OHSU Innovation and Commercialization Internship
OHSU Innovation and Commercialization interns provide a valuable service by assisting with technology development and the transition of technology from laboratory to market for the benefit of the public. In return, interns gain valuable knowledge and skills that can be applied in a wide range of professions.
Internship program details
Program structure
The OHSU Innovation and Commercialization internship program is an educational experience for individuals interested in technology transfer, business development, and/or patent law. Get real-world experience assisting with innovation development and the transition of technology from laboratory to market. Eligible interns can receive a monthly monetary service award and/or academic credit for program participation. Please note that this program is primarily remote/virtual, but interns in the Portland metro area may have the opportunity for to attend some in-person meetings.
Required qualifications
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in a life science, physical science, and/or engineering.
- Be pursuing or have received a graduate-level degree in science, medicine, engineering, business, or law OR have at least three years of relevant job experience.
- Have an interest in intellectual property, technology transfer, and/or business development as a career goal.
- Be able to commit to volunteering an average of 8 to 10 hours per week for at least six months time. Intern performance will be assessed every three months. The program length may be extended for interns in good standing, per a formal review process.
To apply
Internship applications are currently closed. Sign up for the OHSU Innovates newsletter to stay informed about future opportunities to apply.
Application packets can be submitted via email to techmgmt@ohsu.edu . Please include the following materials in your application packet:
- Professional resume or curriculum vitae.
- Cover letter that states the applicant’s preferred internship track (Technology Transfer, Business Development, or patent law), what interested them in the program, the applicant’s career aspirations, and what the applicant hopes to achieve by participating in the internship program.
- Letter of recommendation from a recent supervisor or graduate mentor (may be emailed separately by letter writer).
- Letter of permission to participate in the Innovation and Commercialization volunteer internship program from both the applicant’s advisor and program director (only required if applicant is a current staff member, student, or volunteer of OHSU).
Questions? Contact Nicole Garrison, Program Administrator, at garrisni@ohsu.edu.
Ryan Doan, Ph.D.
Ryan is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Monk Lab at the Vollum Institute at OHSU. He earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from OHSU in 2023 after completing a B.S. in Neuroscience at Saint Louis University. His research focuses on the cellular mechanisms underlying the development and repair of the peripheral nervous system. While contributing to projects that led to the formation of a startup company, he became interested in the process of translating academic research into real-world applications. Ryan is interested in learning more about technology commercialization and the intersection between research and industry. Outside of the lab, he enjoys hiking, backpacking, skiing and spending time outdoors.
Spandana Naldiga, Ph.D.
Spandana's research has focused on immunology, cancer biology, and the development of novel research tools. She earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Connecticut, where her thesis explored the replication of DNA damage and mutational signatures, extending this research to different types of cancer. She then conducted postdoctoral research at OHSU, where she investigated biomarkers for the early detection of breast, ovarian, and lung cancers at the CEDAR-Knight Cancer Institute. Following this, she worked as a Senior Research Associate at the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), studying immune responses to antiviral drugs in both in vitro and in vivo models, as well as designing plasmids to create transgenic non-human primates. After gaining extensive experience in wet lab research, Spandana decided to shift her career focus to visualizing science beyond the bench. In her free time, she enjoys jogging, reading and baking with her child.
"As a wet lab scientist, I knew nothing about technology commercialization. However, by working on projects that provided valuable returns for the office (not busywork!) I developed and honed my understanding of technology transfer, as well as valuable skill sets. Opportunities to attend meetings discussing topics like legal protection, licensing and marketing strategies, also enabled me to further my understanding of technology commercialization beyond the scope of my projects. In addition to the internships commitment to try and match interns with projects of interest, I can easily say the OHSU Innovation and Commercialization Internship is an invaluable career development experience!"
- Adrienne Wilburn
"I loved my time learning about the licensing of OHSU technologies. While at Technology Transfer, I was given several projects to work on related to a specific technology. I also participated in Technology Transfer meetings and seminars, as well as interacted with Technology Transfer staff and OHSU inventors. The projects gave me an understanding of how new technologies are evaluated and marketed, and working with staff and inventors gave me a feel for the skills needed in tech transfer. I would absolutely recommend interning at Technology Transfer for anyone interested in learning how to apply science, law or business to commercializing academic research."
- Kimberly Griffin, Ph.D.
"The Technology Transfer internship is an enlightening, must have experience for graduate students and postdocs who want to learn about the process of taking scientific discoveries from the bench into the public domain. The opportunity to participate in discussions about intellectual property, technology evaluation, and the process of commercialization, often with members of the biotech community, has expanded my perspective of basic and translational research. The project phase of the internship allowed me to get hands-on experience working with scientists and technology transfer professionals to market new technologies to potential commercial partners that would distribute these products to the community. This internship was one of my most valuable career development experiences."
- Khoa Tran, Ph.D.
Interested in a career with OHSU Innovates?
OHSU Innovates strives to help researchers realize the commercial potential of their discoveries and bring their ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace for public benefit. Explore career opportunities with OHSU Innovates and OHSU below.