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.
- “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.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March/April Nest Check Crew |
The Cornell lab is looking for undergraduate students interested in gaining experience in biological research with a focus on field biology and ecology. The students will check 100 nest boxes for bird nest building behavior and egg laying on the outskirts of the University Park campus and Arboretum. Nest checks are conducted independently (after a training period) on foot, by bike, or in a vehicle (if the student has one- it is not necessary to have a vehicle to conduct this work). Data collection takes place exclusively outdoors and thus students must be willing to collect data during periods of cold weather, light rain, etc. Students must enter their data and double check data entry the same day their data is collected. Commitment is 2x week minimum (can include weekends if preferred... |
Environmental and Geosciences |
Volunteer |
On campus |
October 1, 2024 | |
| Autism Parent Navigators |
Autism Parent Navigators (APN) is an innovative in-home, peer support model for parents with a young child recently diagnosed with ASD. We are testing the efficacy of APN in a randomized trial with 180 families. This program is an adaptation of Mark Feinberg's Family Foundations Program which has demonstrated positive impacts on families and children. |
Social and Behavioral Sciences |
Credit, Volunteer |
On campus, Hybrid |
September 17, 2024 | |
| Measuring the size of the Moon from data collected during the April 2024 solar eclipse in Scranton |
During the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, the maximum occultation on the Scranton campus was 95%. It was also mostly clouded out, but we were able to measure the light intensity through the event and get a noticeable dip in ambient light. The goal of the project would be to attempt to use that data to obtain a solar illumination curve and from the width of the dip over time (and the use of some astronomical data), calculate the size of the Moon. |
Physical Sciences |
Credit, Volunteer |
On campus, Remote, Hybrid |
September 11, 2024 | |
| Pennsylvania Gambling Survey |
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, International Relations, Political Science, and Law, Social and Behavioral Sciences |
Paid |
On campus |
September 6, 2024 | |
| Survey Research Center Part-Time Positions |
The Survey Research Center (SRC) provides high-quality, cost-effective survey research services to faculty around the University. The SRC is part of the Penn State Social Science Research Institute and supports interdisciplinary research that addresses critical human and social problems at the local, national, and international levels. For 20 years, the SRC has played a central role in data collection efforts with Penn State faculty, research scientists, and graduate students. In any given year, the SRC supports over 50 projects from across the university and larger research community. Services range from developing, designing, conducting and evaluating scientific surveys of the general public, to targeting specific populations such as high school students, business managers, cancer... |
Business, Communications and Journalism, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences |
Paid |
On campus |
September 6, 2024 | |
| Semiflexible Conjugated Polymers |
Conjugated polymers find uses in flexible electronic devices, such as solar cells. This class of polymer has chains that are naturally more rigid than standard flexible-chain polymers. Rigidity means that the polymers entangle more easily but also crystallize and perhaps form nematic phases above their melting point. Together with Professors Enrique Gomez and Scott Milner (both in Chemical Engineering) we aim to develop a better fundamental understanding of semiflexible conjugated polymers, using a combination of computer simulations and experiments. |
Physical Sciences |
Variable |
Hybrid |
August 30, 2024 | |
| Polyvinylalcohol Solution Rheology in collaboration with Proctor & Gamble |
Proctor & Gamble uses poly(vinyl alcohol) for the casings of pods that hold laundry and dishwasher detergents. This polymer is good at hydrogen bonding and forms associating polymer solutions in water, which imparts interesting rheology (flow properties). Various other additives such as salts and surfactants can enhance the association effects in interesting ways. Adding hydrogen bond accepting molecules like dimethylsulfoxide or tetramethyl urea and lower the viscosity by preventing assoications. Our group studies aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol) solution rheology and the phase boundaries of these solutions. The best undergraduates involved get the opportunity to do summer or coop internships at Proctor & Gamble in Cincinnati. |
Engineering |
Volunteer |
On campus |
August 30, 2024 | |
| Polyelectrolyte Solution Rheology |
Chemists who synthesize ion-containing polymers must grapple with a severe hindrance - that of accurately measuring the molecular weight of their products. The lack of generally effective methods for determining this fundamental quantity retards research on ionic polymers, which find uses in water purification, energy conversion and storage, massive industrial scale electrolysis and other molecular separations. We are developing four methods that utilize easily measured dynamic properties of semidilute unentangled solutions of ionic polymers to obtain the number-average molecular weight Mn. Each method relies on specific combinations of calibrated measurements so that each method directly determines the number density of chains in solution and thus Mn. These... |
Engineering |
Volunteer |
On campus |
August 30, 2024 | |
| Gene Regulation and Cancer Enzymes |
Our laboratory is interested in how genes are turned off or on since such regulation is altered in cancer cells. Our goal is to determine how gene regulation complexes work using both biochemical and structural biology approaches. A focus of the lab is to determine the three-dimensional structure of epigenetic and chromatin complexes by cryoelectron microscopy and X-ray crystallography. Current undergraduate projects include (a) coexpression of protein complexes in E. coli and insect cells, (b) characterizing chromatin enzymes through chromatin enzyme activity and nucleosome binding assays, and (c) producing reagents to help the global science community perform molecular biology experiments. Recent ... |
Life Sciences |
Credit |
On campus |
August 30, 2024 | |
| Dynamics of Plant Cell Walls |
Research opportunities are available in the Anderson Lab in the Department of BIology to study the dynamics of plant cell walls, with applicability to the sustainable production of food, materials, and bioenergy from plants. Our group uses a combination of molecular genetics, microscopy, and biochemistry to study how plants assemble, modify, and degrade their cell walls. |
Life Sciences |
Credit |
On campus |
August 29, 2024 |