Provost’s Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program

The program is 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 project with which undergraduates could assist during the summer. Projects may also include curricular development. Applications from all subject areas are actively encouraged. 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 through out the world. Descriptions should include briefly the project aim, student's responsibilities, duties and any pre-requisites.

Student Research Assistants
The expectation is that students will be engaged full-time (35 hours per week) 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. They 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.

Procecedures
Faculty projects will be listed electronically with their descriptions. Students will then apply directly to CURF. The application form should be sent as an email attachment to curf@pobox.upenn.edu. High school and Penn transcripts should be submitted in hardcopy to the CURF office at 3601 Locust Walk. (High school transcripts can be obtained directly from high schools or a copy, even unofficial, in the student's posession can be submitted. Penn transcripts can be Penn in Touch print-outs with the name added.) Students may apply for up to two projects.

Because there may be many more faculty projects than funding available, not all faculty submitting projects will become a mentor through this program. Eighteen student-mentor teams will be named. Students will receive a $4000 summer stipend for their living costs. Faculty will receive $3500 to cover costs of the project, including supplies, travel for student if needed, and other related project costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Projects proposed for summer 2008

Student-Mentor matches for summer 2008

Timeline

January 31 Faculty descriptions due electronically to CURF http://www.upenn.edu/curf/research/mentor_description.doc

February 18 Student applications due electronically to CURF http://www.upenn.edu/curf/research/mentor_application.doc
March 21 Decisions made, all faculty and students notified

Contact

Cheryl Shipman
Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships
The ARCH, 3601 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6224
shipman@upenn.edu
Phone: 215-746-6488
Fax: 215-573-4869
http://www.upenn.edu/curf