15 STEM Internships for High School Students in Portland, Oregon
- Stephen Turban
- 6 days ago
- 10 min read
If you are a high school student in Portland and thinking about your future in science, technology, engineering, or math, a summer internship can be one of the smartest moves you make. Internships help you step into real labs, tech companies, hospitals, and engineering firms.
An internship gives you a look inside the industries you might want to join later. You get a chance to see what day-to-day work feels like. You build skills like coding, data analysis, lab techniques, research writing, and teamwork. Adding a strong STEM internship to your resume can also set you apart. Colleges and future employers notice when you have real-world experience at your age.
To save you time, we narrowed down 15 STEM internships for high school students in Portland, Oregon! If you're looking for more prestigious STEM programs/internships for high schoolers, check out this set of blogs!
15 STEM Internships for High School Students in Portland, Oregon
Cost: None. Stipend of $11/hour for 40 hours per week; bus pass provided
Location: OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, OR
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Application Deadline: Tentatively January. Applicants will be informed about their selection by February.
Eligibility: Portland-area high school students from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds; must be at least 16 years old and in good academic standing
The Ted R. Lilley CURE Program is a paid, full-time summer internship for high school students in the Portland area. It is open to students from socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds who are interested in biomedical research and healthcare careers. The program aims to support health equity by increasing representation in science and medicine.
For eight weeks, you will work in labs at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), guided by faculty mentors. You will be part of real research projects, attend weekly seminars, and present your findings at a formal poster session at the end of the summer. The program focuses on mentorship, research skills, and active participation in cancer research.
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Location: Remote.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Application Deadline: Spring: January, Summer: May, Fall: September, Winter: November
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can commit 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks
The Ladder Internship Program connects high school students with fast-growing startups in fields like technology, artificial intelligence, healthcare, marketing, and journalism. Over 8 to 12 weeks, you will work remotely on real projects while receiving mentorship from both startup managers and a dedicated Ladder Coach. At the end of the program, you will present your work to company leadership.
Ladder startups have usually raised more than $1 million in funding, giving you the chance to work in fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments. The program focuses on professional development, hands-on project work, and direct exposure to startup culture.
Cost: $2,490
Location: Virtual
Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Application Deadline: Spring: January, Summer: May, Fall: September, Winter: November
Eligibility: High school students with prior AI/ML experience or who have completed a Veritas AI program
The Veritas AI Internship is an 8-week virtual program where high school students apply their knowledge of artificial intelligence and machine learning to projects with VC-backed startups. You will work directly with company leaders and receive mentorship from professionals affiliated with Google, Microsoft, McKinsey, Wharton, and Harvard.
The program is meant for students who already have experience in AI and ML, especially those who have completed a Veritas AI course. You will deepen your technical skills by working on real-world problems like model development, data analysis, and algorithm optimization. A letter of completion is awarded at the end. You can also get started with AI, ML, and data science from the AI Scholars program or the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase for advanced research.
Cost: None. Stipend: $1,000–$1,500 for most full-time internships
Location: Partner sites across Portland and the Pacific Northwest
Dates: Mid-June – August (8-week internships)
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: High school students in Oregon and Southwest Washington; must be at least 15 years old by internship start and have completed 9th grade
The Apprenticeships in Science & Engineering (ASE) Program places motivated high school students into full-time summer internships in science, technology, engineering, and math fields. Over eight weeks, you will work on real research and technical projects at university labs, tech companies, and hospitals.
You will also attend career workshops, write a scientific paper, and present your work at a formal symposium. The program is designed to give you early professional experience. Mentor organizations include Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Intel, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Cost: None; hourly wage (rate not publicly specified)
Location: Port of Portland offices and facilities, Portland, OR
Dates: Typically June – August (8–10 weeks)
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (age 16+), particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds
The Port of Portland Summer Internship Program gives high school students the chance to explore careers in engineering, environmental science, planning, IT, and other technical fields. You will work alongside Port professionals on real projects that support operations at Portland International Airport, marine terminals, and other facilities.
The program focuses on career exploration and professional development. You will take part in job shadowing, mentorship, group activities, and workshops to build your skills for college and future jobs. The program especially supports students from diverse backgrounds and helps open pathways into technical and public sector careers.
Cost: $850 stipend; $40 application fee
Location: Virtual
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: December 9 – February 28
Eligibility: High school students ages 14+, U.S. residents. Student leads must be California residents. Undergraduate CS students may apply for lead roles.
This two-week internship introduces you to the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare through hands-on research guided by Stanford faculty. You will explore topics like deep learning, medical image analysis, and algorithm design for disease detection.
As part of a research team, you will contribute to real-world projects that apply machine learning models to interpret medical data. The program features Virtual Career Lunch and Learn sessions with experts from academia, nonprofits, and government agencies. Upon successful completion, you will receive a certificate recognizing your participation.
Cost: None
Location: Oregon Health & Science University (virtual & in-person components), Portland, OR
Dates: January – May (weekly virtual sessions), followed by optional summer internship (June – August)
Application Deadline: November 24
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors; must be at least 16 years old by June 1 for the summer internship.
The Partnership for Scientific Inquiry (PSI) Program introduces high school students to biomedical research through a semester-long spring seminar series. During the spring sessions, you will learn how to read scientific papers, explore different research fields, and develop your research proposal with feedback from scientists.
If you complete the seminar, you can apply for an 8-week summer internship at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). During the internship, you will conduct research under the guidance of OHSU faculty. This hybrid program is a good option if you want to build a strong foundation in scientific inquiry before working in a lab. The PSI Program is highly selective and looks for students with strong academics and a clear interest in science.
Cost: None; stipend provided
Location: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
Dates: 3-week internship during the summer
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: Oregon high school juniors interested in healthcare or biomedical science; priority given to students from underrepresented and rural communities
The Knight Scholars Cardiovascular Internship is a summer program at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) for high school juniors interested in cardiovascular medicine and biomedical research. Over three weeks, you will take part in lab tours, clinical shadowing, workshops, and group projects focused on heart health and scientific innovation.
The program is designed to expand STEM opportunities for students from rural and underrepresented communities. You will learn about healthcare careers, build research skills, and receive mentorship from professionals in both clinical and lab settings. The internship ends with a presentation and is part of a multi-year track that could open future research opportunities.
Cost: None. Paid opportunities are available for returning participants.
Location: Gibbs Laboratory, Portland, OR
Dates: 10 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school and college students interested in careers in scientific research
The Fluorescence Molecular Imaging Internship Program is a ten-week summer research experience for high school students interested in biomedical science and lab research. In your first summer, you will learn techniques like cell culture, fluorescence microscopy, spectroscopy, organic synthesis, immunostaining, and antibody conjugation. You will also be introduced to data processing and programming for image analysis.
The first year is a voluntary learning experience focused on building lab skills. Students who complete it successfully may be invited back for a paid internship the next summer. The program is hosted by the Gibbs Laboratory, which develops molecular imaging tools for disease detection and diagnosis.
Cost: None. A stipend of $15 per hour or the current minimum wage
Location: OHSU School of Dentistry, Portland, OR
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: April
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (16+) and college students with an interest in science or healthcare
The Research Internship Program at the OHSU School of Dentistry offers an eight-week summer research experience for high school and college students interested in biomedical and dental science. You will work alongside faculty researchers on real scientific projects, learning lab techniques, data collection, and experimental procedures.
Besides lab work, you will join seminars and take part in discussions about research ethics and scientific careers. The program is a good fit if you are curious about dentistry, oral health, or lab research. It wraps up with a research symposium where you will present your work to faculty and peers.
Cost: None
Location: Virtual
Dates: April 15 – June 15
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Open to high school students with a background in computer science
The EDIT ML Summer Internship Program is a two-month virtual research opportunity that introduces high school students to machine learning in healthcare. You will work on real projects, building and testing ML models aimed at improving clinical decision-making. These projects often involve medical imaging analysis, natural language processing (NLP), and healthcare data interpretation.
You will use tools like Python and R while gaining hands-on experience in AI problem-solving. The program ends with a final research presentation, giving you a chance to showcase your work to professionals in both the medical and tech fields.
Cost: None; $300 need-based stipend available
Location: Virtual
Dates: Session 1: July 1 – July 18; Session 2: July 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: April 11
Eligibility: Female and non-binary students in grades 9–11
The Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program is a two-week virtual experience that introduces high school students to computer science through hands-on coding projects and career exploration. You will learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript while building websites, games, or apps in a supportive, beginner-friendly environment.
Along with coding, you’ll participate in daily mentorship sessions and career panels with tech professionals. The program is designed to empower students from underrepresented groups in tech and includes a need-based stipend to help ensure broader access.
Cost: $25 application fee; waivers available
Location: Virtual and In-Person
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Age 15+ for virtual/in-person computer lab internships; Age 16+ for in-person wet-lab internships
The ASSIP program at George Mason University offers high school students the chance to dive into advanced research in STEM fields over eight weeks. You will work closely with faculty mentors on real-world problems in areas like cybersecurity, biology, computational modeling, and engineering.
You will develop technical skills using tools such as Python, R, and MATLAB while sharpening your scientific writing and presentation abilities. The program wraps up with a formal presentation of your research. It’s a great fit for students interested in pursuing STEM in college and beyond.
Cost: $100
Location: Virtual and In-Person
Dates: June 1 – August 6
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in computer science or mathematics; no prior experience required
The Computer Science Internship Program at Colorado School of Mines gives high school students a solid foundation in computer science and problem-solving. You will work on hands-on projects involving programming, logic, and algorithmic thinking.
The program is open to students of all experience levels, so you don’t need prior coding knowledge to apply. You can choose to participate virtually or in person, making it accessible to students from various locations. The internship focuses on developing analytical reasoning and technical skills for students considering future STEM careers.
Cost: None; hourly wage provided
Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Dates: June – August (8–10 weeks)
Application Deadline: Varies by year; typically in early spring
Eligibility: Oregon high school and undergraduate students with an interest in science or agriculture
The OSU Plant Pathology Internship offers high school students hands-on experience in plant science research at Oregon State University. During the summer, you will assist researchers in diagnosing plant diseases, analyzing samples, and conducting experiments both in the field and the lab. Projects focus on improving plant health and managing agricultural pathogens.
You will also attend lab meetings, contribute to data collection, and learn about scientific methods from university faculty and graduate mentors. This internship is ideal if you're interested in agriculture, biology, or environmental science and want to explore research careers in those areas.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research in STEM, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also, check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source - Stanford University Logo