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.
- “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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
January 8, 2025 |
| 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 |
January 8, 2025 |
| 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,... |
Business, Communications and Journalism, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences |
Paid |
On campus |
January 8, 2025 |
| 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 |
January 8, 2025 |
| Combatting "superbugs" by reducing unnecessary antibiotic use |
Undertake website (Wordpress/Penn State Sites) updates to support dissemination of educational videos for healthcare providers focused on talking with patients about antibiotics. Other duties negotiable; can include assisting with data collection and analysis for research on antibiotic stewardship interventions. |
Any |
Credit, Paid, Volunteer, Work Study |
Hybrid, On campus, Remote |
January 8, 2025 |
| 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 |
January 8, 2025 |
| Rhetorical Criticism of Current Event or Popular Culture Texts |
This opportunity will enable undergraduate students to conduct rhetorical criticism research on a rhetorical text of their choice, using a rhetorical or communication theory to discover/create meaning and examine messages within the text. Texts can relate to current events, such as political speeches or social media pages, or may be popular culture texts, such as television shows, films, songs, play/musicals, anime, etc. Other options for texts may include museum exhibits, monuments, memorials, websites, and advertising campaigns. Undergraduate students who are interested in conducting their own rhetorical criticism research projects are encouraged to contact Dr. Valerie Schrader, Associate Professor of Communication Arts & Sciences and Coordinator of the Penn State... |
Communications and Journalism, Humanities, Visual and Performing Arts |
Credit |
Remote |
January 8, 2025 |
| Research Assistant Positions in the Dismantling Racial inEquities Around Mental health (DREAM) Lab |
Description of Lab: The Dismantling Racial inEquities Around Mental Health (DREAM) Lab at Penn State is recruiting volunteer research assistants! The DREAM Lab is directed by Dr. Chardée Galán, an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Child Clinical Area (https://galanlab.org/). Our lab aims to: 1) advance research on the mental health effects of racism on youth and families of color, including work on racial trauma; 2) develop and test interventions that leverage cultural strengths to promote resilience and mitigate the detrimental effects of racism on youth and families of color; and 3) address key drivers of racial inequities in mental health, including the lack of culturally humble mental health providers and the perpetration of racism by... |
Social and Behavioral Sciences |
Credit, Volunteer |
On campus, Remote |
January 8, 2025 |
| Undergraduate Research Assistant – Bilingual (Spanish-English) |
The Rovniak Lab at the Penn State College of Medicine within the Department of Medicine is seeking several part-time research assistants for a large randomized controlled trial with over 1,400 participants to help engage older adults with osteoarthritis in no-cost exercise opportunities available nationwide. Our project aims to connect older adults across the United States with supportive and convenient exercise opportunities that can help them improve their physical and mental wellness. This work is being done with funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Research assistants must be bilingual and speak fluent English and Spanish. This job may be performed locally or remotely. |
Any |
Paid |
Hybrid |
January 8, 2025 |
| Remote Research Judge in The Coping and Regulation of Environmental Stress Lab |
The Coping and Regulation of Environmental Stress (CaRES) Lab within the Psychology Department is seeking several part-time remote judges for a children's speech task during a large randomized controlled trial investigating coping trajectories of youth. The Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills (BaSICS) project will work towards confirming the effectiveness of the BaSICS intervention program in treating and preventing mental health problems in young adolescents from low income households and to evaluate its potential to mitigate the youth mental health crisis by offering group-based services to youth assigned to waitlists at treatment facilities. |
Social and Behavioral Sciences |
Volunteer |
Remote |
January 8, 2025 |