Equity Research Program

The 2023 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 $4,000 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
- Concludes in Scientific poster presentation in a Scientific Research Poster Symposium that is open to all OHSU.
What do I need to do to apply?
All application materials must be submitted online by Feb. 3, 2023. This application format does not allow a go back feature. Please have two Letters of Recommendation sent to studentdiversity@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.
- 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 studentdiversity@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 Feb. 7, 2023.
If you have questions or need more information, contact us at studentdiversity@ohsu.edu
Internship dates and location
Equity interns will be selected and notified by late February 2023.
Currently, we anticipate operating the 2023 Summer Equity Research Program on campus from June 21 – August 12. We encourage all students to apply.
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.
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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 2023, you are eligible to apply.
Our cohort will be approx. 25-30 interns.
We expect to notify all applicants by the end of February 2023.
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.
OHSU requires immunizations for its students in accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and from the State of Oregon. Students must comply with OHSU pre-entrance immunization requirements per Policy 03-30-150 and Policy 02-90-010 and remain in compliance for the duration of their enrollment at OHSU.
This means that all admitted students must provide proof of full COVID-19 immunization or receive an approved medical or religious exception 21-days prior to the start of the academic term. Admission into OHSU academic programs are considered conditional until proof of full vaccination is provided or a medical or religious exception is approved by OHSU. If students have not met the COVID-19 policy requirements at least 21 days prior to the start of the academic term, their offer of admission to OHSU will be rescinded and they will be unable to take courses or start their programs of study or other academic activities. Requests for COVID-19 vaccine exemption requests are due at least 45 days prior to the start of the term.
Students admitted into non-clinical programs who have received exceptions will be required to complete COVID-19 testing as specified by OHSU and will receive additional direction related to required safety standards and practices. OHSU does not allow unvaccinated students to participate in in-person direct patient contact or in simulation activities involving in-person direct contact with standardized patients, and as such, entry into clinical programs for unvaccinated students will be prohibited.
You can either send in your letters personally in PDF format, to studentdiversity@ohsu.edu, or have the letter writer send it to studentdiversity@ohsu.edu in PDF format