What is an ASE Internship Like?

Note: ASE Application for 2023 will open on January 9th, 2023

ASE typically offers about 110 internships each year. Mentor partners vary but usually fall under one of the following general disciplines: Biology, Health or Medicine, Earth or Environmental Science, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics. Starting in early January, ASE will update position descriptions as mentors submit them.

Interns contribute to one or more projects at the mentor’s organization throughout the summer. Interns complete 296 internship hours with their mentor between June and late August. Internship hours are usually scheduled by the mentors for 8-5, Monday-Friday. We typically DO NOT allow students to be at their internships more than 9 hours per day, so please schedule accordingly.

Select from the following:

Work with the mentor to approve your schedule for the duration of the internship, including the expected daily schedule, vacation arrangements, and start/end dates. Students are expected to put in the equivalent of eight weeks, full-time at the internship: 296 work hours, plus attendance at the Orientation, Midsummer Conference, and Symposium.
Arrive promptly at workdays and events, including meetings. Discuss with your mentor expectations around arriving, leaving, lunch and breaks. Meet agreed-upon timelines for each stage of the project, or in advance, discuss with the mentor the need to revise the schedule. Make sure the mentor is informed of any problems. Discuss progress and questions with the mentor fully and openly.
Attend, cooperate, and participate fully in required ASE Program activities, including Orientation, Midsummer Conference, and Symposium.

Conform to all rules and regulations of the internship site, especially health and safety practices and policies.
Conform to mentor organization rules for the proper use and etiquette of internet, email, and phone/cell phone, including both personal and organizational devices and software, as well as organizational confidentiality practices.
Become familiar with the background of the internship topic by asking your new colleagues questions and by studying any assigned reading.
Write thank you letters to the individuals responsible for your position.
Be a positive representative of the Saturday Academy ASE Program, your mentor, and your host organization.
Provide supportive and positive environments for all involved, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and/or physical abilities.
Inform the ASE staff in a timely fashion of any harassment or harassing behavior.

What are the Expectations of Parents of Student Interns?

Your child’s full participation as an intern in the ASE Program requires them to take primary responsibility for their internship experience. Your supporting role is key to their success. We expect the following support from parents and guardians.

Agree that your child may participate fully in the ASE Program, including full-time 8 weeks at the internship site, i.e. the agreed-upon schedule arranged with the mentor, and full attendance and participation in ASE Events: Orientation, Midsummer Conference and Symposium.
Encourage and facilitate your child in carrying out their responsibilities and learning activities. Make a good faith effort to attend the ASE Symposium.
Inform yourself of the activities occurring in the mentor’s facility and of those activities in which your child will be participating. Saturday Academy has not formally inquired into or assessed the hazards or the safety record of the host facility, and has no power, authority, or control over the host facility. Except for professional qualifications, Saturday Academy has not conducted a background check on the mentor and their associates at the host facility. Use your judgment to decide whether your child will be able to work safely in the environment of the host facility.
Mentors are informed that parents and guardians are welcome to visit the host facility at least once before or during the internship.
Assume responsibility for the safety and conduct of your child while they are traveling to and from the internship site or other program activities.
Carry appropriate medical insurance coverage for your child. If you do not have medical insurance coverage, please call the ASE office, 503-200-5861 for assistance.
Consult with ASE staff (Manager, Coordinator, and Teacher Monitor) promptly about any concerns that may arise during the ASE Program.
Allow Saturday Academy permission to collect follow-up information on your child’s continuing interests and participation in STEM for the purpose of long-term program evaluation required by funding agencies.

How Much Time Does an ASE Internship Take?

Total Minimum Student Hours in ASE Program: 318 hours

The total of 318 hours only includes the internship hours (296 hours) and required ASE events listed below (22 hours). Student “after-hours” preparation will vary, as with any educational experience. Substantial reading is typically assigned by the mentor, and Symposium preparation typically takes students several hours.

You can use the Calendar Calculator tool to estimate your internship days/hours.

IMPORTANT: The Calendar Calculator is only useful in determining whether or not you can possibly participate in the program. All schedules are ultimately at the discretion of your ASE mentor. Some mentors have family vacations planned during the summer or need students in the lab during specific times during the summer for research. Most internship schedules allow for 2 weeks of vacation during the summer. Internships CANNOT start before the end of the school year. Most start dates will be the week of June 20th. All 296 internship hours MUST be completed by August 19th. ASE also prefers that students save at least 2 extra make-up days for possible illness at the end of the summer.

Events
Requirements

Select from the following:

1. Orientation - Late May

Students are given professional skills training to get them ready for their ASE internship experience.

2. Midsummer Conference - July 20th, 2023

This conference includes: (a) career lectures and seminars led by scientists, engineers, and other technical professionals; (b) hands-on workshops in various technical areas such as DNA electrophoresis, measuring air pollution, and computer modeling; and (c) a workshop on making professional scientific presentations.

3. ASE Symposium - August 10th, 2023

Interns present their summer projects to each other and other guests. At this conference each student gives a 15-minute oral presentation presided over by professional scientists or engineers. When students are not presenting their own projects, they attend sessions where other students describe their experiences. Students typically spend several hours preparing for the Symposium.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

To be eligible to apply students must:

Have not been an ASE intern before. A student may only have one ASE internship during their high school career. This is to ensure that more students are able to participate in the ASE program.
Be a rising 10th, 11th, or 12th grader (or equivalent).
Be interested in pursuing a career in math and science, motivated to learn, and prepared to participate in a professional environment.
Live near our internship locations (usually in the Portland-Metro area, and the Albany/Corvallis/Eugene areas) OR have adult family or friends that you can live with during the summer near our internship locations. (ASE does not provide housing for students and does not allow students to live on their own.) If you apply for positions that are greater than 50 miles from your home address or local address provided on your online application, ASE will remove your application from those positions, even if the position is virtual, because all students are required to attend one in-person ASE event.
Regardless of internship type (in-person or online), ASE is unable to support international applicants at this time.
Have reliable transportation to and from our internship locations. (Public transportation is fine.) ASE does not provide transportation for students.
Have proof of health insurance.
Applicants may not apply for positions wherein the mentor is a family member.

Note: There is no minimum age required for ASE, but some host organizations have age requirements for their positions. For positions with age requirements, applicants must be the minimum age by May 15th.

In-Person Internships & COVID-19

Many of our internships are back to being in-person for 2023, but we recognize that COVID-19 is likely to be a risk for the foreseeable future. We defer to the mentor organization for their policy on wearing masks, physical distancing, and communication & quarantine protocols should an exposure occur. Interns will then sign a waiver agreement that they agree to follow any protocols provided by their mentor, and understand potential risks. We will continue to adapt to the situation in Oregon and support the safety of students as our top priority.

Now that COVID-19 vaccination is widely available, workplaces, organizations, campuses, and laboratories may require interns to have their vaccines as a prerequisite to an in-person program. Please look to position descriptions for clarity or email ASE@saturdayacademy.org for more information on this policy. Vaccination requirements are subject to change at the hosting organization's discretion.

We will be holding the ASE Midsummer Conference in-person this year, and attendance is required for all interns. Interns will be expected to follow Saturday Academy's safety policies for in-person events, which are updated quarterly.

Please note ASE & partner mentors reserve the right to cancel internships at any time due to COVID concerns, or any other reason.

Select from the following:

How do I Apply?

IMPORTANT: Review our ASE Application Guide carefully for useful tips and a successful application experience.

Join our mailing list to be notified about important details of the 2023 process.

Get started on your application. Start by browsing current internships. To apply, add internships to your locker - from here you can start your application and create an ASE Internship account. This will allow you to save your progress. For a step-by-step guide on how to open an application, visit our ASE Application Guide.

If you have questions or experience technical difficulties during the application process, please contact us by phone (503-200-5860) or email ase@saturdayacademy.org. You can also find contact information for specific ASE staff here.

Please contact ASE Staff ONLY - DO NOT contact ASE mentors. Contacting the mentors may disqualify your current application and future applications to the ASE program.