Are you ready to Launch Your Sustainability Career?
"I gained so many valuable experiences in the insect agriculture field that were unique to this internship including hands on work, personal and company networking skills, and overall expanded knowledge of on insects and closed loop sustainable models."
- Intern at Chapul Farms
Program Overview
During this 11-week internship, you will be matched with an Oregon business to conduct research that can help improve efficiency, save money, and reduce waste.
You will benefit from
A full-time, paid, 11-week summer internship program that supports career development.
Gaining hands on sustainability experience through real-world project collaborations with Oregon businesses.
Receiving personalized guidance and support from mentors in the fields of science and engineering.
Developing essential skills in the communication of scientific concepts to diverse audiences.
How to Apply?
The 2025 application period has closed. For more information about the program check out the application instructions and a list of 2025 host site business locations and project descriptions below.
Access resources for the 2025 application process and tips for assembling your strongest application on our Application Resources Page.
Meet the 2025 host businesses that made our program’s success possible through unique collaborations.
Dive into the final presentations from 2024 to see the amazing work completed during the program.
Eligibility
Internships are open to college students in Oregon who are in their junior or senior year, or those pursuing graduate or advanced undergraduate studies.
Eligible students will be passionate about environmental science or engineering, sustainability, green chemistry, environmental policy and work that prevents pollution and waste.
General Timeline
Specific training days and public presentation dates will be indicated in the 2025 request for applications.
Mar-Apr
Intern recruitment
Host businesses are selected. Oregon Sea Grant receives and vets student intern applications. Businesses interview top candidates for their position.
May
Preparation for Internship
OASIS will coordinate a meeting between businesses, technical advisors, mentors, and interns to finalize project scope. OASIS hosts an event to showcase past projects and introduce the new cohort.
Jun-Aug
Internship Begins!
Interns attend mandatory training hosted by OASIS, work full-time for 10-weeks on their projects, and prepare final reports and success story presentations.
Sep-Oct
Wrap Up
Approve final case study for dissemination. Interns present at community events. Program evaluations are submitted.
Success Stories
Check out how Justin helped Bob's Red Mill reduce food waste in their packaging operations.
See how Derek improved chemical efficiency, boosted plastic recycling, and reduced spills at Pacific Seafood.
Learn how Emily helped Chapul Farms divert 16,000 tons of food waste and cut 5,000 MTCO2E annually through regenerative agriculture.
Past Hosts
Frequently Asked Questions
Since 2017, Oregon Sea Grant (OSG) and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) have matched talented engineering, chemistry, sustainability and environmental science students with Oregon businesses to create sustainability solutions. Summer projects focus on research and education that can help improve efficiency, save money, and reduce waste through energy or water audits, toxics use reduction, green chemistry, and life cycle assessment.
The OASIS team works with various companies within Oregon to identify projects that may benefit from participation in the program. Through this program, the OASIS team enters into agreements with these companies to identify the roles and responsibilities of the host company and the OASIS team in accomplishing the project. The OASIS team then identifies and recruits undergraduate and graduate students with skill sets that may make them successful in completing the types of projects that are submitted by companies and vetted by the OASIS team. The OASIS team pairs these interns and their respective skills and interests with the participating company’s proposed project to develop project assignments.
The OASIS team provides technical and program support to the interns throughout the project. The host company’s identified site coordinator is also available to provide on-site resources and support to the interns. The interns develop recommendations for improvements that follow the Program’s goals and prepare reports detailing their efforts and any results of implementation, if applicable. The OASIS team will publish a summary of these reports and follow-up with participating companies regarding implementation to verify savings and other benefits.
All information gathered and reported to theOASIS team under this program is confidential. The only published documents are the success stories prepared by the interns, which are reviewed and approved by the companies at the end of the internship. The OASIS team also uses these success stories for reporting and program marketing purposes.
This internship provides $6,700 per student working full-time for 10-weeks. Interns must be available to work onsite at the businesses on a daily basis. Housing costs are not provided, but limited funds may be available to support program-related expenses.
- OSG and DEQ solicit student applicants
- Students apply through the eSeaGrant online application process
- Student applications are reviewed and ranked through a panel reviewer process set up by OSG and DEQ
- Top student candidates applications are sent to Host Business
- Host Business reviews all referred applications and directly contacts student(s) for interviews
- Host Business ranks students post interview (1st choice, 2nd choice, etc.) and sends that information to OASIS Coordinator and OSG
- Host Business communicates intention to offer position to their top candidate
- OSG will speak with top candidate and make the final offer (if top candidate declines the position – takes another job, drops out of the running – OSG will reach out to the next in line candidate)
Students are required to attend two half-day trainings that cover basic concepts of sustainability and pollution prevention, project management, report writing and professional conduct. Students and Businesses representatives are required to attend a Meet and Greet social event where past successes will be highlighted and the new cohort will be introduced.
OASIS does not provide insurance to scholars.
- a final detailed project report, following OASIS’s outline
- a success story summarizing the project for an external audience
- a presentation of project results to be delivered to the project team, business management, and external partners
- Pollution prevention intern
- Host company, represented by their site coordinator
- OASIS technical advisor/mentor(s): DEQ, professors, others
- OASIS developer and coordinators: DEQ, Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon State University, Portland State University
- OASIS program administrator: Oregon Sea Grant
Have Questions or Want to Learn More?
Reach out to us for more information about the OASIS Program. We’re here to help!
Email us at : [email protected]
This project has been funded in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement US EPA Pollution Prevention Program Grant # NP - 02J91601 - 1 to Oregon Sea Grant. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document.
