Read the news articles below to learn more about what our students are up to in the world of undergraduate research, fellowships, and scholars programs! This is a great way to learn more about the types of research and fellowships students are participating in.
Bridging Research and Patient Care
Carlos Santana Velez (‘27), a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, conducted research on anti-amyloid therapies for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease with mentorship from Dr. Dawn Mechanic-Hamilton (Department of Neurology). This research was supported by the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program.
From Life Science to Public Health: Broadening My Perspective on Research
Cecilia Lam (‘27), a Psychology major, researched child passenger safety and the impact of violence prevention programs with mentorship from Dr. Rachel Myers (Department of Pediatrics). This research was supported by the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program.
A Summer of Studying Spines
Alexandra Baranyai ('28), a Biology and Health and Societies double major, spent the summer with Dr. Sarah Gullbrand (Department of Orthopaedic Surgery) studying spinal disc degeneration. Her research training experience was supported by the University Scholars program.
Two Penn students chosen as 2026 Marshall Scholars
Adelaide Lyall, a graduate student in the School of Social Policy & Practice, and Norah Rami, a fourth-year in the College of Arts & Sciences, will receive funding for as much as three years of graduate study in the United Kingdom.
Research, Independence, and Community
Cristian Solano (‘27), a double major in Materials Science and Engineering and Economics, conducted research on the environmental impact of fertilizer use with mentorship from Dr. Samantha McBride (Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mathematics). This research was supported by the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program.
The Growth and Excitement of Stepping from Classroom to Lab
Jailyn Cardwell and Alicia Zhang investigated genetic and phenotypic variations in ethnically diverse populations in Africa with mentorship from Dr. Sarah Tishkoff (Department of Genetics and Biology). This research was supported by the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program.
A Trip to Puppet Planet
Over the summer, Lily Grace and Tatiana Williams-Martin were interns for Spiral Q. Spiral Q uses art to connect people, actions, values, neighborhoods, organizations, and movements to each other and to their collective creative force for change. This internship was supported by the Summer Humanities Internship Program.
Interpreting Interpretation: Prosecuting and Identifying Treasonous Texts under the British Raj
Norah Rami (’26), an English and Political Science major, conducted research on censorship under the British Raj with the mentorship of Dr. Caz Batten (Department of English). Her research was supported by the University Scholars program.
Designing Through Data
Phoebe Anagnos ('28), an Architecture and Earth and Environmental Science double major, conducted research on natural materials that could be used to replace carbon-emissive materials with mentorship from Dr. Laia Mogas-Soldevila (Department of Architecture). This research was supported by the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program.
The Beauty of the Brain
Chidinma Esielem ('27), a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, investigated possible links between sleep disturbances and brain pathologies indicative of Alzheimer’s disease with mentorship from Dr. Shinjae Chung (Department of Neuroscience). This research was supported by the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program.
Penn fourth-year Florence Onyiuke named a 2026 Rhodes Scholar
Onyiuke has been awarded a 2026 Rhodes Scholarship, which funds tuition and a living stipend for graduate study at the University of Oxford in England. She is among 32 American Rhodes Scholars and an expected 100 worldwide.