Research Opportunity Fair
Learn about the different Research Opportunities joining us for SRA 2024!
Participating students at SRA will have the chance to meet these different research opportunities at the Research Opportunity Fair taking place on Thursday June 20, 2024. One of SRA's goal is to introduce students to different research programs/labs and help them decide which ones to apply to when their individual application processes begin. Each program is different but they all have a commonality - undergraduate research! The descriptions shared are short summaries, please review each individual program's website for more details and reach out to them with any questions you have.
Center for Internship, Mentoring, and Research (CIMR)
CIMR at PSU hosts programs for undergraduate students who want practical training and education experiences in real work settings.
CIMR features a variety of programs that provide mentoring, advising, and career development, including several that get students involved in faculty research projects and internships in community organizations. CIMR programs focus on diversifying and indigenizing the workforce in many fields such as health and medicine, STEM, and climate resilience. CIMR is also the organizer of SRA!
IGNITE Program
Ignite mentors are pre-health students who want to make PSU and their home communities better through education and building a strong network of support. Ignite emphasizes leadership and mentorship, which includes serving as mentors for incoming pre-health students.
LSAMP
LSAMP is committed to supporting the success of students from historically underrepresented groups pursuing and earning a bachelor's degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
McNair Scholars Program
The PSU Ronald E. McNair Program works with motivated and talented undergraduates who want to pursue PhDs. It introduces juniors and seniors, who are first-generation and low-income or members of under-represented groups, to academic research and to effective strategies for getting into and graduating from PhD programs. During their participation in the program, students work closely with faculty mentors on original research projects and are part of a vibrant scholarly community
Research and Graduate Studies (RGS)
PSU's Research & Graduate Studies department (RGS) provides administrative and strategic support to PSU faculty and student researchers at every step of the research process: From identifying funding opportunities, to assisting with proposals and awards, to ensuring that research is safe and ethical, to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, to highlighting the incredible contributions of PSU faculty and staff researchers through communications and events like Research Week.
University Honors College
In the PSU Honors College, you can dig deep into the urban issues that matter most, join a tight-knit community of highly motivated students, and experience an exceptional education. Our unique focus on the city of Portland opens unmatched opportunities for research, creativity, and academic exploration. We welcome students from all academic majors and diverse ethnic, social and economic backgrounds, including many transfer students.
URISE
URISE is for students interested in PhD pathways in biomedical science. This is a newer program at PSU and you can expect to learn more details at the SRA!
Biomedical & Bioinformatics Research Internship and Training Experience (B-BRITE)
Interns will immerse themselves in an 8-week research experience over the summer (June-August), working directly with established mentors in various fields of biomedical research, including, but not limited to, cancer biology, cell and developmental biology, computational biology, immunology, and biomedical engineering. Applications for Summer 2025 will open in the Fall 2024.
Bluewater Lab - Microbial Ecology
Our research aims to understand the relationship between the ocean and its microbial communities. In this way we are discovering the role that microorganisms play in supporting life on Earth. Meanwhile, our lab members focus on helping one another in the process of training new generations of scientists. Research areas in the Bluewater Lab include:
Differential activity of coexisting cells
Microbes as prey
Great Lakes cyanobacteria
Microbial symbioses
Career Analyst Lab
In addition to subgroup and one-on-one meetings with Dr. Shifrer, The Career Analysts represent Shifrer's main lab. This group of around ten graduate and undergraduate students is an interdisciplinary group focused on social scientific research, both quantitative and qualitative. As a sociologist of education, social psychologist, and sociologist of disability, Dr. Shifrer is particularly well situated to support students interested in research paralleling those topics. The Career Analysts trains students in research design, quantitative data management and analysis, qualitative protocol development and best practices, presenting results both as peer-reviewed journal articles and conference presentations, and academic norms. The group also provides structure, accountability, professional development, and emotional/logistical support.
Please contact Dr. Shifrer at dshifrer@pdx.edu with any additional questions or to join The Career Analysts!
Center for Entrepreneurship
PSU Center for Entrepreneurship is the home of experiential learning and co-curricular activities in entrepreneurship and innovation at Portland State University. Our mission is to be the resource hub for PSU students and faculty to catalyze innovation and entrepreneurship across campus, developing new companies, technologies and more.
Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services (CCF)
We are a nationally recognized research, training, and consultation center, working across Oregon and beyond. Founded as a partnership between the School of Social Work at Portland State University and Oregon Child Welfare in 1993, our services now touch on the fields of: early childhood, family support, and cross-systems integration for children and youth.
Child Language Learning Center (CLLC)
The Child Language Learning Center (CLLC) at Portland State University is directed by Dr. Carolyn Quam. The CLLC studies phonological development in monolingual and bilingual learners with and without Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) in preschoolers, adult language impairment, and adult second language learning. We conduct our research both in our lab at Portland State University and in the community.
Center for Life In Extreme Environments (CLEE)
The mission the Center for Life in Environmental Extremes (CLEE) is to foster transformative, interdisciplinary research that advances our understanding of the boundaries, extremes and potential for survival in planetary extremes.
Clinical Research Investigative Studies Program (CRISP)
The mission of CRISP is to foster an environment for faculty, residents, and students who are conducting clinical research and simultaneously expose vetted pre-health students to the world of clinical research. In addition, we seek to provide our CRISP Research Assistants with an opportunity to observe patient care in an urban academic emergency department as well provide career counseling and support as required for the career that they anticipate.
Computational Imaging Lab
The Computational Imaging Lab at Portland State University designs next generation cameras and imaging algorithms. We are a diverse team of individuals with expertise in image sensors, optics, signal processing, algorithm design, computer vision and machine learning.
Disability Resource Center (DRC)
Here in the Disability Resource Center at PSU, we value intersecting identities and recognize that individuals have both visible and invisible differences that make them unique. We are committed to interrupting ableism, ethnicism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ageism, xenophobia, body shaming, and other systems of oppression and marginalization.
We work with students on an equitable future by focusing on building partnerships and infrastructure that incorporate the principles of universal design and disability justice. We find creative solutions by proactively collaborating with students, faculty, and staff to develop an accessible and inclusive environment.
Diverse Internships for Semiconductor Careers (DISC) Program
DISC’s mission is to recruit and prepare diverse cohorts of early undergraduate STEM students for careers in the Portland Metro Area (PMA) semiconductor-microelectronics technology sector (semi-micro industry). DISC Interns will receive:
Paid internship with DISC’s industry partners in the Portland Metro Area (9 months; 10-12 hrs/wk)
Professional development (30 hours)
Mentoring (peer, faculty, and industry ,mentors)
DIPr (Data & Internet PRivacy) Lab
The DIPr (Data & Internet PRivacy) Lab at Portland State University studies privacy challenges within data management and Internet technologies.
Extreme Virus Lab
Our research focuses on viruses found in the extreme environment of volcanic acid hot springs. Because it is presumed that the earliest life lived under similar conditions, studying these viruses can help inform viral evolution, and the evolution of all of life itself.
Gender, Race, and Sexual Prejudice (GRASP) Lab
The Gender, Race, and Sexual Prejudice (GRASP) Lab at Portland State University is run by Dr. Kimberly Barsamian Kahn. Using a social psychological perspective, the GRASP Lab examines contemporary forms and expressions of prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination. We study bias directed toward racial minorities, women, sexual minorities, and other stigmatized group members. We value intersectionality and understanding hidden forms of bias both between and within groups.
Geotechnical Engineering Lab
Information coming soon!
Gibbs Lab
The Fluorescence Molecular Imaging Internship Program is hosted by the Gibbs Laboratory to provide hands-on science education to high school and college students interested in careers in scientific research. Interns learn a variety of wet bench laboratory skills such as cell culture, spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, macroscopic fluorescence imaging, immunostaining, organic synthesis, small molecule purification as well as antibody conjugation and purification strategies.
Institute of Aging (IOA)
The Institute on Aging (IOA) is a multidisciplinary research and educational organization with strong ties to various community partners. Our faculty, who are prominent leaders in the field of aging and gerontology, prepare students for leadership and success through interdisciplinary learning and applied experience.
Linguistic Diversity and Discrimination Awareness Project (LiDA)
LiDA aims to understand the attitudes, preferences, and biases that are held about language by the PSU community. We are documenting the range of language and dialect diversity on campus, documenting experiences of students, staff, and faculty with language and language discrimination on campus, and promoting greater understanding of linguistic diversity. In the fall of 2024, we hope to extend our work to the local community colleges. Ultimately, we hope to support speakers of all languages and dialects and to educate all community members about linguistic diversity and the biases that come with it to better encourage change toward a more supportive community for everyone.
NW Noggin
Northwest Noggin is a robust, creative, entirely volunteer driven non-profit organization that brings together scientists and artists and students of all ages to contribute their expertise, listen and learn from others, enthuse young people about science and art, share area educational resources and inform and excite the public about ongoing, taxpayer supported neuroscience research.
Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI): OHSU Equity Research Program
The OHSU Equity Research Program offers an opportunity for diverse undergraduate college students to spend eight weeks working on research projects alongside faculty, scientists, and graduate students. Equity interns receive a stipend during the program, hands-on research experience, mentoring and advising around career pathways, weekly seminars with fellow interns, faculty, and scientist mentors, and a scientific poster presentation of the completed summer research project.
PSU Aerospace Society (PSAS)
Portland State Aerospace Society's (PSAS) mission is to design and share knowledge for building low-cost rockets, satellites, engines, and liquid fuel engines. PSAS encourages students of all majors (e.g., business, art, math, etc) to engage in administrative support and business development activities.
Transfer and Returning Student Resource Center (TRSRC)
We know that we have many students from non-PSU colleges visiting so we invited the TRSRC to help answer any questions you may have about transferring to PSU!
Portland State welcomes more transfer students than any college in Oregon. The Transfer & Returning Student Resource Center is here to help you smoothly transition to PSU and to support you on your path to degree completion. Whether you come to PSU from another institution or are coming to PSU after a significant break from your education, you belong at PSU!
TRIO Student Support Services
TRIO Student Support Services is a college retention and graduation program for undergraduate students, which helps them develop the academic skills and personal development necessary to successfully pursue and complete their first Bachelor's degree.
Undergraduate Research and Mentoring Program (URMP)
The PSU URMP funds research for undergraduate students in the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science. Students learn how to conduct research and work with a faculty mentor on a research project during a full time summer internship. Students must be Maseeh undergraduate students in their sophomore or junior year, have a strong academic record, and a strong interest in research to apply. Women and underrepresented students are highly encouraged to apply.
University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD)
Held every summer, the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Summer Internship Program provides opportunities for a diverse group of Oregon high school or early college students to gain experience in the disability field, develop transferable skills, and learn about various career paths in health care. Interns receive training on disability justice, advocacy, and career options. Interns participate in virtual group tours and OHSU labs, clinics, and facilities.
Wind Energy and Turbulence Lab
The Wind Energy and Turbulence Lab targets to answer questions dealing with fluids in the turbulent regime. A large portion of the efforts has been placed in understanding flows pertaining to wind energy, volcanic eruptions and forests to name a few. Elucidating mechanisms in the interactions between the flow and these systems allows for the possibility of answering relevant questions as well as understanding these systems as a whole. Flow are scaled and studied in a wind tunnel setting via the use of laser-based techniques.
Research Opportunities from 2023 SRA
These are opportunities who couldn't join this year, but we think they're worth looking into!
altREU: Design, Program, and Use Computers to Benefit Society
The altREU program is an alternative, fully online, team- and project-based Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) with a focus on designing, programming, and using computers to benefit society. The program is designed for you, a curious, motivated doer, eager to go through a unique learning experience that has the potential to impact both your career as well as society.
EAGLES
Turn your passion for the environment into a rewarding career! Students are eligible for up to $10,000 per year.
PSU EAGLES scholarship program is designed to fund low-income students interested in STEM & pollution research. Scholars receive financial assistance, advising, mentorship, & research opportunities. Explore your future in STEM as an EAGLES scholar focused on environmental stewardship, equity and justice, and building connections between the rural and urban worlds.
OHSU Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)
The focus of OHSU PREP is to recruit and train Persons Excluded because of their Ethnicity or Race (PEER) postbacs for an intensive, mentored research experience with the goal to prepare them for pursuing a graduate degree in biomedical research. In addition to a year-long sustained research experience, OHSU PREP scholars will receive individualized competency-based professional and career skill development and opportunities that allow for cultural immersion through interactions with near-peer mentors (i.e. graduate students and postdoctoral fellows) and OHSU faculty from underrepresented backgrounds.
Oregon National Primate Research Center
Each year the ONPRC hosts around 10 undergraduate students for research internships and provides stipends! A limited number of fellowship awards ($3000 each) are available each summer to support undergraduate students who will enter their junior or senior year of college following their summer apprenticeship. Fellows complete a project during their 10-week apprenticeship and present the results of their research at the culminating Summer Science Symposium. Updated project descriptions and application information is uploaded each September. Applications are due in early February each year.
Learn more about the Oregon National Primate Research Center
REKNEW Lab
The REKNEW research group addresses the complex communication needs of children and adult groups with developmental, acquired, and/or neurodegenerative disabilities.
Learn more about the REKNEW Lab
Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
SACNAS is a national organization that aims to empower underrepresented communities in STEM fields. The organization provides resources and support for students and professionals to succeed in their respective fields, and works to increase the diversity of the STEM workforce.
PSU just started a student chapter this past spring term! We aim to provide a platform for students to connect with like-minded peers, share experiences and resources, and develop leadership skills. Our chapter will also offer opportunities for students to engage in STEM-related events, workshops, and conferences, as well as community outreach programs.
Contact at psusacnas@pdx.edu to learn more!
Updated on: June 13, 2024