Work-Study

Owner: Rushil

  • As an undergraduate student, you are only allowed to bill 20 hours a week across ALL your jobs at Penn while school is in session. This does not breaks (unless you are taking classes in the summer)

Work study

  • Onboarding is mainly a matter of requesting access — see Lab Onboarding for the account-request email
  • If Penn Financial Services has allotted work study funding to you as part of your aid, that is an easy way for the lab to pay you without spending their own money. You can check if you have work study funding by going to Path@Penn > My Financial Aid.
  • If you do have funding, let Dr. Cheng know so she can contact HR to set you up with a work-study position in the lab.
  • For fall and spring semesters, you are automatically allotted work study funding. Usually, Penn reaches out in the spring semester with a form to apply for summer work study funding. That is a simple process, and we recommend doing it if you plan to continue research in the summer!
  • You can always appeal to get work study funding (or to get your allotment increased). The Penn Financial Services office is the Franklin Building on 3451 Walnut Street. I (Rushil) have had better experiences in person as opposed to via email or phone.

[NEEDS INPUT: minimum weekly hour commitment, work-study eligibility/FAFSA requirements, minimum semester commitment]

Fellowships/Honors Thesis

  • Onboarding is mainly a matter of requesting access — see Lab Onboarding for the account-request email. In addition to the standard process, follow the instructions below.
  • Fellowships:
    • Complete the fellowship’s required forms, inform Dr. Cheng of the fellowship’s requirements, and establish regular communication for timesheets/progress checks.
    • Regarding potential abstracts/posters/presentations for the program, let Dr. Cheng know as early as possible, and request her to review and provide feedback for your drafts at least 2 weeks in advance.
  • Honors Thesis:
    • Meet with Dr. Cheng before applying in order to discuss the project and timeline.
    • Complete required forms, sending Dr. Cheng forms for signature or upload at least 1-2 weeks in advance.
    • Complete proposal as necessary for the program, sending drafts for Dr. Cheng to review and provide feedback at least 2 weeks in advance.
    • Establish regular communication for progress checks.
    • Regarding potential abstracts/posters/presentations for the program, let Dr. Cheng know as early as possible, and request her to review and provide feedback for your drafts at least 2 weeks in advance.