Undergraduate Research Opportunities Database
Our database is a great resource in helping students find exciting undergraduate research opportunities at Penn State.
To get the best results, we recommend that you select all of the research areas that interest you. We also recommend that you conduct multiple searches.
Campus – Select the campus(es) where you would be interested in participating in research. Depending on the time of year when you are using the database, consider whether your location changes. For example, do you spend your summers closer to a different campus than where you regularly attend school?
Research Area – Select the area(s) of research that interest you most, keeping in mind that research is often interdisciplinary so it might be appropriate to select more than one area. For example, if you are interested in health you might want to search for opportunities in the physical sciences, life sciences, and nursing and health sciences, because these research areas could all be relevant to your interest in health.
Position Type – Select the position type(s) that are most appealing to you. If you prefer whether you earn credit versus being paid, be sure to narrow down the search results using this field.
- “Work Study” is only available to students who have received a federal work-study (FWS) award. You can verify if you have an FWS award by visiting LionPATH and reviewing your "Financial Aid Summary.” If you do not have a federal work-study award, your mentor can also inquire with the Office of Student Aid - 814-865-6301 - to determine if you are eligible to be awarded one.
Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive database of all the research opportunities available at Penn State. Please visit our Finding an Opportunity at Penn State section for other ideas for finding a research opportunity!
Mentors interested in creating an account or posting an opportunity should visit the Posting Undergraduate Research Opportunities section.
| Title | Description | Research Area(s) | Position Type(s) | Work Setting(s) | Updated Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Research Assistant on Biosolids and Soil Health |
Land application of biosolids on agricultural land is widely used as a practical and cost-effective strategy for returning organic matter and plant nutrients recovered from wastewater to soil. However, biosolids are complex materials that may also contain trace metals, pathogens, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Understanding their effects on soil health is important for the sustainable use of biosolids in agricultural systems. In this project, we aim to examine how land application of biosolids affects soil health. The student will contribute to a review paper by searching, reading, and summarizing published scientific literature on changes... |
Agricultural Sciences, Environmental and Geosciences |
Paid, Variable, Volunteer |
Hybrid, On campus |
September 16, 2026 |
| Child Health Study |
Study Purpose: The primary purpose of this study is to learn more about the different ways in which the environment and biology can affect a person’s health over their lifetime. Children beginning at the age of 8 along with one of their caregivers spends a day visiting The Center for Healthy Children at Penn State to help us learn about their different life experiences and environments and how these will shape human development into adulthood. The information we gather during these visits will help us achieve our long-range goal of understanding more about children, adolescents, and their families to improve overall health outcomes. Research Assistant Benefits:
|
Life Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences |
Credit, Variable, Volunteer |
On campus |
September 8, 2026 |
| Undergraduate Research Assistant: Immersive Train-Ag (VR & AI) |
Join an interdisciplinary research team developing a Virtual Reality (VR) and Digital Twin training platform equipped with Large Language Model (LLM)-powered intelligent agents. The Immersive Train-Ag initiative creates high-fidelity virtual agricultural environments (e.g., barns, pastures, croplands, and watersheds) to help onboard and train professional conservation planners. We are looking for a motivated undergraduate research assistant to support VR prototype development, literature reviews, and pilot data collection logistics. |
Agricultural Sciences, Engineering, Information Technology and Computer Science |
Paid |
On campus |
August 21, 2026 |
| Research Position for Penn State Undergraduates: Fikrig Lab (Fall 2026) |
The Fikrig Lab in the Department of Entomology at Penn State (University Park) is seeking an undergraduate to work as a part-time laboratory research assistant (minimum 8 hours/week) for Fall 2026. The position will begin in early September 2026 and continue through the end of the semester. Position Description Our research addresses questions at the intersection of entomology and public health, with a particular focus on understanding the drivers and barriers of mosquito invasions. Each undergraduate researcher will be... |
Agricultural Sciences, Environmental and Geosciences, Life Sciences, Nursing and Health Sciences |
Credit, Work Study |
On campus |
August 24, 2026 |
| Field Assistant Position for Undergraduates at the Fikrig Lab (September and October 2026 only) |
The Fikrig Lab in the Department of Entomology at Penn State (University Park) is seeking an undergraduate to work as a part-time research assistant (minimum 8 hours/week) for Fall 2026. The position will begin in early September 2026 and continue through the end of October 2026. If the candidate is interested in transitioning to a research assistant position in the lab after the field position ends in October, they may do so (contingent upon performance). Project Description The Fikrig Lab addresses questions at the intersection of entomology and public health, with a focus on understanding the drivers... |
Agricultural Sciences, Environmental and Geosciences, Life Sciences, Nursing and Health Sciences |
Credit, Paid, Work Study |
Community-based, On campus |
August 24, 2026 |
| Research Assistant Positions in Using Computation to Understand Speech Production in People with Dysarthria (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Down Syndrome) |
In the Speech Production Laboratory, we are examining tongue and jaw movement for speech production in people with dysarthria (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Down syndrome). In addition, we analyze their speech signals to inform the development of effective interventions tailored to their characteristics. We process data using computational methods to extract acoustic and kinematic variables. Students with a strong programming background or studying computer science, data science, statistics, and mathematics are welcome.
This position would be a great fit for applicants planning to pursue interdisciplinary graduate studies such as language technologies, acoustics, computational linguistics, or related disciplines. |
Information Technology and Computer Science, Mathematics, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Statistics |
Credit, Volunteer |
Hybrid, On campus |
August 13, 2026 |
| AI and Human Engineer Decision Making on Risk |
This research opportunity is a Fall 2026 research-based course (ENVSE 497-001) where a small group of students will develop and execute an experiment that compares how humans and AI models make risk-related decisions. This course will involve instruction in human subject- and AI-appropriate research methods followed by a student-led investigation including experimental testing on the differences and similarities between AI models and human engineer decision making on questions of safety and environmental risk. AI models have burst onto the academic and industry scene and have the potential to increase the productivity of professional engineers in the workplace, but how these models would make or advise making decisions on system design or maintenance questions that... |
Agricultural Sciences, Business, Engineering, Environmental and Geosciences, Information Technology and Computer Science, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences |
Credit |
On campus |
August 6, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania Gambling Survey - Fall 2026 |
The Survey Research Center is collecting data for the Pennsylvania Interactive, Online Gaming Annual Study, a state-wide study to assess impacts of online gambling in Pennsylvania. The study is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. It has been designed to provide accurate, reliable, and representative data on Pennsylvanians' gambling. Residents across Pennsylvania (PA) have an equal chance of being selected to participate in this telephone survey that allows participants to share their experiences with online gambling. The project incorporates yearly data collection and includes an annual report of the findings. Since PA recently legalized online gaming, we are in a unique position to measure engagement and the impacts. This evidence will guide... |
Any, Business, Communications and Journalism, Humanities, Information Technology and Computer Science, Nursing and Health Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Statistics |
Paid |
On campus |
July 27, 2026 |
| Rhetorical Criticism of Current Event or Popular Culture Texts |
This opportunity will enable undergraduate students to conduct rhetorical criticism research on a rhetorical text of their choice, using a rhetorical or communication theory to discover/create meaning and examine messages within the text. Texts can relate to current events, such as political speeches or social media pages, or may be popular culture texts, such as television shows, films, songs, play/musicals, anime, etc. Other options for texts may include museum exhibits, monuments, memorials, websites, and advertising campaigns. Undergraduate students who are interested in conducting their own rhetorical criticism research projects are encouraged to contact Dr. Valerie Schrader, Associate Professor of Communication Arts & Sciences and Coordinator of the Penn State... |
Communications and Journalism, Humanities, Visual and Performing Arts |
Credit |
Remote |
June 11, 2026 |
| The Role of Cognitive and Mathematical Structures in Problem Solving Process |
Our research group is interested in studying the cognitive role of mathematical aesthetics and strategic choices of problem solving solution methods and the relational role of item discrimination and difficulty. We examine how problem solvers’ behavior might be affected or altered by elementary modifications of problem structures. This research position is open to undergraduate and graduate students. |
Education, Mathematics, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Statistics |
Paid, Volunteer, Work Study |
Hybrid, On campus, Remote |
June 3, 2026 |