Penn Undergraduate Environmental Health Scholars Program
smokestacks   woman in lab  pollution clouds cigarettes

Program Description

Interest in environmental health and the need for increased research in this field has steadily grown during the past decade. To address this need the University of Pennsylvania has received a National Institutes of Health award for summer internships for selected undergraduate students. Ten weeks of summer activities will expose students to the field of environmental health science through mentorship, coursework, and field experience.  This program represents a collaboration across the Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, the Center for Public Health Initiatives and multiple schools and faculty at Penn.  The program provides didactic experiences in environmental and public health and research mentorship opportunities in a variety of areas of environmental exposures and health effects.  Each summer, six internships  will be awarded to Penn undergraduate students who will work one-on-one with mentors on projects that they choose and design. Each intern will receive $3,500 for the ten week internship (June 2 through August 8, 2008).

Program Highlights

  • Cutting-edge research seminars on a variety of environmental health topics.
  • Laboratory or field projects mentored by Penn faculty.
  • Environmental health science career exploration.
  • Scientific Integrity and Research Ethics discussions.
  • Weekly field trips to environmental sites or government agencies.

Research Opportunities

Faculty in the Center for Excellence in Environmental Toxicology and the Center for Public Health Initiatives have active research programs in many topic areas relevant to Environmental Health Science, including but not limited to:

  • Oxidative Stress
  • Genes and Environment Interactions
  • Endocrine and Reproductive Disruption
  • Lung and Airway Disease
  • Toxicology
  • Heavy Metal Exposures
  • Childhood Developmental Disorders and the Environment                       
  • Cancer
  • Chemicals in the Environment
  • GIS and Environmental Justice

Applicants are encouraged to read more about the research programs of CEET and CPHI faculty on their web pages, and to discuss potential summer projects and interest in the summer internships with faculty.

Qualifications

  • Current undergraduate enrollment
  • GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or all A’s and B’s in math and science
  • At least one year of coursework in biology or other sciences
  • Interest in research careers in environmental health sciences

Candidates from under-represented groups are strongly encouraged to apply

Application Information

Click here to download an application. 

Application Postmark Deadline:  March 1 (early decision), April 1, 2008

For more information, e-mail: wolfma@uphs.upenn.edu 

 

 

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