Requirements

Requirements

Students receive a UScholars designation on their transcript only after completing all of the following:

1. Attend the Launch Reception at the beginning of each academic year.
2. As a sophomore, meet with the UScholars Program Coordinator before the end of their Fall semester (effective for the Class of 2027)
   1. Students joining UScholars as a sophomore must meet with the Program Coordinator at least once in the Spring semester after their acceptance into the program.
3. Conduct independent research under the guidance of a Penn faculty member.
4. Present your research at least once at CURF’s Fall Research Expo OR Spring Symposium AND at a UScholars event during the student’s tenure in the program.
   1. UScholars events include Friday Lunch Talks, the Launch Reception, and similar programming.
5. Submit a Fall semester check-in survey each year of the student’s UScholars tenure.
6. Submit a report by May 1 of each year of the student’s UScholars tenure, detailing that year’s research progress.
   1. In the sophomore year, this report must include a formal research proposal that includes a timeline, summary of key theories/texts used to develop your project, materials you plan to use, your primary research question, and methodology.
   2. From sophomore year onward, this report must include a letter of support or acknowledgement from the student’s faculty mentor.
7. After receiving any summer funding, submit a report by Sept. 1 following the funded summer AND present at CURF’s Fall Research Expo.
8. After receiving any conference or academic-year funding, complete post-funding reports.
9. Serve and participate in a Peer Mentor Group (PMG) for the duration of the student’s UScholars tenure.
   1. With their Peer Mentor Groups, students must participate and make progress on PMG Research Bingo.
10. Remain in good academic and student conduct standing according to University regulations

Note on Faculty Mentors

Students can conduct independent research under the guidance of a Penn faculty member, which can include the following: 

• Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor: faculty with these titles are members with tenure or tenure-probationary status with either fixed or indefinite terms of service at the University.
• Senior lecturer: faculty with this title have primarily teaching responsibilities with longer-term contracts.

Faculty mentors with these titles are ideal as they will have the highest likelihood of providing continued mentorship to undergraduates as they pursue their independent research.

Other affiliated faculty or faculty at institutions other than Penn may be considered but will need to be evaluated by the UScholars program for appropriateness based on the contents of their supporting letter. Individuals on short-term appointments, such as visiting faculty, are not appropriate.

While we understand that many STEM (especially biomedical) laboratories are large and consist of a hierarchy of nested mentorship structures, postdoctoral fellows or senior-level graduate students are not considered appropriate as exclusive or primary mentors, though they are welcome to act as informal or day-to-day mentors. When seeking letters or support or primary mentors, students should seek the mentorship of the lab PI for their independent research.

Expectations

UScholars must follow all participation and attendance guidelines for Friday Lunch Talks and other community events scheduled throughout the academic year. The only acceptable reason for missing a Friday Lunch Talk or community event is a course conflict. For current UScholars, please refer to the University Scholars Program Handbook for additional information.

Students are also expected to identify themselves as part of the University Scholars programs when communicating publicly – for example, at a conference or in an interview with a campus publication or news outlet. Students presenting their UScholars work at a conference presentation with the support of UScholars funds must add the UScholars logo to their poster or PowerPoint presentation.