14 Technology Internships for High School Students in Oregon
Technology internships give high school students a chance to work with tools, contribute to meaningful projects, and build technical skills that go beyond the classroom. You'll develop competencies in areas like coding, data analysis, or engineering design, along with transferable skills like collaboration and problem-solving. These skills strengthen your college applications and help you figure out which area of tech suits you before committing to a college major.
What technology internships are available for high school students in Oregon?
Oregon has options across biomedical research, aerospace, software development, and AI. Research programs at Oregon Health & Science University and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory place you in lab environments working on data science and biomedical projects. Saturday Academy's Apprenticeships in Science and Engineering connect you with industry partners like Intel for paid eight-week placements.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 14 technology internships for high school students in Oregon.
1. Apprenticeships in Science & Engineering (ASE) – Saturday Academy
Location: Partner sites across Portland and the Pacific Northwest
Cost/Stipend: None; stipend: $1,000 - $1,500 for most full-time internships
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies depending on the partner site
Dates: Mid-June - August (8-week internships)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students in Oregon and Southwest Washington; must be at least 15 years old by internship start and have completed 9th grade
ASE is one of Oregon's longest-running opportunities for high school students to gain real-time engineering workplace experience. Participants dedicate eight weeks of full-time to technical assignments at research facilities, corporate labs, and technology companies across the greater Portland region. Student placements have spanned across multiple organizations such as Intel, OHSU, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, with projects in computer science, environmental, and electrical engineering. The experience includes training sessions on professional skills, instruction in research documentation, and concludes in a symposium where participants showcase their contributions to industry mentors and fellow interns. This program is particularly valuable for students seeking mentorship, financial compensation, and exposure to diverse engineering disciplines.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote (work from anywhere)
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10%–20% acceptance rate
Dates: Multiple cohorts year-round (spring, summer, fall, winter)
Application deadline: Varies by cohort, spring (January), summer (May), fall (September), winter (November)
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and gap-year students able to commit 8–12 weeks at 10–20 hours per week
Ladder Internships is a selective internship program that places ambitious high school students with high-growth startups across a variety of industries, such as tech/deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies raising over a million dollars on average. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a ladder coach on real-world projects and conclude with a formal presentation of their work to the company. Apply now!
3. Quantitative Biology and Biophysics Internship
Location: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: Paid; stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 2 - 3 students
Dates: Eight weeks, starting in June
Application Deadline: March (exact date not provided)
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students
This eight-week research internship places students in the Galbraith Lab, where they work on projects in quantitative biology and biophysics. You assist with experiments and data analysis related to ongoing cancer and biomedical engineering research. Projects are structured to match your academic background, with increased responsibility as you learn lab and analytical techniques. You will gain experience working with data-driven research tools used in modern biomedical science. Past interns have worked with image analysis, advanced microscopy, and basic molecular biology methods alongside lab researchers. The internship concludes with either a research presentation at a local conference or authorship on a national abstract, with work focused on technology-driven biological research.
4. NASA Internships (Office of STEM Engagement)
Location: Multiple NASA centers across the US and remote options
Stipend: Stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 10%
Dates: Summer (late May - Aug) | fall (Aug - Dec) | spring (Jan - May)
Application Deadline: Feb (summer), May (fall)
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 | U.S. citizens only
NASA's high school programs provide you with access to researchers and engineers working on projects related to space exploration, propulsion technologies, and vehicle design. Assignments span across multiple disciplines such as aerodynamics, robotics, and materials science. Participants observe how theoretical engineering principles translate into large-scale federal initiatives. Professional guidance from NASA personnel provides an exceptional opportunity to understand collaborative scientific work within a premier government research organization. Despite rigorous selection criteria, this experience provides an outstanding gateway to a career in aerospace engineering.
5. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) – High School Intern
Location: Remote / Portland, OR (office presence)
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Summer (full-time) or academic year (part-time)
Application Deadline: March (for summer)
Eligibility: Must be 18+ years for lab work, 16+ years for business/tech roles
PNNL provides internship pathways for high school students interested in research and computational sciences. You will collaborate with experienced researchers and engineers on initiatives supporting national security objectives and environmental conservation. The program includes professional development sessions, facility visits, and training in scientific communication practices. The experience exposes students to cutting-edge research methodologies and data analysis techniques used in national laboratory environments. Interns gain valuable insights into how scientific research translates into practical applications that address complex environmental and security challenges. Portland-area students may access selected hybrid arrangements, although numerous technical positions operate from primary research facilities.
7. Port of Portland High School Internship
Location: Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies depending on the department
Dates: Summer and year-round options
Application Deadline: Varies (check early spring)
Eligibility: High school students in the Portland Metro area
The Port of Portland provides internship positions offering insights into the technological systems supporting PDX airport operations and maritime facilities. You can pursue roles in information technology, environmental engineering, or operational management, contributing to sophisticated data infrastructure and development initiatives. This experience is well-suited for students exploring civil engineering and systems integration careers. It provides insight into technology deployment across extensive public transit and commercial shipping networks.
8. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) – U.S. Department of the Navy
Location: 30+ naval labs across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Stipend of $4,000 (new) or $4,500 (returning)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Summer months (varies depending on the lab)
Application Deadline: August 1 (previous year for next summer)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are U.S. citizens | age 16+ years
SEAP places participants alongside navy researchers and engineers working on mechanical, electrical, and materials engineering challenges. You can work on projects involving fluid dynamics modeling, submarine system evaluation, or energy technology assessment. Professional mentors provide instruction supporting both technical capability development and long-term career planning. The program combined practical laboratory experience with applied scientific problem-solving. Returning participants can receive a higher stipend, making this program an excellent fit for students considering government or defense-sector research pathways.
9. OMSI Career Pathways Program
Location: Portland, OR (OMSI)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship following a training period
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohort; highly collaborative
Dates: July - August (Internship)
Application Deadline: Early October (for the year-long cycle)
Eligibility: Students aged 16 - 19 years
This year-long program at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry focuses on developing technical competencies in audio engineering, visual design, and video production. Participants attend Saturday training sessions throughout the academic year, mastering creative technology platforms before advancing into a paid six-week summer placement. These placements occur at OMSI or collaborating institutions, allowing students to execute their technical skills in communications, research support, or visitor engagement roles. The program is well-suited for those who are interested in exploring technology's creative applications within the industry.
10. SPARK Summer Internship Program (SparkSIP)
Location: Greater Seattle area or remote
Stipend: $500 as stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Under 5%
Dates: 6 - 8 weeks (June - August)
Application Deadline: April (tentative)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are 16+ years and must commit 40 hours/week for 8 - 12 weeks
SPARK connects high school students with research organizations working in machine learning, bioengineering, and computer vision. Participants select projects aligned with their capabilities and professional interests. Support from university faculty and industry specialists guides technical growth throughout the experience. Past projects have included early-stage disease identification, genetic sequencing analysis, and neural network architecture. For students looking to combine programming skills with biomedical or engineering applications, this program offers the right mix of rigor and guidance.
11. Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program
Location: Virtual
Stipend: SIP students may receive a needs-based grant of $300
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer immersion program: July - August; pathways: June - August
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Current 9th to 11th graders for the SIP, and 9th - 12th graders for the pathways program; applicants must identify as girls or non-binary individuals.
Girls Who Code provides two no-cost virtual summer programs for students focused on building advanced computer science proficiency and technology professions. The two-week summer immersion program delivers an instructor-led curriculum focused on game design, programming foundations, user experience design principles, and iterative development methodologies. The six-week pathways program offers a self-paced exploration of cybersecurity, data science, web development, and artificial intelligence domains. Participants learn different programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS while engaging with live presentations from industry professionals. Both tracks help you develop technical capabilities while building connections among future technologists.
12. Fluorescence Molecular Imaging Internship Program
Location: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 6 - 8 students
Dates: Flexible start and end dates; minimum 10 weeks
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 years or above and undergraduate students
This internship places high school students in the Gibbs Lab, where they work on projects focused on biomedical imaging and molecular science. You spend your time learning hands-on laboratory techniques such as cell culture, microscopy, fluorescence imaging, and image analysis, along with chemistry-focused methods such as bioconjugation and spectroscopy. The work is hands-on and technical, with most of the learning achieved through direct involvement in experiments rather than lectures. You get practical exposure to how imaging technologies are developed and tested in a research lab. Interns work closely with lab members and gradually take on additional responsibilities as they become familiar with the techniques.
13. University of Oregon SAIL Computer Science Camp & Mentorship
Location: Eugene, OR
Cost/Stipend: Free (includes meals and activities)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate; ~20 - 30 per session
Dates: 1 week intensives (July)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students from underrepresented backgrounds
Although structured as a camp, SAIL (Summer Academy to Inspire Learning) provides intensive technical training sessions functioning as condensed internship experiences. You will collaborate with University of Oregon faculty on projects in cybersecurity, game development (using Python and C++), and Arduino-based robotics. The experience establishes a direct connection to UO's computer science department, with ongoing mentorship and access to Eugene-area students beyond the summer program.
14. EnergyMag Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not available
Dates: Year-round; half-time (2 - 8 weeks in summer) and quarter-time (1 - 9 months) options
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have taken at least one honors science or honors English class and have a minimum GPA of 3.25
EnergyMag offers flexible, fully remote internships for high school students interested in energy storage systems and power engineering. Participants research specific companies, technologies, markets, or related energy sector topics under mentor guidance. The experience builds understanding of power engineering fundamentals while developing skills in research methodology, analytical capabilities, and professional writing. Interns identify their focus area, locate authoritative information sources, synthesize and evaluate gathered data, and create an analytical report published on the EnergyMag platform. The participants can earn an internship letter of accomplishment once the project is completed. Year-round availability and flexible time commitments support short-term summer participation and longer academic commitment.
15. Stanford Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 plus $40 application fee, financial aid available
Dates: June 16–27 (2 weeks)
Application deadline: February
Eligibility: High school students age 14+ by program start with prior math or programming experience or a healthcare project background; must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Stanford's Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging offers a two-week virtual internship for technically prepared high school students interested in applying AI to healthcare challenges. You will explore how artificial intelligence enhances medical diagnostics, treatment approaches, and health equity through lectures, collaborative work, and independent research. Students engage in project-based learning with limited supervision while attending virtual presentations from academic and industry experts. Mentorship from Stanford researchers and students supports participant growth throughout the program experience. The experience helps to bridge technical AI skills with real-world medical applications.
Image Source - NASA logo