Research and Travel Funding

Research provides an opportunity for undergraduate anthropology students to enhance the learning obtained in their classroom coursework.  Application of required skills allows development of a deeper appreciation of the discipline and clarification of career goals.  And the satisfaction of completing a research project creates confidence in a student's ability to perform in the chosen field of study.

The Department of Anthropology offer students an opportunity to receive financial support from two awards, the Monica and Brand Fortner Endowment  and the Peter M. Weil Travel Award established for the purpose of supporting undergraduate research. 

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During summer 2019, Claire will travel to Austria to work with a team led by Dr. Adam Fracchia. In conjunction with the Department of Defense, the team is recovering and identifying remains of military personnel Missing in Action in World War II. Their research is focuses on downed military aircraft sites.

​Previous recipients of Monica and Brand Fortner Endowment awards

During winter session 2019, Amy Ciminnisi interned in the NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation) office at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Philadelphia, commonly known as the Penn Museum. She photographed and conducted research on a small archaeological collection (40+ artifacts), working with the collections, museum and archival documentation, and published sources. Ciminnisi also updated the Museum’s collections database through the addition of reference photographs, bibliographic information, and catalogue cards. The information she gathered will support the Penn Museum’s compliance with NAGPRA.

​During summer 2019, Claire will travel to Austria to work with a team led by Dr. Adam Fracchia. In conjunction with the Department of Defense, the team is recovering and identifying remains of military personnel Missing in Action in World War II. Their research is focused on downed military aircraft sites.

Previous recipients of the Peter M. Weil Travel Award