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. Note: You may not receive academic credit and be paid for the same research experience in a given semester.
- “Variable” refers to situations where the position type is likely to change. For example, some mentors like to accept students on a volunteer basis and after a semester of working together will consider paying the student or offering course credit.
- “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.
Work Setting – Select the work setting(s) that works best with your schedule.
- “Variable” refers to situations where the work setting could change throughout the duration of the project or research. For example, some opportunities can start off in-person and be adapted to remote if circumstances were to require such a change.
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 Using the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Database section.
| Title | Description | Research Area(s) | Position Type(s) | Work Setting(s) | Updated Date | Posting Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communications Undergraduate Research Assistant for the Rural Health Disparities Lab |
The Rural Health Disparities Lab in the Department of Biobehavioral Health is currently recruiting one undergraduate research assistant. Below is a description of the positions. Those interested in applying should request an application form from Dr. Rhubart at dcr185@psu.edu. Applications received by January 29th will be given priority. Communications Undergraduate Research Assistant (UGRA): This unpaid UGRA position... |
Social and Behavioral Sciences |
Volunteer |
Remote |
January 24, 2022 | January 22, 2022 | |
| Heterocyclic Organic Chemistry |
Our research is the synthesis and chemistry of 1,3-thiaza-4-ones, organic heterocycles that contain nitrogen and sulfur. We are very interested in the bioactivity of these compounds, and collaborators have studied the antiparasitic, antifungal, insecticidal, and herbicidal effects of these compounds. More information can be found here: https://sites.psu.edu/leejsilverberg/research/ |
Physical Sciences |
Variable |
On campus |
January 20, 2022 | January 20, 2022 | |
| Undergraduate Research Assistant in Chemistry Education Research |
Dr. Eshani Lee is searching for research assistants to support a National Science Foundation funded project examining how to equitably assess students in chemistry. This work is in the interdiscplinary field of Chemistry Educational Research that combines expertise in chemistry and education. Candidates will learn how to participate in NSF-funded ongoing research projects, present at local and national conferneces and publish in peer-reviewed journals.
|
Physical Sciences |
Paid |
Remote |
January 12, 2022 | January 12, 2022 | |
| Caring patients with opioid use disorder in low resource settings |
Living with opioid use disorder can have profound effects on people's mental health and well-being, which is poorly understood by the public. This research project aims to study opioid use disorder (OUD) as a social and health crisis, which will reveal the links between the economic well-being of the patients and their opioid use disorder. The goal is to to uncover key economic determinants and other underlying social factors that contribute to addiction vulnerability. The findings contribute to better healthcare to those with OUD as the results may lead to more effective prevention strategies and improved patient care outcomes, which are particularly critical for patients with low income and limited resources.
|
Communications and Journalism, Social and Behavioral Sciences |
Credit, Paid, Volunteer |
Community-based, On campus |
January 7, 2022 | January 24, 2022 | |
| Self-care interventions for mental health management |
Facilitating mental health interventions can be a beneficial supplement to college students' mental health management. This research project will go beyond identifying distress, anxiety or depression in college students and work out self-care interventions to help college students to reduce or eliminate the chronicity and severity of mental health disorders. A set of 5 communication interventions, or the "Joy Pie" strategies, were designed to empower students in managing mental health challenges. One undergradute student who shows an intense interest in social science research is encouraged to apply for joining our team in Spring 2022. |
Communications and Journalism, Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences |
Paid, Volunteer |
On campus |
January 7, 2022 | January 31, 2022 | |
| Avian Ecology Research |
The Cornell lab is broadly interested in how an animal's behavior, physiology, and environment interrelate. Our study system is nest box-breeding wild birds, primarily Eastern bluebirds, house wrens, and tree swallows. Our field sites are located at the University Park Campus and laboratory facilities at the Altoona Campus. Students can participate in lab work, field work, and/or data analysis. Lab members who participate in research for > 1 year are expected to develop an independent project, present their work at a professional conference, and potentially co-author a publication in a scientific journal. Students interesting in gaining experience capturing and handling wild birds should note that this work only takes place during the spring and summer months. Students can... |
Life Sciences |
Credit, Paid, Variable, Volunteer |
On campus, Variable |
January 7, 2022 | October 8, 2021 | |
| Cognitive Development Research Project |
At the Brandywine Child Development Lab at Penn State Brandywine, we have two main areas of research. First, we ask questions about how kids learn about the world around them by developing fun games to help us explore what kids know about objects, numbers, and language. Second, we ask about the impact of technology on infants, toddlers, and parent-child relationships. We have a number of behavioral studies that examine cognitive development in children from 6 months-5 years. Undergraduates in the lab work hands-on with children in the on-campus lab and at "Living Lab" locations in children's museums and local libraries. Through this lab experience, student researchers obtain a well-rounded understanding of cognitive development research. Note that there are also all virtual... |
Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences |
Credit, Volunteer |
Community-based, On campus, Remote, Variable |
December 6, 2021 | January 1, 2018 | |
| Pennsylvanian's Engagement in Interactive Online Gaming |
The Survey Research Center is collecting data for the Pennsylvania Interactive, Online Gaming Annual Study, a state-wide study to assess impacts of interactive, online gaming 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 Pennsylvanian's interactive online gaming engagement. 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 interactive, online gaming, better known as 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... |
Social and Behavioral Sciences |
Paid |
On campus, Remote |
December 1, 2021 | December 1, 2021 | |
| #HereToo Theatre & Activism Project |
#HereToo amplifies young activists' voices through performance. With a two-pronged approach, we:
This online summer internship begins a new phase of the project, that is, to archive the interviews already conducted in collaboration with the Penn State Libraries, and to produce a podcast of interviews of young activists by young people (our interns). We are seeking interns with interest in learning about one or more of the following areas: new works dramaturgy, library science, podcast production, and/or journalism. Those with an active activist... |
Visual and Performing Arts |
Credit, Paid |
Community-based, On campus |
November 20, 2021 | June 1, 2020 | |
| Human Language Technologies Lab |
Natural language is integral to how we communicate, synthesize, and store information. My lab focuses on solving problems to enable computers to do meaningful work with large volumes of natural language text. We apply methods from natural language processing (NLP) to a variety of domains, including digital privacy, online social networks, web science, and digital libraries. For more information, visit https://shomir.net. |
Information Technology and Computer Science |
Volunteer |
On campus |
November 20, 2021 | September 30, 2019 |