Weiss Tech House

The Weiss Tech House is a student-run hub of technological innovation that encourages and supports students in the creation, development and commercialization of innovative technologies. Students with a broad range of technological interests and skill can explore, collaborate, and access resources like lab and meeting space, funding, educational workshops and a network of industry mentors as they learn how to turn their innovative ideas into realities. With the addition of two new reservable Innovation Stations students can now work more efficiently to achieve their goals. More than $60,000 in funds and in-kind services is awarded to students each year from our in-house, mini-venture capital Innovation Fund and PennVention student invention competition.

Meet Our Students

Shirley Duarte

Shirley Duarte
Mexico City, Mexico

"Penn offered me an exceptional education, outstanding faculty, a supporting environment for minority students and more. With a BSE in Bioengineering and a minor in Mathematics, Penn has prepared me for my next big step - a career in medicine."

Undergraduate Research

Our extraordinary faculty-to-student ratio provides great opportunities for undergraduate students to work in state-of-the-art research laboratories during the regular semesters and in the summer. There are many opportunities for funding, both through faculty research grants and through special programs in SEAS and the University.

Undergraduate Research at SEAS

Rachleff Scholars Program

Begun in the Fall 2008 semester and endowed by Andy Rachleff (W’ 80), this program allows students to undertake rigorous, credit-bearing research and related activities during the sophomore and junior years and over a summer. And they are paid to do so. They work with our world-renowned faculty members and their graduate students on an exciting project of their choice, allowing them an experience that will serve them well when they go on to graduate school or to a technical career of their choice. Learn more about the program here.

The SUNFEST Summer Internship

SUNFEST is a unique program that provides talented undergraduate students with hands-on research during the summer in the area of sensor technologies. Each year an average of 10 students, ending their sophomore or junior year of college, are selected from various universities nationwide based on their academic record and attitude towards research. The program is open to students in engineering and the physical sciences. The purpose of this program is to expose the students to real, in-depth research in the area of sensor technology and to motivate them to go on to graduate school. Learn about SUNFEST here.

Penn’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF)

Penn Engineering has top notch faculty working on cutting-edge research projects funded by federal and state funding agencies as well as private industry. In addition to opportunities available through Penn Engineering, the university, through CURF helps Penn undergraduates become involved in research by helping them identify resources, narrow their searches, and shape initial inquiries so they can find appropriate faculty mentors and research funding. Learn more about CURF here.

Undergraduate Summer Research @ CIS

The goal of the Undergraduate Summer Research program is to encourage students, particularly CIS undergraduates, to get involved in research with faculty mentors early in their careers. Students work with a faculty member and a graduate student mentor throughout the summer with the goal of producing an identifiable research result. Participating students can receive either course credit or a stipend. The program is open to University of Pennsylvania undergraduates majoring in CIS and related fields. Learn more here.

Research internships through Research Centers

All research centers offer opportunities for students to work in laboratories with graduate students and faculty. Learn more about Penn Engineering's world class research centers here.