AURORA, Ore. — What began as an invitation to judge a local high school science fair has grown into a hands-on summer internship program at Oregon State University’s North Willamette Research and Extension Center.

More than a decade ago, Luisa Santamaria, a professor of plant pathology at OSU, was asked to judge projects at the Wilsonville Science Fair. After seeing student work related to her field, Santamaria began recruiting interested students to volunteer in her lab at the center, known as NWREC.

“Students from urban areas often don’t know much about farming or how it connects to the environment and food supply,” said Santamaria, a nursery plant pathology specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. “Hands-on experiences can spark interest in agricultural sciences and help students understand plant health and farming systems.”

Building a pathway into research

Santamaria launched the High School Scholars Outreach and Education Program in 2012. In summer 2024, the program reached a milestone with support from the OSU Department of Botany and Plant Pathology and the newly launched SEED Internship Program.

“This program gives high school students a unique opportunity to gain experience in a research lab while learning about plant production and Oregon’s nursery industry through field visits,” Santamaria said. “Students develop skills that prepare them for college-level research.”

The eight-week internship offers up to 20 hours per week at NWREC, located about 20 miles south of Portland. Students from nearby schools — including Wilsonville and West Linn high schools — are prioritized to reduce transportation barriers and increase access.

Participants receive hands-on training in microbiology, learning how to isolate plant pathogens and apply foundational laboratory techniques. Each intern designs and manages a small independent project and presents their findings in a formal report at the end of the program.

From science fair to college pathway

Camryn Lau began volunteering in Santamaria’s lab in 2020 after working on a science fair project examining tobacco mosaic virus in tomato plants. She became an intern the following year.

“I got connected with Luisa through a school advisor and started stopping by her lab,” Lau said. “It was a great way to really understand what research looks like and decide what I might want to pursue.”

Lau is now an Oregon State student majoring in nutrition and following a premedical track, with plans to become a family medicine physician.

“This internship helped me see what kinds of science are out there — and what I didn’t want to do, too,” Lau said. “Building relationships at Extension was huge. A lot of my current research interests trace back to my time at the Extension center.”

Mentorship at the core

Mentorship is a cornerstone of the internship experience. Aasha Patel, a senior at Wilsonville High School who interned in 2024, said the program filled a gap in her education.

“There aren’t many opportunities to learn about agriculture in an urban school,” Patel said. “Luisa helped me understand scientific processes like working with microorganisms — things we don’t really get to do in class.”

Patel connected with Santamaria after presenting a cyanobacteria project at the Wilsonville Science Fair, where Santamaria frequently serves as a judge and mentor.

“I’ve been interested in bacteria for years, and this internship helped me connect those interests with engineering and real-world applications,” Patel said.

Students often continue their summer research into the school year, presenting their work at science fairs and deepening their experience.

“Luisa gives you the tools to explore your own interests,” Patel said. “That kind of mentorship makes a big difference.”

Previously titled OSU plant pathology internships prepare students for science research