Welcome to the Ted R. Lilley CURE Program application! 

The Knight Cancer Institute (KCI) at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Ted R. Lilley CURE Program strives to create a learning environment in which everyone is supported to reach their individual potential. The CURE Program is eligible for students from disadvantaged backgrounds as defined by the National Institute of Health. Although the CURE Program Selection Committee will be following NIH guidelines for determining a status of disadvantaged, all applications will be considered.

Please review the Ted R. Lilley CURE Program website to learn more about the program.

The application and all supplemental materials including recommendation letters for the CURE Program MUST be submitted online by the deadline of 11:59 PM (PST) on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

Please review ALL of the application instructions thoroughly. Only completed applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed. Selection and notifications will take place by the end of February 2026.

The CURE program will take place from June 22, 2026, through August 14, 2026.

Please note: To participate in the CURE Program, interns will be required to provide either documentation of Covid and Flu vaccines administered for the 2025-2026 season or complete a formal declination form. Please be prepared to adhere to this policy.

Please prepare all information listed below prior to starting the application. 

You can start and return to the application.  

Application Requirements

To complete the Ted R. Lilley CURE Program Application, you will need the following:

1. Your current resume in .pdf or .doc or .docx format, uploaded within this application portal. (highlight science courses, and any relevant research or work experience)
2. Unofficial transcripts, uploaded within this application portal (if selected for the CURE Program, official transcripts will be required)
3. Personal Statement essay. This must be submitted in .pdf or .doc or .docx format.
   • Please describe your career goals, extracurricular activities, intellectual interests, and future educational plans. Discuss the reason you would like to participate in this program and any obstacles or challenges you have overcome. Explain how this internship would further enhance your career goals. Please describe any previous research that you may have done, if any, and tell us if you have any particular area of interest for your summer internship. (500 words, double spaced) 
4. Two Letters of Recommendation 
   • First & last name and email address of your recommenders. 
   • One of these letters must be from a science teacher or research mentor
   • The second letter can be from a community leader, teacher, coach, counselor, etc.
   • Recommendation letters are due: Thursday, January 8, 2026

After you identify your references in the application, they will receive an email from no-reply@rlogx.com within 24 hours containing a link to upload their letter of recommendation.

If your reference does not receive the email within that timeframe, please ask them to check their spam or junk folder. If the email is still not found, contact us at cureinternship@ohsu.edu for assistance.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Must be 16 years of age or older by the program start date of June 22, 2026
2. Completed at least one (1) year of high school prior to Summer 2026. Seniors graduating in Spring 2026 are eligible
3. Enrolled in an Oregon or Washington High School (preference will be given to students attending public schools)
4. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds as defined by the National Institute of Health is preferred but not required. 
5. 3.0 GPA or higher and must have taken at least one science class (preferably biology)
6. U.S. citizen or DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students are eligible. A DACA applicant must have an employment authorization card via USCIS