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.
Analytical and Human-Centered: A Summer Interning at Sentara Hospital
Corey Brooks ('26), a Health and Societies Major, spent this past summer serving as an Undergraduate Administrative Intern at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, a Level I Trauma center in his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia. The internship gave Corey firsthand insight into hospital administration as both an analytical and human-centered discipline. This experience was supported by the Franklin Opportunity Fund, an internship funding opportunity for Benjamin Franklin Scholars.
Embracing Uncertainty
Ioana Gidiuta (‘26), an Electrical Engineering major, studied neuromotor development in infants in efforts to improve rehabilitation strategies with mentorship from Dr. Michelle Johnson (Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation). This research was supported by CURF Summer Research Funding.
Thinking Beyond the Data
Khadija Seck (‘26), a Neuroscience major, researched how to adapt cognitive assessments for low literacy contexts with mentorship from Dr. Iliana Kohler (Department of Sociology). This research was supported by a College Alumni Society Grant.
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.
Penn fourth-year awarded a Gates Cambridge Scholarship
University of Pennsylvania fourth-year Jonibek Muhsinov has been awarded a Gates Cambridge Scholarship to pursue a Ph.D. in psychiatry at the University of Cambridge in England.
Creating Lasting Connections
From left to right: Daniel Mysliwiec (‘28), a Neuroscience major, and Nathalie Mejia (‘27), a Biology major with Hannah Shalaby (Research Coordinator) and their mentor Dr. Colin Ellis (Department of Neurology. Together, they surveyed epilepsy patients to learn more about their daily lived experiences. This research was supported by the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program.
Combining Data, Culture, and Connection
Belinda Chen, Debby Li and William Xi conducted research on factors affecting well-being among Chinese Americans. They were mentored by Dr. Effy Zhiyuan Yu from the Department of Family and Community Health. This research was supported by the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program.
Charting the Plot Twists of Clinical Research
Sheel Patel (‘28), a Health and Societies and Nutrition Science double major, conducted research on white coat hypertension in children with mentorship from Dr. Amy Kogon (Department of Pediatrics). This research was supported by a Grant for Faculty Mentoring Undergraduate Research.
Perseverance is Strengthened Through Research
Eric Najera (‘26), a History major, researched how Mexican immigrant communities responded to anti-immigration policies and rhetoric in the 20th century with mentorship from Dr. Hardeep Dhillon (Department of History). This research was supported by a Grant for Faculty Mentoring Undergraduate Research.
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.
Cultivating Community
Jourdan Wright (‘27), a Communication major, was a digital content intern for BlackStar Projects, a non-profit film organization that uplifts Black, Brown, and Indigenous filmmakers and artists. This internship was supported by the Summer Humanities Internship Program.