Attention Pitt Undergrads!
Get paid over the summer to do research in sustainability. If you are interested in going beyond classroom curriculum, developing your own ideas, and working independently on hands-on research all while getting paid…this program is for you!
Application and Program Information
Please check back in January 2025 for more information regarding our Summer 2025 Undergraduate Research Program.
Program Policies
- The URP is only open to Pitt undergraduate students.
- Students are required to work 40 hours a week on their project.
- Students are allowed to take only 1 course over the summer with program approval.
- No vacations will be permitted during the 12 week program.
- Students will be awarded a $5,000 stipend.
Additional funding opportunities for undergraduate summer projects are available through the Brackenridge Fellowship, which the Mascaro Center has partnered with to enhance awards given to students who are conducting research in areas related to sustainability.
2024 Program Highlights
Congratulations to the 27 students accepted to our Summer 2024 Undergraduate Research Program! The program ran from May 6 to July 23. Visit the Pitt Sustainability YouTube page to view project videos from this year's symposium, or review the list of summer research scholars, their projects, and their advisors here.
Past Projects and Highlights
Attendees of the annual Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium vote for the best presentations based on clarity, creativity, quality of research, and connection to sustainability.
Videos of select projects can be viewed on YouTube, or featured project videos can be viewed below.
2024 Featured Projects
Best Video: Olivia Rossi
Deciphering the Impact of Sewers on Urban Street Tree Nutrition
Advisor: Emily Elliott, Geology & Environmental Science
Best Presentation: Steven Panico
The Effect of In-Solution Particles on Reusable, Additive Manufactured Metal Filters
Advisor: Markus Chmielus, Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
Best Presentation: Pocket Pizzutillo
Materials Design for Advanced Manufacturing of Cobalt-Free Cemented Carbides
Advisor: Wei Xiong, Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
Best Presentation: Neeharika Kolli
Climate Inventory and Targets
Advisor: Kate Zettl, UPMC Center for Sustainability
- 2023 Featured Projects
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Ekaterini Papazekos
Silicon Solar Module Recycling
Advisor: Paul Leu, Industrial EngineeringPaloma DiBella
Urban Permaculture
Advisors: Kevin Bell, Bioengineering, and Corey Flynn, School of Medicine - 2022 Featured Projects
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Rebecca Hotton
Increasing the Energy Efficiency of 3D Binder Jet Printed Metal Filters
Advisor: Markus Chmielus, Mechanical Engineering and Materials ScienceMolly Draper
Sustainable Forestry within the Eastern Deciduous Forest Biome: Is Salvage Logging Compatible with Healthy Forest Regeneration Following a Major Windstorm?
Advisors: Dr. Walter Carson, Biological Sciences, and
Hannah Assour, Biological Sciences - 2021 Featured Projects
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Sydney DuBose
Environmental Justice Teaching
Advisor: Cassie Quigley, School of EducationHeather Phillips
Microbial Fuel Cells for BMG Electrodes
Advisor: Dr. David Sanchez, Civil and Environmental EngineeringNatalie Britton
Assessing Environmental (In)justices in U.S. Public Housing Siting Decisions
Advisors: Michael Blackhurst, University Center for Social and Urban Research, and
Randy Walsh, Economics - 2020 Featured Projects
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Frankie Fattori
Energy-efficient processors, sensors, and systems for space-based sensing and computing
Advisor: Alan George, electrical and computer engineeringAli Carroll
Biodiversity collapse at the urban-rural interface: Consequences for the sustainability and economic viability of small, privately owned forests in PA
Advisor: Walter Carson, Biological SciencesMax Smith
Simulations of First Solar Cells
Advisor: Paul Leu, Industrial EngineeringSridhar Reddy
Hardware acceleration of artificial neural network for neuromorphic computing
Advisor: Feng Xiong, Electrical and Computer Engineering