News
Emma Chaplin named 2026 Rhodes Scholarship finalist
Penn State undergraduate Emma Chaplin has been named a finalist for a 2026 Rhodes Scholarship, one of the most selective postgraduate awards for U.S. students.
Penn State undergraduates reflect on Malawi fieldwork with ECODRYFOREST project
For two Penn State undergraduates, July 2025 brought an experience far from campus classrooms. Geography majors Jesse Ehrlich and Cadence O’Brien spent a month in Malawi as part of the ECODRYFOREST project, a U.S. National Science Foundation–funded effort to study the ecological and social outcomes of landscape restoration in Southern Africa.
Geography student’s research shines light on teen vaping boom
Naomi Bird, an undergraduate student majoring in geography and comparative literature at Penn State, worked with Emily Rosenman and Louisa Holmes, both associate professors of geography, to help investigate strategies e-cigarette companies used to market to a younger audience.
Learning Factory to host 'Open House Closed Shop Event' on Oct. 16
The Penn State Learning Factory will host its Open House Closed Shop Event from 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 16, showcasing clubs, organizations and the wide range of resources available to students. The event aims to highlight opportunities for hands-on learning, collaboration and innovation across disciplines.
Six students earn University nominations to the Rhodes and Marshall scholarships
Six Penn State students and recent alumni have been nominated for the 2026 Rhodes and Marshall scholarships, two of the most prestigious and competitive awards available to U.S. students. Nominees will submit their materials to the national review committees, and finalists will be invited to interview in November.
Erie research vineyard provides opportunities for Behrend students
The Lake Erie Regional Grape Research and Extension Center is a 40-acre vineyard where biologists, viticulturists and Behrend undergraduate students study Concord and Niagara grapes.
Spark Program applications open for fellowships mentoring
Penn State first-, second- and third-year undergraduates from all campuses are invited to apply to the Spark Program, which helps students prepare for fellowships and funding opportunities. Applications close Sept. 15.
‘Research Readiness’ workshop series begins for undergraduates
Undergraduate students interested in research are invited to participate in a series of virtual sessions designed to help them get started, find opportunities and succeed in their research endeavors. The weekly sessions are from Sept. 10 through Oct. 22.
New seed funding opportunities available for Commonwealth Campus faculty
Faculty at Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses are invited to apply for four seed funding programs designed to strengthen research capacity, foster mentorship and expand opportunities for undergraduate students. Offered through the Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses, the programs provide support to help faculty advance their scholarship and prepare competitive proposals for external funding.
Pioneering scholarship is first for students in the Applied Research Laboratory
Inspired by an opportunity to support undergraduates and bolster the University’s research capabilities, a Penn State couple has come forward with a $50,000 gift to create a first-of-its-kind scholarship benefiting undergraduates in the Applied Research Laboratory.