The University of Pennsylvania is proud to be the first Ivy League institution to host the prestigious Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. This Federal TRiO Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. This project, also known as the McNair Scholars Program, identifies and prepares eligible students for graduate studies leading to the Ph.D. by providing research training and early scholarly experiences to high-achieving undergraduate Penn students. The program is named in honor of deceased NASA astronaut, Dr. Ronald E. McNair.

Students apply to the McNair Scholars Program at the end of their sophomore year. Four modules comprise the program: the Summer Residential Research Institute, the Junior Academic Year Activities, a Summer Internship, and the Senior Year Graduate School Preparatory. The program concludes at the end of senior year.

McNair Scholars participate in research training and scholarly experiences through the four modules and other related activities, which include performing research under the guidance of a faculty mentor, attendance at professional meetings and national conferences and publish their work in the Penn McNair Research Journal. See our Penn McNair Scholars Newsletter to learn about what our students are doing. 
 
Benefits of being a McNair Scholar include:

• Faculty mentoring;
• Participation in a six-week, paid McNair Summer Residential Research Institute;
• Research training and scholarly experiences, including free attendance and participation in national conferences;
• Graduate school visits and application fee-waivers;
• GRE preparation and fee-reductions;
• Counseling through the graduate school application process;
• Publication of your research in the McNair Scholars Journal;
• Cultural Events

• A sincere desire to attain a Ph.D.;
• Junior or senior class standing (16 or more course units);
• A cumulative grade point average of 2.8 or above;
• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status;
• Be a member of a racial/ethnic group that is underrepresented in graduate education;

          OR

• Meet federal low income guidelines and be a first-generation college student.

Congratulations to the New Cohort of McNair Scholars!

An-Jae Shin Political Science, 2010	Francis Herrera Nursing, 2011	Enmanuel Martinez Comparative Lit., Latin Am. & Latino Studies, 2011	Jacqueline Chaudhry Health and Societies, 2011
Ryan Jobson Africana Studies & Anthropology, 2011	Kendra McKoy Environmental Studies, 2011	Kristen Townsend Nursing, 2011	Laura Trujillo Chemistry, 2010
Miguel Gonzalez Electrical Engineering, 2011	Molly Mitchell Film, 2011	Petal Samuel English & Africana Studies, 2011	Rhaisa Williams Africana Studies, 2010