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.
Working Hard on Labor History
Nishanth Bhargava (‘27), a History major, conducted research on the French labor movement in the 20th century. He was mentored by Siarhei Biareishyk (Department of Russian and East European Studies) and supported by the University Scholars program.
Studies of Spinoza
Justin Miller ('26), a Religious Studies and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures double major, conducted research on Benedict Spinoza, a 17th-century philosopher, and his use of Christian ceremonies in his model of national religion. He was mentored by Dr. Talya Fishman (Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures) and supported by the University Scholars program.
My Voice in Beijing
Phillip Nguyen (‘28), an East Asian Languages and Civilizations major, studied Mandarin Chinese through the Princeton in Beijing (PiB) program. His language training experience was supported by the University Scholars program and mentored by Professor Chih-jen Lee (Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations).
Chasing Spins, Finding Surprises
Emma Yao (‘27), a Physics and English double major, conducted research at TRIUMF, Canada’s national particle accelerator center, to improve the efficiency of polarization transfers. Emma was mentored by Dr. Syd Kreitzman (Centre for Molecular and Materials Sciences group, TRIUMF) and Dr. Bill Ashmanskas (Department of Physics). Her research was supported by the University Scholars program.
Unraveling Stress Signals: Exploring Brain Cells, Behaviors and Growth in the Lab
Sage Leland ('26), a Bioengineering major, researched the impacts of stress on specialized brain cells related to emotion and memory with the mentorship of Dr. Sanghee Yun and Dr. Amelia Eisch (Departments of Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine and Neuroscience, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and The University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine). She was supported by the University Scholars program.
Mapping the Mind
Sneha Chandrashekar ('27), a Neuroscience major, researched how transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) could be improved as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sneha recently presented her research at the 2025 Society for Neuroscience (SfN) conference in San Diego, CA. She conducted this project with the mentorship of Dr. Nicholas Balderston (Department of Psychiatry) and support from the University Scholars 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.
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 Stretchable Materials for Space Antennas
Enya Cao (’28), a Physics and Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics double major, explored how kirigami-inspired geometries can be used to design stretchable mechanical metamaterials for future space antennas and better space communications. She conducted her research with the mentorship of Dr. Igor Bargatin and PhD student Gulzhan Aldan. Enya was supported by the University Scholars program.
Not the Ordinary Ordinate: My Summer of Superordinates
Izzy Chapman ('28), a Linguistics major, conducted research on the relationship between language and cognition with the mentorship of Dr. Anna Papafragou (Department of Psychology). Izzy’s research was supported by the University Scholars program.