Provost’s Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program
Provost’s Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program
PURM was created to provide undergraduates with a substantial research experience under the guidance and direction of a faculty mentor.
Faculty Research Mentors
Faculty will describe up to three research projects with which undergraduates could assist during the summer. Applications from all subject areas are actively encouraged. Projects may also include curricular development. Faculty and researchers in all twelve of Penn’s schools may serve as Research Mentors. Research projects can be carried out on Penn’s campus, on other campuses, or at collections, archives, field sites, or other locations throughout the world. The goal of these funds is to expose students to the reality of academic scholarship early in their undergraduate years. Project descriptions should include the project aim, student’s responsibilities, duties, and any prerequisites. Brief descriptions that explain what a student will gain from the participating in the project are more likely to draw greater student interest.
Student Research Assistants
The expectation is that students will be engaged full-time on the project for 10 weeks of the summer. In some cases, where desired by both student and faculty, the research relationship may continue after the summer project has ended. Students should be included, as much as possible, in all phases of the project but are not required to play a leading or independent role.
Eligibility
Undergraduates from all four of Penn’s undergraduate schools are eligible to apply. Applications are accepted only from freshmen for projects to be carried out during the summer between freshman and sophomore years.
Procedures
Faculty projects will be listed electronically with their descriptions. Students will then apply directly to CURF. The application form and a Penn in Touch copy of the transcript should be sent as attachments via email to no later than 4:00pm on Wednesday, February 18. Students may apply for up to two projects and indicate their first and second choice.
Because there may be many more faculty projects than funding available, not all faculty submitting projects will become a mentor through this program. Students will receive up to a $3,000 summer stipend for their living costs. Faculty will receive up to $2,500 to cover costs of the project, including supplies, travel for student if needed, and other related project costs.
Project Descriptions for 2009
Current and previous faculty-student pairings
These listings are subject to change. If a listing that you (a student) have applied for is no longer listed, you will be given the opportunity to change your application. If a listing that you (a faculty member) submitted is not on the document above, please contact us to make sure that we received it.
Timeline
- January 31 Faculty descriptions due electronically to CURF
- February 18 Student applications due electronically to CURF. Please include “PURM” in the Subject line of your email.
- March 31 Decisions made, all faculty and students notified
Contact
Dr. Wallace Genser
Phone: 215-746-6488
Fax: 215-573-4869