program; those interested in quantum computing or machine learning might look at Saturday Academy's ASE internships; and students interested in engineering might consider OSU's SESEY or PSU's Invention Bootcamp.
2. Are there paid research programs for high schoolers in Oregon?
Yes, several programs offer stipends, including OHSU's Knight Scholars Program and the CURE Program (500 to $1,500).
3. Do any research programs in Oregon prioritize underrepresented students?
Yes, the CURE Program, Knight Scholars Program, and SESEY all prioritize students from underrepresented backgrounds, including those from low-income, rural, or minority communities, and PSU's Invention Bootcamp specifically encourages students new to STEM to apply.
4. Can students outside Oregon participate in these research programs?
Most in-person programs prioritize Oregon residents or the Portland metro area, though SESEY accepts both Oregon and national students, and virtual options like Veritas AI and the Lumiere Research Scholar Program have no geographic restrictions.