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Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships

An unsolved mystery: Why are we sleepy when sick?
Researcher peering through microscope.

David Raizen, left, and PURM student Hina Sako working in the Raizen Lab.

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An unsolved mystery: Why are we sleepy when sick?

David Raizen, a professor of neurology, alongside PURM student Hina Sako, spent the summer moving forward research examining how sickness affects sleep.
A summer studying the aesthetic brain
People looking at modern art in a museum or gallery setting.

Image: iStock/SeventyFour

A summer studying the aesthetic brain

For third-year Olivia Kim, a PURM research experience with Penn neuroscientist Anjan Chatterjee allowed her to combine her love of neuroscience and art in a working lab.
Searching for resilience in our reefs
Sea anemone larvae and a pipette.

Sea anemone larvae is exposed to various high temperatures, and its growth and development is studied.

(Image: Brooke Sietinsons)

Searching for resilience in our reefs

Some corals survive hotter temperatures better than others. In the lab of biologist Katie Barott, School of Arts & Sciences second-year students Alex Piven and Angela Ye have spent the summer trying to understand why.

From Omnia

Balancing ballet and summer learning
Ayesha Patel standing in outside in front of a leafy bush.

Third-year Ayesha Patel, an economics major in the College of Arts and Sciences, was a summer intern with BalletX in Philadelphia. 

(Image: Courtesy of Ayesha Patel) 

Balancing ballet and summer learning

Third-year student Ayesha Patel conducted research and a financial analysis during a summer internship at BalletX, a contemporary ballet company in Philadelphia. 
A question of neutrality: Switzerland’s role in 19th-century imperialism
Penn rising fourth-year Sophie Mwaisela stands in front of a brick archway with her arms crossed.

Sophie Mwaisela is a rising fourth-year in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in history.

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A question of neutrality: Switzerland’s role in 19th-century imperialism

History undergraduate Sophie Mwaisela traveled to Geneva this summer to conduct research for her honors thesis.

Kristen de Groot

Environmental conservation, justice, and gender
Mia McElhatton.

Mia McElhatton spent the summer working in the lab of Kok-Chor Tan, a professor in the Department of Philosophy. Her project focused on how conservationists respond to women and those who identify as women.

(Image: Ta’Liyah Thomas)

Environmental conservation, justice, and gender

Through her Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring summer internship, Mia McElhatton explores how efforts to save the planet may disproportionately burden women.

From Omnia

Operatic notes: One student’s research on opera in society
Thomas Sharrock standing on the steps outside a building

Sharrock asked patrons to complete the research survey two hours before each of the seven opera performances, and during the intermission.

(Image: Shea Roggio) 

Operatic notes: One student’s research on opera in society

Rising second-year Thomas Sharrock attended seven operas this summer at the Royal Opera House in London, studying audience perceptions of opera in the United Kingdom.