Global Research & Internship Program

  • Blog

From Nervous Sips to Confident Pours: My Summer with Port Wine in Portugal

GRIP: Wine, Heritage, and Hospitality in Porto, Portugal Never in my life did I imagine spending a summer in Portugal learning about wine, the tourism industry, and immersing myself in Portuguese culture. But here I am! All thanks to GRIP. A few days before my departure, I felt very nervous. While I had some experience…

  • Blog

Through Sunshine and Rain: Learning to Work and Live Abroad in Thailand

GRIP: PR and Marketing in Bangkok, Thailand One thing no one warns you about before arriving in Bangkok is the weather—not just how hot and humid it is, but how quickly it changes. After multiple coworkers asked me how well I had adjusted to all of Bangkok’s rainy season, I naturally wondered: how bad can…

  • Blog

AI, Anxiety, and Irish Hospitality

GRIP: Nursing Research in Dublin, Ireland Nervously before my first day of work, I preplanned my attire as if it were the night before a school field trip and anxiously lied down as I played out every scenario in my head. Most notably, the one where I was imagining myself pulling all-nighters because of how…

  • Blog

Learning How to Take Initiative

GRIP: Business in Sydney, Australia One of the more surprising challenges I encountered during my internship was learning how to take initiative in a professional setting. While the office environment has been incredibly warm and supportive, I initially found it intimidating to approach team members directly and ask for tasks. I always considered myself a…

  • Blog

Mate, Soccer, and Steak: Finding Community in Uruguay

GRIP: Entrepreneurship in Montevideo, Uruguay When people asked me where I was going to spend the summer and I answered “Uruguay,” I was often met with confused expressions or comments like “Where is that?” or “Isn’t that near Argentina?” Few people seemed to know much about the country, let alone its culture or community. But…

  • Event

GRIP 2026: Virtual Information Session 1

Event Info Interested in Penn’s Global Research & Internship Program? Join us for a GRIP info session to learn more about internship and research placements, the application timeline, and GRIP funding awards! To learn more about GRIP, including application process, eligibility requirement, and funding award information, please visit: https://global.upenn.edu/pennabroad/grip To browse GRIP 2026 placements, please visit…

  • Event

GRIP 2026: In-person Information Session 1

Interested in Penn’s Global Research & Internship Program? Join us for a GRIP info session to learn more about internship and research placements, the application timeline, and GRIP funding awards!