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Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships

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Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships

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CURF supports Penn students & alumni interested in research and fellowship opportunities.

We help undergraduates connect with research opportunities, or help them make their own. We also support outstanding students when they apply for the major national and international graduate fellowships and scholarships

10/26/2026

As we celebrate 25 years of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, we're proud to highlight the alumni whose journeys reflect the lasting impact of undergraduate research and fellowship advising at Penn.

Susanna Goldfinger (COL '01) majored in English and Comparative Literature at Penn, where a CURF-funded research project with Dr. Rita Barnard deepened her passion for literary scholarship and prepared her for graduate study. After graduation, she was awarded the Gates Cambridge Scholarship to pursue an M.Phil. in Medieval and Renaissance Literature at the University of Cambridge.

Today, Susanna has built two complementary careers: as a brand strategist, helping consumer packaged goods and healthcare companies develop and grow their brands, and as a writer and illustrator whose work has appeared in publications including AirMail, ALTA, and McSweeney's. Her journey demonstrates how the skills developed through undergraduate research can shape creative and professional paths in unexpected ways.

10/23/2026

Manny Levine (E'28 spent the summer in Prague studying catalytic computing, a relatively new area of theoretical computer science, mentored by Dr. Ian Mertz in Dr. Michal Koucký's research group. This research was supported by a Paul and Kathleen Barthmaier Award. Reflecting on his experience, Manny said, "Spending the summer in Prague studying catalytic computing was invaluable to my development as a researcher and an amazing chance to help push a young field forward."

Click the link in our bio to read his full reflection.

10/22/2026

As we celebrate 25 years of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, we're proud to highlight the alumni whose journeys reflect the lasting impact of undergraduate research and fellowship advising at Penn.

Alyssa Gonzalez (COL '22) began her research journey through the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring (PURM) program, where she worked with Dr. Nicholas Betley in Penn's Department of Biology. She later continued as an undergraduate researcher in the Beiting Lab at Penn Vet while simultaneously earning a master's degree in Biology, developing three-dimensional tissue culture models to study how secondary bile acids influence immunity and barrier function. Today, Alyssa is pursuing a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology in the Fidock Lab at Columbia University, where she studies antimalarial drug resistance.

Looking back, Alyssa credits PURM with opening the door to undergraduate research and providing the mentorship and community that inspired her to pursue a career in scientific research.

10/20/2026

Over the summer, Kevin Wu (C‘27) used fruit flies as a model to study the relationship between sensory processing and sleep in neurodevelopmental disorders. Kevin’s research was mentored by Dr. Matthew Kayser and supported by the Pincus-Magaziner Family Undergraduate Research Fund. Reflecting on his research experience, Kevin said, “I learned to be more patient with data and to adjust my thinking when results pointed in a new direction.”

Read more about his experience at the link in our bio.

10/19/2026

As we celebrate 25 years of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, we're looking back at the milestones that shaped CURF—and the generations of Penn students whose paths it has helped launch.

In 2007, CURF introduced the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring (PURM) Program, creating a new pathway for Penn students to begin conducting research under the guidance of faculty mentors. Designed for students with little or no prior research experience, PURM provides first- and second-year undergraduates with funded summer research opportunities that foster intellectual curiosity, introduce students to the research process, and build lasting faculty mentorships.

Today, PURM remains one of CURF's signature programs. Each summer, students from every undergraduate school at Penn spend 10 weeks pursuing research opportunities across the arts, humanities, social sciences, engineering, and natural sciences with the support of Penn faculty. For many participants, PURM serves as the foundation for continued research opportunities, honors theses, graduate study, nationally competitive fellowships, and careers in research, medicine, public service, and beyond.

Over the past two decades, PURM has introduced thousands of Penn students to the excitement of discovery and helped launch the next generation of researchers, scholars, and changemakers.

Learn more about PURM at the link in our bio. The Summer 2027 application will open at the beginning of the spring semester.

10/16/2026

More photos from the fantastic RPA (Research Peer Advisor) Meet and Greet last week. Did you miss the opportunity to be matched with one? Curious who they are and what kinds of research they do? Read all about them at the link in our bio and feel free to reach out to one. Don’t forget that RPAs host drop-in hours in the CURF office (College Hall G08/09) every Thursday from 4:00-5:00pm.

10/15/2026

As we celebrate 25 years of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, we're proud to highlight the alumni whose journeys reflect the lasting impact of undergraduate research and fellowship advising at Penn.

Lea Eisenstein (COL '19) explored a passion for the history of health and medicine through multiple CURF-supported opportunities, including the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring (PURM) program, the Summer Humanities Internship Program (SHIP), and Jumpstart for Juniors. Those experiences introduced Lea to historical research, helped develop skills in grant writing and independent scholarship, and culminated in an honors thesis. Today, Lea is pursuing a Ph.D. in the History of Science at Princeton University, where research focuses on the history of health, medicine, and medical technology in the United States, with particular attention to gender, sexuality, race, and disability.

Reflecting on the path that led to graduate school, Lea credits CURF with providing the research experiences, mentorship, and encouragement that helped shape a career in historical scholarship.

10/14/2026

Modeled on Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa’s award-winning Columbia Business School course, "Personal Leadership & Success", Mentora Scholars offers college students the chance to reflect deeply, strengthen character, build relationships with fellow changemakers, and clarify their beliefs about life, career, leadership, and the world. Attend this info session on Tuesday, October 27, from 12:00-1:00pm in the CURF office to learn about the program and its mission, gain insights from past participants about their experience, and connect with fellow prospective applicants.

Register at the link in our bio.

10/12/2026

As we celebrate 25 years of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, we're proud to highlight the alumni whose journeys reflect the lasting impact of undergraduate research and fellowship advising at Penn.

Ria Chinchankar (WH '22) graduated from Wharton with concentrations in Behavioral Economics and Business Analytics before receiving a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to teach English in Mexico. After completing her Fulbright, Ria worked at McKinsey & Company in Washington, D.C., and later on the Strategy & Delivery Unit at the International Rescue Committee in New York. She is now beginning the next chapter of her journey at Stanford Law School.

Reflecting on her path, Ria credits CURF with providing thoughtful guidance throughout the Fulbright application process and continued mentorship as she considered her next steps—support that helped shape both her fellowship experience and her decision to pursue law school.

10/09/2026

Recent graduate Thomas Sharrock (C’26) conducted research on how countries respond when China invests in critical infrastructure in their regions, carrying out 42 interviews across India, Serbia, Hungary, Belgium, and the United Kingdom with mentorship from Dr. Valeriya Kamenova. This research was supported by the College Alumni Society Undergraduate Research Grant. Reflecting on his research experience, Thomas said, “The research process is challenging and at times uncomfortable, and that is exactly what makes it worth doing.”

Read more at the link in our bio and apply for a CURF Fall Independent Research Grant by this Sunday, October 11.

Address

3539 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA
19104

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

https://www.curf.upenn.edu/

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