Penn Undergraduate Environmental Health Scholars Program (also known as STEER)
smokestacks   woman in lab  pollution clouds cigarettes

Program Description

** The funding for the STEER program is presently under review. We are optimistic that we will be able to run the program in the summer of 2013, but cannot guarantee it at this time. If you are interested in applying please send a resume and a copy of your transcript and we will contact you when we know the status of the program. Please mail to

STEER Office
Perelman School of Medicine
1313 Biomedical Research Building II/III (BRB II/III)
421 Curie Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
FAX: 215-573-0200

************************************************************************************************************************************

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 an NIEHS award for summer internships for selected undergraduate students (the Short Term Educational Experiences for Research or STEER grant). 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 between 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, as well as research mentorship opportunities in a variety of areas of environmental exposures and health effects.  Each summer, four internships will be awarded to Penn undergraduate students who will work one-on-one with faculty mentors on projects that they choose and design. Each intern will receive $3,500 for the ten week internship which will take place June 3 to August 9, 2013.

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 at the University of Pennsylvania (the program is no longer open to non-Penn students)
  • GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or all As and Bs in math and science
  • At least one year of coursework in biology or other sciences
  • Interest in a research career in environmental health sciences

Candidates from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application Information

** The funding for the STEER program is presently under review. We are optimistic that we will be able to run the program in the summer of 2013, but cannot guarantee it at this time. If you are interested in applying please send a resume and a copy of your transcript and we will contact you when we know the status of the program.

 

 

 

» Top

 

© The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania || Site best viewed in supported browser. || Site Design: PMACS Web Team