About the Program
The Apprenticeships in Science & Engineering (ASE) program connects motivated high school students with mentors in pre-professional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) internships. Internships are eight-week, full-time summer positions, designed by mentors themselves.
These internships take place throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington, including Portland, Eugene, Corvallis, Bend, and Vancouver. Mentor organizations include universities, hospitals and research institutions and private companies. The application process is competitive, with more than 600 applicants each year for approximately 130 positions. ASE internships attract rising sophomores, juniors and seniors from throughout the Northwest. Roughly 40% of students are from backgrounds underrepresented in the sciences. ASE interns have been listed on published research, helped to design and test commercial products and spent countless hours in the field and in the lab.
Become a Mentor
- Gain valuable student contributions to your projects and research
- See your discipline through an excited student’s eyes
- Work with students historically underrepresented in your field
- Provide a professional development opportunity for your team
- Create a positive link between your organization and the community
Give the next generation of scientists the skills, professional experience, and confidence to pursue a career in science or engineering today!
112 ASE Interns Served in 2019
With approximately 38,000 total internship hours
Focus on future career building
"I was already sure I wanted to work in science or engineering, but my internship truly cemented the idea that I would be happy in these fields. The people I met and the fun I had working at HP made me excited for my future in the workforce and more committed to building my skills for a future career." - Quentin, 2018 ASE Alumni
Real-world, professional experience
"This internship has given me more professional experience in a workplace. I have also learned more about how to collaborate with other people in a working environment. I now have a better understanding of what it is like to conduct research in a lab setting." - Clara, 2019 ASE Intern
Inspirational to the interns
"The most significant achievement in my role as a mentor was having such young students come into my lab with no experience, and leave the lab confident that they can breakdown complex scientific tasks." - Ms. Jovana Kovacevic, Food Innovation Center
Experience that stays with you for a lifetime
"It gave me my first experience working with Engineers in a professional setting. I learned a lot about 3D modeling and CAD as well as the dynamics of a design/engineering team. It gave me a step ahead when I initially pursued engineering in my undergrad and gave me perspective in my career hunt after college." - Tobin, 1997 ASE Alumni
Fulfilling to the mentors
"It has been great to see that interns I have mentored have all kept in touch. They have gone on to become scientists as well and I consider them colleagues. It is great to know that I contributed to their development." - Dr. Carmem Pfeiffer, Oregon Health & Science University
An invaluable experience
"The ASE program provides an invaluable experience for high school kids that they will never get in high school. Learning how to problem solve and how to deal with failures is also a skill that an ASE internship helps a student gain experience with." - Dr. Louis Kuo, Lewis & Clark College
Interested in becoming a mentor? Contact ASE Program Director, Libby Van Vleet.
Click here to learn more about the ASE program!