Penn Research Experience for High School Students
Program Overview
When you enter the Penn Research Experience for High School Students (PREHSS, formerly Penn LENS) program, you will have the opportunity to join a research lab and take part in current scientific research. Every PREHSS participant is assigned a mentor and participates in a research project from one of the School of Arts and Sciences disciplines, such as biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, linguistics, or psychology.
Over the course of five weeks, School of Arts and Sciences’ science faculty and other lab members will provide guidance and mentorship to aid students in developing laboratory and research skills. Students will meet faculty from a variety of disciplines, participate in workshops to develop essential lab and science communication skills, explore career paths in science, talk to Penn students currently doing research, and present their work at the end of the program.
PREHSS is in-person and takes place at the University of Pennsylvania. The PREHSS program was previously known as Penn LENS (Penn Laboratory Experiences in the Natural Sciences) but has been renamed to better describe the program and its participants.
Eligibility Requirements
This program is open to current 10th and 11th grade (rising 11th or 12th grade) high school students from Philadelphia School District, Charter schools, and other schools by invitation. Students from underserved schools are especially encouraged to apply. To see if your private school is eligible for an invitation, please email sas-soi@sas.upenn.edu.
Stipend and Other Benefits
Students selected for the program will receive:
- a $1500 financial award for completing the program
- a meal allowance
- travel expenses
Anyone needing technology assistance (device and/or wifi access) will be accommodated on a case-by-case basis.
Program Dates and Deadlines
The program will begin on June 23rd and end on July 25th.
Applications are currently open and will be accepted until Sunday, March 16, 2025.
Applications
Our application consists of:
- the online application form
- a high school transcript (official or unofficial)
- 3 short-answer/essay questions (max 700 words)
- a recommendation from a science teacher (present or recent)
Sample Research Opportunities
These are examples of previous research opportunities. Opportunities available each year varies based on lab availability.
Dr. Katie Barott (Biology): This lab investigates the effects of climate change on coral animals which expel the single-cell algae that live within their tissues when stressed.
Dr. Joseph Kable (Psychology): This lab looks at how and why people make decisions, using approaches from psychology, neuroscience and economics.
Dr. James Petersson (Chemistry): This lab uses chemistry, biology, and computing to study protein folding and interactions, with applications in neuroscience and medicine.
Dr. Ivan Dmochowski (Chemistry): This lab is particularly interested in developing new technologies for biomolecular imaging and the fabrication of functional bio-nanomaterials.
Dr. Mecky Pohlschröder (Biology): This lab looks at the movement of prokaryotic organisms from the kingdom Archaea and their formation in our digestive systems.
Dr. Robyn Sanderson (Astronomy): The research conducted in this lab focuses on ways to infer the dark matter distribution in galaxies by studying the orbits of their stars.
Dr. Eric Schelter (Chemistry): This lab works on methods to recycle the rare earth metals used in heavy-duty batteries and electronics which are environmentally safe.
Additional Program Information
Students selected for the program will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of what scientific research involves. This will include:
- assignment to a research group in the School of Arts and Sciences for familiarization and mentorship by Penn faculty and graduate students;
- an orientation run through the School of Arts and Sciences to help students feel comfortable with what will be expected of them;
- an individualized research experience and group work, culminating in a final presentation
Example Schedule
The program will run daily from 9:30 am until 3:30 pm, although there will be shorter and longer days at times depending on the activities or schedules of the research labs.
Week 1
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning Session | No session, Juneteenth observed | Introductions and campus tour | Lab presentation and tours | Lab presentation and tours | Group activity |
| Afternoon Session | No session, Juneteenth observed | Lab safety training | Lab presentation and tours | Lab presentation and tours | Individual lab time |
Week 2
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning Session | Group activity | Lab presentation and tours | Lab presentation and tours | Lab presentation and tours | Group activity |
| Afternoon Session | Individual lab time | Individual lab time | Individual lab time | Individual lab time | Individual lab time |
Weeks 3–5
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning Session | Individual lab time or workshopping presentations | Individual lab time | Individual lab time | Individual lab time | Individual lab time or group activity Week 5: Final presentations |
| Afternoon Session | Individual lab time | Individual lab time | Individual lab time | Individual lab time | Individual lab time Week 5: Final presentations |
Questions?
Any questions regarding the program can be directed to the Director of PREHSS, Lori Spindler, at spindler@sas.upenn.edu.