OHSU Innovation and Commercialization Internship

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OHSU Innovation and Commercialization interns provide a valuable service by assisting with technology development and the transition of technology from laboratory to market for the benefit of the public. In return, interns gain valuable knowledge and skills that can be applied in a wide range of professions. 

Recruitment for the OHSU Innovation and Commercialization Internship is currently on hold. Please check back in summer 2024 to see if OHSU Innovates will be accepting applications for a Fall 2024 intern cohort.

Internship program details

Program structure

The OHSU Innovation and Commercialization internship program is an educational experience for individuals interested in technology transfer, business development, and/or patent law. Get real-world experience assisting with innovation development and the transition of technology from laboratory to market. Eligible interns can receive a monthly stipend and/or academic credit for program participation. Please note that this program is primarily remote/virtual, but interns in the Portland metro area may have the opportunity for to attend some in-person meetings.

Required qualifications

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree in a life science, physical science, and/or engineering.
  • Be pursuing or have received a graduate-level degree in science, medicine, engineering, business, or law OR have at least three years of relevant job experience.
  • Have an interest in intellectual property, technology transfer, and/or business development as a career goal.
  • Be able to commit to volunteering an average of 8 to 10 hours per week for at least six months time. Intern performance will be assessed every three months. The program length may be extended for interns in good standing, per a formal review process.

To apply

Application packets can be submitted via email to techmgmt@ohsu.edu .  Please include the following materials in your application packet:

  • Professional resume or curriculum vitae.
  • Cover letter that states the applicant’s preferred internship track (Technology Transfer, Business Development, or patent law), what interested them in the program, the applicant’s career aspirations, and what the applicant hopes to achieve by participating in the internship program.
  • Letter of recommendation from a recent supervisor or graduate mentor (may be emailed separately by letter writer).
  • Letter of permission to participate in the Innovation and Commercialization volunteer internship program from both the applicant’s advisor and program director (only required if applicant is a current staff member, student, or volunteer of OHSU).

Questions? Contact Nicole Garrison, Program Administrator, at garrisni@ohsu.edu

Profile image of intern Danica Bojovic

Danica Bojovic

Danica gets excited about innovative solutions in science and medicine and has a keen interest in how business drives health innovation. In addition to her internship, Danica is currently a fourth-year neuroscience graduate student at OHSU. She studies brain cells, specifically a type of glia called astrocytes, under the mentorship of Dr. Anusha Mishra and Dr. Henrique von Gersdorff. While glia make up as much as half of the nervous system, it has only been in the last decade that research has revealed glia to be major guardians of brain health, regulating important functions such as brain development, energy homeostasis, and information processing.

In Danica’s free time, she likes to cook and travel, as these activities remind her of the best memories with her friends and family.

Profile image of intern Cole Brashaw

Cole Brashaw

Cole joined the internship program in the Spring of 2023 and is working on a project that connects the technology transfer and patent tracks. He is a 4th year Ph.D. student in the OHSU Neuroscience Graduate Program where he studies brain injury and neurodegeneration using the fruit fly as a model. Cole has a passion for learning about newly developed scientific technologies and is eager to learn more about protecting researchers’ intellectual property.

In his free time, Cole loves visiting new food carts and breweries, especially after beautiful hikes in the Pacific Northwest!

Profile image of intern Yessica Santana Agreda

Yessica Santana Agreda

With an initial interest in patent law, Yessica completed a B.A. in Global Studies but pivoted to bench science after being a research assistant in both psychology and neuroscience labs while in undergrad. After completing two post-baccalaureate programs in neuroscience, Yessica began the Neuroscience Graduate Program at OHSU where she is currently a 3rd year Ph.D. Candidate studying neuronal cell fate under the mentorship of Dr. Kevin Wright.

As an intern, Yessica is interested in both business development and patent law tracks, with an additional interest in partnerships and academic/industry collaborations.

In her free time, Yessica enjoys making her way through a recipe book, traveling, and trying out new outdoor sports.

"As a wet lab scientist, I knew nothing about technology commercialization. However, by working on projects that provided valuable returns for the office (not busywork!) I developed and honed my understanding of technology transfer, as well as valuable skill sets. Opportunities to attend meetings discussing topics like legal protection, licensing and marketing strategies, also enabled me to further my understanding of technology commercialization beyond the scope of my projects. In addition to the internships commitment to try and match interns with projects of interest, I can easily say the OHSU Innovation and Commercialization Internship is an invaluable career development experience!"

- Adrienne Wilburn

"I loved my time learning about the licensing of OHSU technologies. While at Technology Transfer, I was given several projects to work on related to a specific technology. I also participated in Technology Transfer meetings and seminars, as well as interacted with Technology Transfer staff and OHSU inventors. The projects gave me an understanding of how new technologies are evaluated and marketed, and working with staff and inventors gave me a feel for the skills needed in tech transfer. I would absolutely recommend interning at Technology Transfer for anyone interested in learning how to apply science, law or business to commercializing academic research."

- Kimberly Griffin, Ph.D.

"The Technology Transfer internship is an enlightening, must have experience for graduate students and postdocs who want to learn about the process of taking scientific discoveries from the bench into the public domain. The opportunity to participate in discussions about intellectual property, technology evaluation, and the process of commercialization, often with members of the biotech community, has expanded my perspective of basic and translational research. The project phase of the internship allowed me to get hands-on experience working with scientists and technology transfer professionals to market new technologies to potential commercial partners that would distribute these products to the community. This internship was one of my most valuable career development experiences."

- Khoa Tran, Ph.D.

Interested in a career with OHSU Innovates?

 OHSU Innovates strives to help researchers realize the commercial potential of their discoveries and bring their ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace for public benefit.  Explore career opportunities with OHSU Innovates and OHSU below.