FAQ
Recruitment Weekend
How do I get from the airport to the hotel/recruitment events?
On Recruitment Weekend, Penn will provide each visiting recruit with $100 in rideshare credit (Lyft), which can be used for direct transport to the Club Quarters Hotel, among other travel. This should cover round trip travel from the airport to the hotel with room to spare.
If you run out of rideshare credit, the quickest and cheapest way to get between the hotel and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is via the #9 bus and SEPTA Airport Line ($8.75 total, $9.25 without a SEPTA card). From the Chestnut & 17th St stop just outside the hotel, the #9 bus will take you to 30th Street Station in about 5 minutes. The Airport Line departs from the station about twice an hour during peak service and reaches PHL in about 25 minutes, stopping at all major terminals. You can use cash or tap-to-pay with a mobile device on the bus/train. See fare tables here.
How do I get around the city?
Philadelphia is a walkable and easily navigated city. Between walking, public regional transit (SEPTA buses/trolleys/trains), and rideshare, most every neighborhood is easily accessible. SEPTA schedules are synced to Apple and Google Maps and tend to be accurate. Most public vehicles are clean and, in the vicinity of Penn, highly trafficked by university students and employees.
Will it be cold in Philly?
In February, Philadelphia averages 44° / 28°F high/low daily temperatures with a 25% average daily chance of precipitation. Past recruitment weekends have varied widely in terms of weather, so be sure to check the forecast often in the leadup to your visit and dress accordingly!
How many interviews will I have?
Beginning this recruitment cycle, all recruits will interview with multiple faculty, though the exact number will vary. Please note that you should also try to email faculty you are interested in before, during, and after the weekend.
What if I don't have similar research background as my interviewer?
Don't worry! Many applicants, including some of us, viewed graduate school as a unique opportunity to pursue new or longstanding scientific interests, even in areas that may not have aligned with our backgrounds. Make note of which PIs you envision would best contribute to your scientific development, including those whose expertise may not overlap perfectly with yours. Do anticipate that you will be expected to clearly communicate your research experiences with students and faculty outside of your immediate field.
Do all of my interviewers want to work with me?
All of your interviewers have personally expressed an interest in recruiting you! Your application, which speaks to your scientific, professional, and personal merit, was evaluated first by a committee and then by individual Graduate Group faculty and garnered interest from multiple faculty members. In this sense, while Recruitment Weekend remains an opportunity for you to convince interviewers of your scientific preparedness for graduate school, it is crucially both your and your interviewers' best opportunity to identify cultural fit.
When will I hear back from Penn about admissions?
As a recruit, you have already successfully navigated the more standardized portions of the admissions process. All that remains is for your interviewers to determine whether they want to extend you an offer to join their labs. This is by nature a rolling process, but should occur sometime between the conclusion of the final Recruitment Weekend (early March) and the acceptance deadline (mid-April). You will receive a formal offer letter from the Department with specifics about supervision (including rotations, if >1 offer), funding, university resources, and important deadlines.
How should I stay in contact/let PIs know I'm interested in them?
It never hurts to follow up with faculty after your interview to thank them for their time and reiterate your interest - if you intend on accepting their offer should they extend it, let them know! These emails can be concise as faculty are often quite busy this time of year. If you intend to pursue your graduate studies elsewhere, it is a professional courtesy to inform PIs and departments to keep opportunities open to other students.
Academics
How many faculty have appointments in the Department of Bioengineering at Penn?
At the graduate level, Bioengineering exists functionally as a Graduate Group (which includes but is not limited to Department faculty). There are 249 tenure-track faculty in 16 major research areas who are current members of the Graduate Group, and incoming graduate students have the opportunity to join any of their labs.
What is the average length of time needed to complete a PhD in Bioengineering at Penn? Is there a maximum allotted time of completion?
The average length of time from matriculation to defense has recently been between 5 and 6 years. You are required to complete the program within 10 years. Please look over this example timeline of study to see an example PhD. https://be.seas.upenn.edu/doctoral/advising/handbook/degree-requirements/timeline-plan-of-study/
Are Bioengineering PhD students/candidates "fully funded" at Penn?
As a PhD student/candidate in the Department of Bioengineering, you can expect to be fully funded for the duration of your training given you remain in good standing. For the 2023-2024 school year, the PhD stipend is $40,500. Any PhD student awarded an extramural individual fellowship may qualify for a one-time $3,000 bonus in addition to the standard stipend. See UPenn CURF website for (non-exhaustive) list of possible fellowships to apply for here.
Is there a TA requirement for BE graduate students at Penn?
No, there isn't! However, graduate students often elect to TA and can be compensated financially and/or work toward a teaching certificate (see https://cetli.upenn.edu/programs/grad-students/teaching-certificate/ for details).
What is the HHMI-NIBIB Interfaces Program?
The HHMI-NIBIB program is a special biomedical imaging fellowship where, in addition to regular training as PhD, students will also take two years of medical school coursework. Research is delayed until second year, but students have the chance to learn medical knowledge and network with doctors and other healthcare professionals to learn relevant problems. Average time to graduation remains below 6 years. Please see https://interfaces.seas.upenn.edu/faq/ for more information.