Equity Research Program

Applications for the 2022 Summer Equity Research Program are now closed.
The 2022 OHSU Equity Research Program
The OHSU Equity Research Program offers an exciting opportunity for diverse undergraduate college students to spend eight weeks working on research projects alongside faculty, scientists and graduate students. Examples of past internship tracks include:
- Biomedical Sciences
- Dental
- Health Systems & Policy - Center for Health Systems Effectiveness
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Public Health
What can Equity Interns expect
- A $3,200 stipend paid during the program
- Hands-on research experience
- Mentoring and advising about your individual career pathway
- Weekly seminars with fellow interns, faculty, and scientist mentors
- Scientific poster presentation of your summer research project
What do I need to do to apply?
Check out the updated 2022 Equity Program Flyer
All application materials must be submitted online by Jan. 28, 2022. This application format does not allow a go back feature. Please have two Letters of Recommendation sent to cdi@ohsu.edu Please upload Transcripts, current CV and Essay into the application.
Use the checklist below to prepare your application submission.
Upload to the application:
- College Transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are accepted for the application process. You will upload a PDF of your most recent transcript. If you are selected as an Equity Intern, your admission to the program will be pending until an official transcript, is received.
- Current Resume. Include past lab experience, community services and employment history.
- Essay. Include your career and academic goals, campus activities, and personal interests. Discuss the reasons you want to participate in this program and explain how this internship would further enhance your goals. Share any obstacles or challenges you have overcome. Discuss past research experience and tell us about your areas of interest. The more details you can provide with your research interests, the better we can match you with a faculty or scientist mentor.
Send to cdi@ohsu.edu:
- Two recommendation letters. One of the letters must be from a college science teacher. The second recommendation can be from a community leader, teacher, coach, counselor, etc. Recommendations are due Jan. 28, 2022.
If you have questions or need more information, contact the Center for Diversity and Inclusion.
Internship dates and location
The 2022 Equity Research Program is scheduled for June 20- August 12, 2022. Equity interns will be selected and notified by late February 2022. Interns are expected to work a maximum of 40 hours per week (including weekly seminars).
As of this moment, we anticipate operating the 2022 Summer Equity Research Program on campus from June 20 – August 12. We encourage all students to apply. However, because of the unpredictability of the pandemic, we may need to run the program remotely or possibly cancel the program. Please check this page for updates.
Frequently asked questions
You qualify if you meet the following criteria:
- Have completed at least one undergraduate college year by the start date of the program.
- Have completed at least one course in the basic sciences (some tracks require a lab component) and mathematics or statistics.
-
You come from either an underrepresented minority group; have experienced economic hardship; are first in your family to attend college; have experienced other economic, educational, ethnic/cultural, family circumstance hardships; or a student with disability.
- Economically disadvantaged students are defined as individuals who come from a low-income family, using low income levels specified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a guideline. Socially disadvantaged students come from an environment that may inhibit them from obtaining knowledge, skills or abilities required to enroll and successfully complete an undergraduate or graduate course of study that could lead to a career in the health sciences. This category includes, but is not restricted to, students whose parents did not attend or complete college.
- The term "disability" is defined by the federal government in various ways, depending on the context. For the purposes of federal disability nondiscrimination laws (such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), the definition of a person with a disability is typically defined as someone who (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more "major life activities," (2) has a record of such an impairment, or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment. More information on federal disability non-discrimination laws, visit DOL's Disability Nondiscrimination Law Advisor.
- You are a U.S. citizen, permanent U.S. resident, or an eligible DACA student (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). A DACA applicant must have an employment authorization card via USCIS.
Unfortunately, no.
The program is open to current college students seeking their first bachelor's degree. If you anticipate receiving your bachelor's degree in spring 2022, you are eligible to apply.
The number of available positions usually depends on funding and the availability of mentors. Last year, we welcomed 31 interns to the Equity program.
We expect to notify all applicants by the end of March 2022.
Equity Research interns are expected to participate full-time, from approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday. In addition, interns are asked to prepare a poster presentation of their research project and may be asked to attend other seminars. 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 OHSU researchers are available to serve as mentors during any given summer. The more explicit you are about your research interests, the better we can match you with a mentor.
Depending on your assignment, you could be onsite or remote. If on site, you will be in your mentor's laboratory or office at one of OHSU's campuses on Marquam Hill in Portland, South Waterfront in Portland or West Campus in Beaverton.
Limited support may be available for housing assistance. Please indicate on the application if you need housing.
The program does not typically have funds to support participants' travel to Portland. The program directors may consider supporting travel if sufficient funding is in place.
Equity Intern Presentations
- Danna Guzman, mentored by Dr. Jonathan Pruneda (Password: fUGMdh6P)
- Rim Touhami, mentored by Srivathsan Ranganathan (Password: KahJEvg8)
- Elyssa Morales, mentored by Dr. Richie Kohli (Password: KahJEvg8)
- Victor Pierce, mentored by Dr. Heather Angier, Heather Holderness, and Sara McCrimmon (Password: 73hTk6cP)
- Caitlyn Uyeno, mentored by Danielle Konetski (Password: VwGJwnS2)
- Gia Hoang Nguyen, mentored by Dr. Thuy Ngo (Password: 3SvnzbAt)
- Elijah Hart, mentored by Dr. Bonnie Nagel and Dr. Angelica Morales (Password: JzCpxmf8)
- Agrin Niroumand, mentored by Dr. Amira Al-Uzri and Kira Clark (Password: XtcJArC3)
- Becca Mulat, mentored by Dr. Fikadu Tafesse (Password: pRQ5KtYb)
- Ammara Molvi, mentored by Christina Charlesworth and Shannon Jakes (Password: Xm4cSHk2)
- Chivon Ou, mentored by Dr. Marina Guizzetti (Password: wDMhyF3P)
- Michael Parrish, mentored by Dr. Rita Cervera Juanes (Password: EbKu8qjq)
- Doris Yang, mentored by Dr. Donna Hansel (Password: WuWs7VgJ)
- Laura Martinez, mentored by Dr. Monica Hinds (Password: AchEJqe9)
- Amir Veshagh, mentored by Dr. Gary Westbrook and Dr. Christina Chatzi (Password: tMty67AV)
- Erika Rico, mentored by Dr. Lina Reiss (Password: kPpaF92Y)
- Alejandro Robles, mentored by Dr. Jaime Peterson (Password: jP5V3fK2)
- Ashis Ramtel, mentored by Dr. Jonathan Pruneda (Password: Jxc6M8RF)
- Julia Zavala, mentored by Dr. Jaime Peterson (Password: uXRBFE2V)
- Francisco Mendoza, mentored by Dr. Hector Olvera-Alavarez and Kathryn Wildeck (Password: qMhdPJr7)
- Jonathan Nguyen, mentored by Dr. Luiz Bertassoni and Cristiane Miranda Franca (Password: 3PnjsDza)
- Anya DeCarlo, mentored by Dr. Jeremy Goecks (Password: 9yR59mph)
- Britanie Butts, mentored by Dr. Summer Gibbs (Password: TuZpNXa7)
- Rosalba Escobedo, mentored by Dr. Daniel Liefwalker (Password: VdTvQJ5J)
- O’ryai Green, Mentored by Dr. Terry Morgan (Password: XvUHcMu4)
- DeAuj’Zhane Coley, Mentored by Dr. Julie Saugstad and Sierra Smith