Program Description
May 31 – August 6, 2021
This program is traditionally an on-campus, in-person experience. Because of COVID-19, the program was delivered entirely online during the summer of 2020. No decisions regarding delivery (on-campus or online) have been made yet about the summer of 2021.
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. Click on the link to the left to read about our recent scholars. 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, five to seven internships will be awarded to undergraduate students who will work one-on-one with faculty mentors on projects that they choose and design. Each intern will receive $4,000 for the ten-week internship.
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
- 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
- US Citizen/permanent resident. If not, please inquire.
Seeking students interested in careers in public health, research and environmental science and related graduate work (MPH, MS, PhD, DrPH).
Candidates from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Application Information
Application Process – Deadline: Applications must be emailed by 5:00 PM on March 2.
Print or download application
To submit:
- Access the online application: Online Application
- Or e-mail your application to ceet@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
- Have your recommendation letters mailed or emailed to:
STEER Program
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
1313 Biomedical Research Building (BRB) II/III
421 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
