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Open to US citizens and non US citizens
Deadline: 03/20/2025 (Tentative)

General Information

The Wolf Humanities Center is the University of Pennsylvania's main hub for interdisciplinary humanities research and public programming. Each year, the Wolf Humanities Center explores a new topic and welcomes students and faculty who are conducting humanities research related to the theme, as well as leading scholars, artists, scientists, and more who share their unique perspectives on the topic in a wide-ranging series of public events.

Undergraduate students who join the Wolf Humanities Center as Fellows of the Undergraduate Humanities Forum (UHF) conduct research in the humanities on the Center's annual topic and become part of a group of interdisciplinary scholars and the greater Wolf Center community, which also includes Penn and Regional Faculty, Postdoctoral, and Graduate Research Fellows. Wolf's Undergraduate Research Fellows meet regularly to share and workshop their research, pursue various cultural activities of common interest, and occasionally meet in special receptions with the Wolf Humanities Center's distinguished guest speakers. The year's program culminates in organizing a spring undergraduate research conference, at which students give formal presentations of their research projects. The Undergraduate Humanities Forum provides an excellent environment for work on research projects that students develop as a part of their independent studies courses, capstone seminars, or honors theses under the guidance of faculty specialists. 

Responsibilities of Wolf's Undergraduate Research Fellows include attending and participating in regularly scheduled meetings and outings, as well as organizing and presenting at the annual Undergraduate Humanities Forum Research Conference. Applicants from all of Penn's schools are welcome to apply, provided their project fits the intellectual agenda of the Wolf Humanities Center, and must be full time, on campus for the full academic year of the award, and in good academic standing. Fellows receive $1500 awards paid in two installments (December and May).

Two Executive Board positions are available to Fellows who work closely with the UHF Faculty Director and the Wolf administrative staff to organize and plan meetings and outings throughout the year, as well as the spring research conference. Executive Board Fellows receive $2000 awards paid in two installments (December and May).

Eligibility Guidelines

Open to full-time Penn undergraduate students in good academic standing in any school wishing to conduct independent research in the humanities.

Application Details

To apply,please submit the following via the Interfolio application portal no later than 11:59pm EST of the application deadline: 

  1. Research Plan
  2. Personal Statement
  3. Unofficial Transcripts
  4. Confidential Letter of Recommendation
  5. Students applying for a position on the Wolf Undergraduate Humanities Forum Executive Board should also prepare 200-300 words explaining the following:
    1. previous experience you have had in planning events or organizing groups
    2. why you think an Undergraduate Humanities Forum is important
    3. ideas you have for organizing and motivating your Wolf Undergraduate Humanities Forum colleagues
    4. ideas for inspiring other Penn undergraduates to become involved in future years

More detailed descriptions of each application component can be found on the call for applications.

Funding Type

Details:

Research Offering Type

Grant, Independent Research

Location

USA

Undergraduate School

College, Engineering, Nursing, Wharton

Source

Penn

Contact Information

Sara Varney, Associate Director, saravarney@sas.upenn.edu