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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biofilters design and construction for methane oxidation |
The Vasco BioEco Lab in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering is looking for 1-2 undergraduate research assistant for summer 2021 for a research project on biofiltration of methane-containing air streams. Methane (CH4) emissions are the second largest cause of climate change, after CO2. CH4 also has about 28 times more global warming potential than CO2. CH4 emissions come mostly from highly distributed sources such as barns, gas pipelines, and coal mines, and the CH4 concentration in these emissions is too low to be used for energy. Biofilters are made of columns packed with a support material and colonized by microbes, some of which can convert CH4 into CO2. By studying and... |
Engineering |
Paid |
On campus |
May 4, 2021 | May 3, 2021 | |
| 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 |
Paid |
On campus |
April 29, 2021 | April 29, 2021 | |
| Development, Risk & Resilience Lab Undergraduate Research Assistant |
Welcome to the Development, Risk, and Resilience Lab. Our goal is to understand when and under what circumstances developmental trajectories of children begin to diverge from normative trajectories among families who are struggling with substance abuse and related issues (e.g., mental health symptoms; caregiving unpredictability). The Development, Risk, and Resilience Lab is interested in how prenatal and early adversities shape the development of children's self-regulation; how these associations may be mediated or moderated by parenting quality; and applying this understanding to prevention. We are also working to understand protective factors that promote resilience in children in the face of early adversities. Our research is funded by the National Institutes of Health, the... |
Life Sciences, Nursing and Health Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences |
Credit, Work Study |
On campus, Remote |
April 20, 2021 | April 20, 2021 | |
| Field Technician: Bee Health Research in North Carolina |
The Hines lab (PSU, hineslab.org) is seeking an undergraduate summer field technician to work on a project examining the role of various landscape factors on bee health parameters (pathogens, bee size, community diversity) across North Carolina. Data collected will be used to understand the factors most impacting bee health to guide management of landscapes for supporting pollinators and to allow better understanding of distributional patterns in bumble bees, including patterns of bee decline. |
Agricultural Sciences, Life Sciences |
Paid |
Variable |
April 5, 2021 | April 5, 2021 | |
| First-year Undergraduate Research Program (FURP) Internship |
The PA Space Grant Research Internship Program is an exciting annual research focused program for students attending Penn State - University Park supported by the NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium. FURP is open to all first-year students interested in research. In summary, the internship is available to first-year students who are U.S. citizens planning to pursue a degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) related field. Women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities or hardship are encouraged to apply. The program offers students a two-semester (spring and fall... |
Agricultural Sciences, Engineering, Environmental and Geosciences, Information Technology and Computer Science, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Statistics |
Paid |
On campus, Remote, Variable |
March 29, 2021 | September 3, 2020 | |
| Minority Undergraduate Research Experience (MURE) Internship |
The PA Space Grant Research Internship Program is an exciting annual research focused program for students attending Penn State - University Park supported by the NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium. MURE supports underrepresented minority students interested in pursuing research on campus that are in their first-year, sophomore, or junior years. Minority students are defined as African-American, Hispanic, Native American, or Pacific Islander. Students of Asian descent are not considered minority students by NASA. The program offers students a two-semester (spring and fall semesters of one calendar year) faculty... |
Agricultural Sciences, Engineering, Environmental and Geosciences, Information Technology and Computer Science, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Statistics |
Paid |
On campus, Remote, Variable |
March 29, 2021 | September 3, 2020 | |
| Women In STEM and Engineering Research (WISER) Internship |
The PA Space Grant Research Internship Program is an exciting annual research focused program for students attending Penn State - University Park supported by the NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium. WISER is Open to all first-year students but focuses on supporting outstanding women interested in pursuing research on campus. The program offers first-year students a two-semester (spring and fall semesters of one calendar year) faculty-mentored internship in a research laboratory at Penn State-UP. During the internship experience, students have the opportunity to collaborate with a research team, learn the... |
Agricultural Sciences, Engineering, Environmental and Geosciences, Information Technology and Computer Science, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Statistics |
Paid |
On campus, Remote, Variable |
March 29, 2021 | September 3, 2020 | |
| Trafika Europe Internships |
Trafika Europe is an exciting and innovative project showcasing new European literature in English translation, offering regular semester-long and summer internships. The project includes our acclaimed Library of Congress-indexed online literary journal series, literary events calendar, online bookshop, audio interviews, literary animated videos, and preparing to launch Trafika Europe Radio – Europe’s literary radio station, online. Please visit this brief Welcome Video to learn more about Trafika Europe Radio. This internship gives selected participants (at any level) experience with publishing and the literary/creative sector, new media and communications.... |
Credit |
March 27, 2021 | January 6, 2020 | |||
| Smart Portable Medical devices development |
This project is about the development of a small medical device to measure critical data about certain diseases. The collected data will be transmitted to your smart device to be shared with your attending medical personnel. Students will have to sign a NDA to work on this project. You must be very handy and must have programming knowledge. |
Engineering |
Volunteer |
Remote, Variable |
February 8, 2021 | January 21, 2021 | |
| Green reverse logistics teaching in US colleges-A remote desk study |
Background: Reverse Logistics (RL) typically refers to the process that a product undergoes in recapturing value or ensuring proper disposal when such product comes to the end of its life cycle at its typical destination. RL involves a wide array of activities including returning a product to the manufacturer/distributor for servicing, refurbishment, recycling or disposal. RL first emerged within the manufacturing sector aiming for sustainable development and enhancing productivity. The main goal green reverse logistics (GRL) on the other hand ensures least amount of damage to the environment. This includes being aware of how actions affect climate change, air pollution, waste, noise etc. and making use of closed supply chain to promote reuse, recycle, and... |
Business, Environmental and Geosciences |
Volunteer |
Remote |
February 8, 2021 | November 5, 2020 |