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Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships

How everyday stress impacts cigarette smoking
Gabriella Jean stands on Locust Walk while wearing a pants suit.

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How everyday stress impacts cigarette smoking

Supported by PURM, second-year Gabriella Jean worked in the AHA! Lab over the summer on a research project examining the association between everyday life stressors and cigarette smoking.
Understanding diabetes and oral health
Two students in lab coats surround a professor in a suit.

From left: Su Ah Kim, professor of periodontics Dana Graves, and Sanan Gueyikian.

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Understanding diabetes and oral health

Two undergraduates, supported by PURM, worked on research projects this summer with the Graves Lab to contribute to the knowledge of diabetes’ impact on oral wound healing and periodontal disease.
Boosting the frequency of sound waves to make the next generation of wireless devices
Researchers in a clean room pointing at a microscope.

Under the guidance of Yue Jiang(left), a Ph.D. candidate in the Charlie Johnson research group in the School of Arts & Sciences, Vincent Kerler (right) conducted this work through the Penn Undergraduate Researching Mentoring Program, a 10-week opportunity from the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. The program provides rising second- and third-year students with $5,000 awards to work alongside Penn faculty.

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Boosting the frequency of sound waves to make the next generation of wireless devices

Vincent Kerler, a second-year student in the College of Arts and Sciences, spent the summer running simulations as part of Charlie Johnson’s research on topological insulators.
Questioning restrictions on physical activity for those at risk of preterm birth
Ellie Mayers and Gladys Smith in front of a sign reading Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Maternal Fetal Medicine Reproductive Genetics at Penn Medicine.

Two students are conducting research with Beth Leong Pineles of Penn Medicine (not pictured) to study activity restriction for pregnant patients, supported by a Penn Undergraduate Research Mentorship grant. Ellie Mayers (left) is a third-year in the School of Nursing. Gladys Smith (right) is a second-year in the College of Arts and Sciences. 

(Image: Courtesy of Ellie Mayers and Gladys Smith)

Questioning restrictions on physical activity for those at risk of preterm birth

Undergraduates Ellie Mayers and Gladys Smith worked as research assistants this summer gathering data from pregnant patients for a study by Penn Medicine physician Beth Leong Pineles, researching bed rest orders and physical activity restrictions for those at risk of preterm birth.
Exploring rosemary extract and wound healing
Jiayi Pang, seated wearing a white lab coat, uses a pipette to fill a test tube as her mentor looks on

Jiayi Pang uses a pipette to fill a tube with the precise amount of rosemary extract as her mentor, Emmanuel Rapp, looks on. 

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Exploring rosemary extract and wound healing

Jiayi Pang, a rising third-year majoring in cell and molecular biology, is studying rosemary's therapeutic effects on skin.

Kristina García

A summer researching equine osteoarthritis and a potential treatment
Kyla Ortved watches Sidney Wong work under hood in lab.

Rising second-year Sidney Wong, right, spent the summer working in the lab of Penn Vet professor Kyla Ortved, left, through the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program.

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A summer researching equine osteoarthritis and a potential treatment

Through the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program, rising second-year Sidney Wong has conducted research in the lab of Kyla Ortved at Penn Vet.
Internship offers pathway to careers in the museum field
Ethan Nemeth at a table talking with another person.

Rising third-year Ethan Nemeth (left) was an intern at the Penn Museum through the Summer Humanities Internship Program. He worked at several public events, including the Garden Jams concerts in July. 

(Image: by Emmanuel Beatty for the Penn Museum)

Internship offers pathway to careers in the museum field

Rising third-year Ethan Nemeth (left), one of 17 paid interns at the Penn Museum this summer, works on the team that manages public programs. The ancient history major says the experience has helped him understand career options in the museum field.
Drawn to ArtWell
Natalie Cheng hanging paper artworks on a wall

Natalie Cheng, a rising second-year student, is focusing on communications and design during a summer internship with the Philadelphia nonprofit ArtWell. She is one of two Penn interns there this year, supported by the University's Summer Humanities Internship Program. 

(Image: Courtesy of ArtWell) 

Drawn to ArtWell

Drawn by their interests in art, design, and support for children in Philadelphia, two Penn students in the College of Arts and Sciences, Natalie Cheng and Aled Dillabough, are working as interns this summer at the nonprofit ArtWell.
Exploring the 1918 pandemic’s impact on Philadelphia’s Black and immigrant neighborhoods
Matthew Breier reads city directory.

Matthew Breier, a rising third-year student in the College of Arts and Sciences, spent a lot of time going through Philadelphia’s 1918 city directory this summer. Through the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program, he is helping professor David Barnes understand the impact of the 1918 influenza pandemic on the city’s Black and immigrant neighborhoods.

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Exploring the 1918 pandemic’s impact on Philadelphia’s Black and immigrant neighborhoods

Rising third-year Matthew Breier has been conducting research with public health historian David Barnes through the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program.
Penn alum named 2024 Yenching Scholar
Jing-Jing Piriyalertsak standing outside a building with trees

Chonnipha (Jing Jing) Piriyalertsak, a 2023 graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences from Bangkok, has been selected as a 2024 Yenching Scholar.

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Penn alum named 2024 Yenching Scholar

Chonnipha (Jing Jing) Piriyalertsak, a 2023 graduate, has been selected as a 2024 Yenching Scholar, with full funding to pursue an interdisciplinary master’s degree in China studies at the Yenching Academy of Peking University in Beijing.