Biomedical & Bioinformatics Research Internship and Training Experience at the Knight Cancer Institute

2023 CDCB-KCI interns group
CDCB-KCI interns gather before the 2023 Research Internship Poster Symposium.

Engaging Curiosity in the Next Generation of Biomedical Scientists

Undergraduate interns will immerse themselves in an 8 to 10 week research experience over the summer (June-August), working directly with established mentors in various fields of biomedical research, including, but not limited to, cancer biology, immunology, cell and developmental biology, computational biology, and biomedical engineering. Interns will attend weekly education sessions covering topics from cutting-edge technologies and choice of model system, to career development. As a culminating experience, each intern will prepare and present their research at the final poster session to their peers and members of the Knight Cancer Institute (KCI) and wider OHSU community. View the 2023 program schedule.

We offer two start dates to accommodate a range of college academic calendars. The internship program runs from June 10th or June 24th through August 16th, 2024. Do you know someone who might be interested in the Biomedical & Bioinformatics Research Internship and Training Experience (B-BRITE) at the Knight Cancer Institute? You can print or send them the program flyer and direct them to this webpage.

The Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology Summer Research Internship has changed its name to the Biomedical & Bioinformatics Research Internship and Training Experience (B-BRITE)

Applications for the 2024 Summer Program have closed.

Contact us

For more information:

cancerbiointern@ohsu.edu

The B-BRITE Summer Program at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute offers

  • An introduction to experimental design and critical thinking.
  • Participation in a guided research project facilitated by an experienced researcher.
  • Direct hands-on experience in cutting edge biological and quantitative cancer research methods.
  • Development of written and oral communication skills.
  • Networking opportunities within a broad community of scientists.
  • Weekly stipend of $500 for the 8 or 10 week program.
  • Limited housing and airfare support is available.
Jherni Fisher presenting at 2023 poster session
Jherni Fisher, 2023 intern from Pepper Schedin’s lab, presenting her poster at the 2023 Poster Symposium.

Eligibility

  • We are looking for motivated college undergraduates with a strong interest in a career in biomedical and data sciences and who have completed introductory science courses.
  • This internship program is for motivated college undergraduates who will have completed at least one, preferably two, undergraduate years, but not yet graduated by the start date of the program
  • Students must be available and present for the duration of the internship. No vacations or breaks may be taken. 
  • We are unable to provide VISAs to foreign students. Therefore, we are only able to accept international students who are studying in the U.S. with a valid VISA, depending upon designated school official approval.

Oregon Health & Science University values the benefits of having a diverse scientific population. We encourage applications from students who come from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the sciences (African-American, Hispanic, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders), as well as first generation and socioeconomically disadvantaged students and those who are studying at small liberal art colleges.  Prior experience in research is not a prerequisite for applying to the B-BRITE Summer Program.

Are you unsure if this program is a match for you? Information about other internship and training opportunities at the Knight Cancer Institute and OHSU can be found at Cancer Research Training and Education.

Application

Applications for the 2024 Summer Program have closed. Please check out our Cancer Research Education and Training webpage for other program opportunities with Oregon Health & Science University. Questions about the program may be addressed to: cancerbiointern@ohsu.edu

Ari Lauthner presenting at 2023 poster session
Ari Lauthner, 2023 intern from Joseph Shatzel’s lab, presenting his research to Dean Jacoby at the 2023 Poster Symposium.

Frequently asked questions

This is a full-time internship experience. Interns are expected to work 40 hours per week in the lab and participating in scheduled activities. Interns should discuss scheduling details with their assigned mentor.

Students selected for the internship will receive a stipend of $500 per week up to a maximum of 10 weeks. 

Housing and travel support will be awarded to a limited number of interns. Please indicate in your application if you would like to apply for airfare and housing support.

Beginning December 15th, 2023 all visitors and volunteers will be required to provide either documentation of a Covid vaccine administered after September 15th, 2023 or a formal declination form. Those who decline the Covid vaccine must wear a mask at all times in healthcare areas of the hospital.  Please be prepared to adhere to this policy, as it’s a requirement for onboarding for your in-person experience at OHSU. You will not be allowed to participate within OHSU if you are not compliant with this policy.

Completed applications must be received by the deadline of February 1, 2024 and will include:

  1. A resume including past lab or research experience (if applicable) and employment history;
  2. An unofficial college transcript;
  3. A one-page statement explaining your motivation for applying to this internship program and how you expect this experience to further your academic and professional goals;
  4. At least one and up to two letters of recommendation from a professor or supervisor who can comment on your potential to be successful working as part of a group doing basic science research.

CDCB/KCI interns are expected to participate full-time, from approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday. In addition, interns will prepare a poster presentation of their research project and may attend other scientific seminars while at OHSU. Therefore, it is not advisable that interns pursue other coursework during the program.

We strive to match scholars and mentors based on research interests; however, not all KCI researchers are available to serve as mentors during any given summer. The more explicit you are in your application about your research interests, the better we can match you with a mentor.

The internship is typically performed in the Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology and Knight Cancer Institute laboratories at either the OHSU Marquam Hill Campus or South Waterfront Campus in Portland, OR. Interns must use mass transit or bicycle to get to campus (daily on-site parking is available, but it is expensive and not guaranteed). Public transit passes will be provided by the program.

No. Preference will be given to currently enrolled undergraduates who will graduate in spring 2025 or later.

Vacations or breaks are not allowed during the course of the internship due to the intensive nature of the program. Further, the internship is a full-time commitment and therefore should not be combined with significant other school or work.

Notifications will be sent out in early March via email. There will be a number of onboarding steps to complete before the internship begins, so please be sure to monitor your emails and act quickly if you are accepted. 

If you have questions or need more information, email us at cancerbiointern@ohsu.edu.

About Us

Director:
Grace Gill, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Division of Oncological Sciences, Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology

Co-Director:
Katelyn Byrne, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology

Co-Director:
Zheng Xia, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Computational Biology, Biomedical Engineering Department

Program Coordinator:
Alexis Champagne

cancerbiointern@ohsu.edu