Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships

The University of Pennsylvania Summer Undergraduate Internship Program (SUIP) provides an intense research experience to students interested in graduate study in the biomedical and biological sciences. The program has been in existence since 1993. Approximately 30 college students from across the US participate each year; most are rising juniors and seniors, but occasionally we admit a rising sophomore.

Perry World House is seeking applications from rising Penn sophomores, juniors and seniors for its 2022-2023 class of World House Student Fellows. This competitive program is intended for undergraduate students from any school or department who have demonstrated a serious interest in exploring global affairs in depth during their time at Penn. World House Student Fellows will participate in a series of seminars, projects, and activities oriented around critical global inquiry.

ASAM is an interdisciplinary program that considers the historical and contemporary experiences of Asian immigrants and persons of Asian ancestry in North America. Through the Fellows Program, ASAM aims to involve more undergraduates in original research, increase student engagement with ASAM faculty, and allow students to expand upon work in prior classes.

The Native American Scholars Initiative (NASI) Undergraduate Summer Internship provides an opportunity for three talented undergraduates to conduct research, to explore career possibilities in archives and special collections, and to learn about advanced training in Native American and Indigenous Studies and related fields. This eight-week paid internship program at the American Philosophical Society Library & Museum in Philadelphia will offer a hands-on research experience and will include mentorship and networking opportunities.

Founded in 2014, the Penn Program in Environmental Humanities (PPEH) fosters interdisciplinary environmental collaboration and scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, and beyond. 

PPEH's four core commitments include:

Program summary: The Water Center at Penn encourages Penn undergraduate students from any discipline to apply for this competitive student grant program to promote research in water science, policy and sustainability. The grant also aims to recognize academic excellence and prepare students towards leadership by encouraging applied research and community engagement.

This is awarded annually for the best undergraduate essay on any topic related to South Asia. The award will be for $300 and competition is open to all students of the University of Pennsylvania. There is no set number of pages or format for submissions. Writings may be prose, poetry, research, or scientific papers as long as the subject involves South Asia. Papers should be submitted by April 1, 2022 by pdf via email to Chip Bagnall at cbagnall@sas.upenn.edu

The Project on Borders and Boundaries in World Politics has openings for up to six paid undergraduate researchers. This project is concerned with how and why humans demarcate the international space between “us” and “them.” It contextualizes international border architecture, infrastructure and institutions as expressions of various social, political and economic anxieties associated with globalization. This research team works on a broad range of questions relating to “bordering” in world politics.

Deeply intertwined with their local ecosystems and led by multiple generations of families, Italian companies represent an interesting playground to investigate the social role of companies and the opportunities of long-term strategies. 

This program will offer an original framework to understand how leading Italian brands in the fields of food, wine, industrial design, textile and fashion have been able to sustain superior quality while growing into global icons.