Internship

Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Program (UIRP)

The Penn Genome Frontiers Institute’s internship program provides a unique training experience intended to stimulate multidisciplinary, creative thinking and research innovation early in a student’s academic career.  Following two weeks of basic training in molecular biology and genomics techniques, interns will tackle genomics-based problems that have been specially selected by a PGFI faculty member.  These projects require students to pursue novel, self-directed research in the PGFI Educational Facility laboratory, under the direct supervision of PGFI staff scientist, Dr. Adam Peritz.  Students will interact regularly with a faculty member and graduate student and/or postdoctoral mentors for guidance on the scientific approach for their projects. 

Outside of the laboratory, interns participate in paper discussions, attend seminars, and learn basic bioinformatics skills.  Interns will present their research at a symposium at the end of the program.  PGFI’s UIRP is one of the few summer programs that provides the opportunity for independent research on the undergraduate level—our hope is to foster an appreciation of the hard work, excitement and reward of science in a select group of curious and motivated scholars.

Update for 2013: Unfortunately PGFI will not be running the UIRP during the summer of 2013. Undergraduate students who are interested in learning more about genomics are encouraged to attend our Spring 2013 genomics outreach sessions. Links to non-Penn genomics-related summer research opportunities are here.

2009, 2010 UIRP Interns, Mentors, and Abstracts

2011, 2012 UIRP Interns, Mentors, Faculty and Abstracts

Congratulations to the 2012 interns and mentors for a productive and successful summer!

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2012 Program dates: Monday, June 4 - Friday, August 3, 2012

 Application Components:
    * Application (.doc , .pdf fillable form)
    * Statement of interest
    * Recommendation letter from a faculty member(++)
    * Official Transcript(s)
    * Resume (optional)

Note: Please do not send multiple recommendation letters - only one will be considered with your file.

Detailed instructions are on the application form.

++For freshman only, the letter may come from a high school teacher from the applicant's senior year. The ideal letter would be from a current professor or faculty mentor who knows you well.  However, if you have not had the chance to develop these interactions yet as a freshman, then you have the option to have your letter sent from a high school instructor.

Eligibility: Only Penn undergraduates (current students with freshman, sophomore or junior status) are eligible to apply at this time.

Stipend: $4000* for the program (half paid at the end of June and half at the end of the program); no housing or housing allowance provided. This is a full-time program (M-F, 9-5 PM). Interns are expected to attend all aspects of the program to earn their stipends. *before taxes

Notification: Applicants who are invited into the program will be notified by April 6, 2012. If there is a waitlist, notifications to waitlisted students may be later. If you have any questions, please contact ef@genomics.upenn.edu

PGFI is committed to increasing participation in the genome sciences. Women, minorities, and individuals from diverse and underrepresented groups in the STEM disciplines are always encouraged to apply to and participate in PGFI's programming.