It’s been cold, windy, and snowy this week in Philadelphia, and the question on everyone’s mind at Career Services is, “Is summer here yet?” Wherever in the world you find yourself this semester, you might also be wishing for longer days and warmer temperatures. For many, the anticipation for a new season also brings with it worry about what to do over the summer, and even though we’re only a few days into February, a question I keep hearing from students is, “Is it too late to find something for the summer?”
The answer is no! Plenty of employers will be hiring for summer interns over the next few months, but Penn students should also be aware of some amazing programs that the University offers, too. Below you’ll find information about six programs hosted by Penn that are currently accepting applications for Summer 2021 (as of February 5, 2021):
1. Wharton Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR)
SPUR is a small program for Wharton students to design and conduct research over the summer under the guidance of a Wharton faculty member. Students advance their research skills by attending faculty and doctoral student presentations, learning about resources for research, sharing their experiences with other students in the program, presenting their work, and writing research papers to be submitted for publication. Accepted students will live in on-campus housing provided by the program in addition to receiving an award of $3,000.
Application deadline: February 11, 2021
2. Penn Museum Summer Internship Program
The Penn Museum offers nine-week paid summer internship opportunities for undergraduates, recent graduates, and graduate students. The program consists of a project-based placement in one of the Penn Museum departments, along with the Museum Practice Program (orientation, weekly lectures, collections tours, and more). Accepted students will receive a stipend of $15/hour to cover living expenses.
Application deadline: February 14, 2021
3. Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program (PURM)
Run by the Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships (CURF), PURM provides students completing their first or second undergraduate year with the opportunity to spend a summer conducting research with a Penn faculty. Since it started in 2007, the program has supported more than 1,000 undergraduate students who have conducted research with over 800 Penn faculty members. Students can apply to work on projects with faculty from nearly every Penn school, providing them with an opportunity to learn about the world of research early on in their Penn career. Accepted students will receive funds to go towards expenses incurred during the program.
Application deadline: February 21, 2021
4. Summer Humanities Internship Program (SHIP)
Run by the College of Arts and Sciences and CURF, SHIP provides opportunities and funding for approximately 25 College undergraduates to participate in research/internships in the humanities and social sciences. Opportunities are available in cultural, historical, or archival settings and are full-time (35 hours/week). Accepted students will receive a financial award of $4,500.
Application deadline: February 28, 2021
5. Littlejohn Undergraduate Research Program
Run by Penn Engineering, this program is made possible thanks to a generous gift by Angus Littlejohn. Rising SEAS sophomores, juniors, and seniors can apply to conduct hands-on engineering research over the summer under the guidance of any SEAS faculty member. Accepted students will receive a stipend of $5,500.
Application deadline: March 12, 2021
6. Virtual Internships Abroad (VIA)
Run by Penn Abroad, VIA allows highly motivated Penn undergraduates to spend their summer working remotely for a global company. With flexible lengths and work schedules, VIA can also be a great add-on for students working part-time this summer or taking classes. While international travel may not be possible this summer, VIA participants will still benefit from language learning, cross-cultural networking events, and virtual tours of the location their company is based in. Accepted students will receive full funding to cover 100% of the program fee.
Applications open: March 1, 2021
Should you decide to apply for any of the above opportunities, make sure you meet with an advisor at Career Services to review your materials before submitting! We wish you the best of luck!
