(SMP)
Summer Mentorship Program
What is SMP?
The Penn Engineering Summer Mentorship Program is a four-week, on-campus STEM experience designed for Philadelphia high school students, primarily rising 10th- and 11th-graders. Through hands-on learning tracks such as Robotics and Bioengineering, students engage in group projects, laboratory experiences, STEM seminars, and collaborative problem-solving while receiving mentorship from Penn Engineering graduate and undergraduate students. The program also includes campus tours, college and career readiness workshops, student panels, social activities, and field trips, including a visit to Washington, D.C. The experience culminates in a final research symposium where students present their work and celebrate their achievements.
Join the Penn Engineering track of the award-winning Provost's Summer Mentorship Program
July 6 – July 31, 2026
Over the 4 weeks of engagement SMP participants are able to:
- Experience college-level STEM learning and explore dynamic research environments.
- Engage with Penn Engineering faculty, researchers, and STEM professionals to gain insight into academic and career pathways.
- Participate in lab tours, hands-on activities, and STEM enrichment experiences that connect learning to real-world engineering applications.
- Strengthen communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and presentation skills through team-based learning.
Program Overview
The Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program is open to students of all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds.
Eligibility:
- Enrollment in a Philadelphia (Public, Catholic, Private or Charter) High School
- Currently in 9th or 10th grade.
- Minimum GPA 3.0
- High School transcript with Fall 2026 Grades
- Essay (250 words) describing yourself and your interest in the program.
- Up to date vaccine record.
How to Apply:
The Summer Mentorship Program for 2027 will begin taking applications in January 2027.
Eligible candidates should consider applying to gain:
- Inquiry-based and experiential learning through hands-on STEM exploration
- College preparation and academic readiness for future STEM pathways
- Professional development and career exploration across engineering and STEM fields
- Meaningful STEM connections and community building with like-minded peers, mentors, researchers, and industry professionals
Monday–Friday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
While engaging in Penn Engineering SMP tracks in Bioengineering or Robotics, participants have the opportunity to:
- Design and build robotic systems
- Explore bioengineering and emerging technology applications
- Participate in hands-on dry- and wet-lab experiences
- Apply the engineering design process to real-world challenges
- Showcase their learning, projects, and discoveries at a culminating research symposium
- Commuter program
- SEPTA passes provided
- Lunch provided
- Youth participant paid stipend
- Lab tours
- Annual field trip excursion
Key Dates
Application Opens:
January 2027
Please reach out to Penn Engineering Outreach Team (outreach@engineering.upenn.edu) in December 2026 to connect with application process for this opportunity.
Program Instructors:
Robotics |
Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Marc Cohen | Lead Teacher | |
| Navjot Chahal | Coordinating Teacher | |
| Anushka Jain | Coordinating Teacher | |
| Lisa Ayisi-Ahwireng | Coordinating Teacher | |
| Kelechi Obike | Mentor | |
Bioengineering |
Name | Title |
| Dr. David Bungard | Co-Lead Teacher | |
| Aaron Oberman | Co-Lead Teacher | |
| Xindi Yang | Coordinating Teacher | |
| Eddie Wang | Coordinating Teacher | |
| Annika Eisner | Coordinating Teacher | |
| Josiah Gaines | Staff Intern |
Penn Engineering Program Team
Chanda Jefferson
Director of Community Engagement & Outreach
Marc Cohen
SMP Robotics, Lead Instructor
Dr. David Bungard
SMP Bioengineering, Lead Instructor