Research Mentorship

A defining feature of the Penn Master of Bioethics program is the opportunity for students to engage in faculty-mentored research that extends beyond the classroom and contributes directly to the advancement of bioethics scholarship. Through the Research Mentorship program, students work closely with standing faculty from the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy on projects aligned with faculty members’ active areas of research.

Designed as an apprenticeship in scholarly inquiry, the program provides students with firsthand experience in developing, conducting, and communicating bioethics research. Faculty mentors guide students through the research process with the goal of producing a co-authored publication. These projects typically span one semester to one year, and the large majority result in peer-reviewed publications, providing students with an exceptional opportunity to make meaningful contributions to the field. Many mentorship projects also lead to accepted conference presentations, allowing students to share their scholarship with the broader bioethics community. The program provides travel support to help defray the costs associated with presenting research at professional conferences.

Research mentorship opportunities are announced at the beginning of each fall and spring semester and are available through a competitive application process. For students pursuing research careers—or preparing applications to medical school, law school, doctoral programs, or other advanced academic pathways—the experience offers invaluable preparation in scholarly collaboration, critical analysis, and academic writing.

Explore publications resulting from Master of Bioethics student research mentorships.