Academics

One Penn researcher is working to allow robots to 'feel with their eyes'

You might have seen fifth-year Ph.D student Alex Burka walking around campus with his “Proton Pack” — a large orange backpack equipped with sensors that collect information from various surfaces. This is why. 

Why this Penn professor's research into extinction has never been more relevant

Lauren Sallan, the Martin Meyerson assistant professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, is on the front lines of studying the causes of extinction-level events. 

Penn Museum plans to use a new $500,000 grant to make museum visits more enjoyable

Plans for the grant include: renovating exhibition spaces and Harrison Auditorium, as well as rethinking public programming. 

Penn students learn business from industry leaders in Israel as part of this prestigious fellowship

Throughout the ten-week program, participants interact with various business leaders such as the CEO of Google Israel Meir Brand and the general manager for Uber Israel Yoni Greifman. 

A feminist poet and a New York Times columnist are among the KWH Fellows for 2018

Kelly Writers House Faculty Director Al Filreis, who has been teaching the selective seminar since it started in 1999, predicts that the class featuring the 2018 fellows will be “outrageously good."

Recommendations from students who took writing seminars — and enjoyed them

The writing requirement is notorious for being dreaded by students, but there are a few courses that have shown to be the exception.

Four years, two degrees — here's what life is like for students in Penn's dual degree programs

“I learned about game theory in ECON 10 [in Wharton] and in NETS 112 [in Engineering] from different perspectives and for different applications,” Engineering and Wharton freshman EJ Murphy said. “It painted a far more vivid picture.”

Four of the most interesting classes you can take at Penn this fall

As part of Women and Incarceration (GSWS555), which will be offered by the Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies department, students will visit and speak to staff and inmates at the Philadelphia Women’s Jail. 

How to organize your course cart — Penn seniors speak from experience

Though their undergraduate schools may differ, many seniors cite the same qualities when discussing their favorite classes.

A Penn Medicine professor received a national award for her research into psychosis

Irene Hurford, who works as an assistant professor of psychiatry, is one of five recipients nationwide to be awarded the 2017 Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

The latest Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor uses social media to 'democratize' his scientific research

At Northwestern, Dr. Kording works to build an online presence for his research. His lab has a blog and a twitter account (@KordingLab) which regularly posts memes related to his research. Dr. Kording has also participated in a Reddit AMA, or “Ask Me Anything,” about one of his recent papers.

Some students can't move into their off-campus houses until June 1, but that's ten days after classes start

“I can’t really go anywhere,” said College sophomore Jackson Baker, who has been sleeping on different couches for 11 days and bringing his overnight bags with him to the first week of classes. 

Graduate students just took a big step towards legitimizing their labor union

A group of over 1,000 graduate students, who call themselves GET-UP, an acronym for Graduate Employees Together — University of Pennsylvania, have been working toward this since they made their movement public in March.

Cancer immunotherapy expert will become the new director of Penn's Abramson Cancer Center in July

The appointment of Robert Vonderheide coincides with other major developments in cancer research at Penn, including news of Joe Biden's "Cancer Moonshot" initiative.

Co-founder of Microsoft awards Penn researchers $9.25 million grant to study concussions

The research will be led by Chair of Bioengineering David Meaney and director of the Center for Brain Injury and Repair at Penn Medicine Douglas Smith. 

At Penn Medicine's new $1.5 billion Pavilion, students may get to experience the future of health care

HUP CEO Regina Cunningham believes "it will be an incredible advantage" for medical students to gain exposure to the hospital's new services and technology. 

Days before graduation, students continue to debate the choice of Cory Booker as commencement speaker

“The past few speakers have had such a strong left leaning,” College senior Samantha Rahmin said. “We’re getting to a point where if they were going to choose someone political, they should’ve chosen someone more moderate or more to the right."

At annual summit, students and faculty discuss the merits of Academically Based Community Service courses

Academically Based Community Service courses allow students and faculty to partner with West Philadelphia schools and community organizations. During the 2016-17 academic year, 70 ABCS courses were offered across eight schools and 31 departments, by 63 faculty and staff members.

This startup CEO implied he had a Ph.D from Penn, but left his program amid rumors of false lab work

A University spokesperson said Otte enrolled in Penn's Genomics and Computational Biology graduate group in September 2011, but left the program without a degree in October of 2014. 

Seven study breaks on campus to check out if you need a breather this finals period

Finals season can be overwhelming. Here are some convenient places on campus for students to take a break — and maybe some comfort food.