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).
U.S. Strategic Command Student Internships
Rolling DeadlineThe Student Educational Employment Program is a government-wide program that allows students to participate in paid internships related to your area of interest at the U.S. Strategic Command.
NIST Internship Program
Rolling DeadlineThe NIST Internship Program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of education institutions, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work in agencies to explore Federal careers while still in school and while getting paid for the work performed.
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.
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.
Center for the Study of Ethnicity, Race, and Immigration (CSERI) Turner Schulman Undergraduate Fellowships
Deadline: 04/30/2024 Rolling DeadlinePenn students in any school interested in social science approaches to race, ethnicity or immigration can apply for support for either their own research or a research assistantship.