What opportunities are open to me?
There are many opportunities for Penn undergraduates to conduct research in any discipline—regardless of their previous experience. Research positions can be:
- Volunteer
- Arranged through work-study
- Paid -- funded directly through a faculty member’s grant or via a program that provides a stipend
- Conducted for academic credit, or
- Supported via a grant for which you apply.
Keep in mind that funding options are often specific to particular kinds of research, fields of study, grad year, etc. In addition, most (but not all) CURF funding is reserved for research conducted under the mentorship of a Penn faculty member.
Use the list below to identify research programs, grants and opportunities at Penn, elsewhere in the US and abroad. While CURF strives to maintain a thorough and up-to-date website, these listings are not comprehensive and students are encouraged to conduct their own funding searches.
What grants should I apply for?
The Penn Undergraduate Research Mentorship (PURM) program is ideal for first and second-year students who have little to no prior research experience. For more advanced researchers, the College Alumni Society Research Grant, the Vagelos Undergraduate Research Grant, and the Class of 1971 Robert J. Holtz Endowed Fund for Undergraduate Research are good places to start.
Other options are often specific to particular populations or kinds of research (e.g. grants for international research, social-impact endeavors, or for juniors who have not done research before).
The Urban Studies Program Gordon Fellowship
Deadline: 04/26/2025 (Tentative)Winners of the Gordon Fellowship will receive a $5,000 stipend to explore careers that would lead to improving the quality of life in cities, whether in the public, non-profit, or private sectors and will benefit from career mentoring through alumni activities during the school year.
History Undergraduate Research Grants
Deadline: 05/03/2025 (Tentative)The History Department Undergraduate Research Fund awards grants to students who require funds to travel to archives or for research materials for extensive projects, usually as part of a History seminar or independent study. The Department also has additional funds to support undergraduate research for students in the History Honors Thesis program.
John Carter Brown Library STEM Research
Deadline: 05/06/2025 (Tentative)This pilot fellowship will allow STEM concentrators to work with Americana, a digitized program of the library's unique collection, under the supervision of the JCB digital team, contributing to their work on enhancing the platform’s capacities while creating their own project based on our digital assets
Department of Commerce Internship Program
Rolling DeadlineThe Department of Commerce Internship Program will expose students to opportunities in the Federal Government and the potential to find passion in a career in public service through working with a political appointee in one of several DOC offices.
Sandia National Laboratories Internships and Co-Ops
Rolling DeadlineThe Sandia National Laboratories offer numerous internship and co-op opportunities for students of all levels, allowing them to work on real-world project and contribute to critical national goals.
CIA Student Programs
Rolling DeadlineThe CIA offers several student programs that offer highly unique and rewarding student experiences working alongside experts in your field of study as you gain real-world experience within the Intelligence Community.
U.S. Census Bureau's Pathway Internship Program
Rolling DeadlineThe U.S. Census Bureau's Pathways Internship Program provides paid work experience to students who are in high school or pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in an accredited college or university (including Community College).
Research in Industrial Projects for Students (RIPS) Program
Rolling DeadlineThe Institue for Pure and Applied Mathematics at UCLA offers several versions of its Research in Industrial Projects for Students (RIPS) program, a summer research experience for students of math and related disciplines.
Gutmann-Doyle Research Opportunities Fund
Rolling DeadlineThe Amy Gutmann and Michael Doyle Research Opportunities Fund is used at the discretion of the director of CURF to assist students with activities associated with their independent research projects. This may include covering the cost of travel to research sites, or assisting with living expenses during a research project away from campus.
Koch Internship Program
Rolling DeadlineThe Koch Internship Program combines individualized education with hands-on work experience to empower social entrepreneurs to drive their own careers and make a positive contribution right away.