Reinventing Invention.
Penn Engineering forges powerful collaborations across the University of Pennsylvania and beyond to push boundaries, transform ideas into action and make a meaningful difference in our world through bold, innovative thinking. In uniting engineering expertise with insights from medicine, business, design and more, Penn Engineering tackles complex challenges to bring research to life — turning path-breaking ideas into real-world impact for everyone.
The work of our researchers touches everyday lives in ways you might not even realize: wearable medical tech that monitors health in real time, aerial robots that support disaster relief, and ethical AI that protects your data. Penn Engineers are redesigning traffic systems to reduce congestion and pollution; in hospitals, they are helping doctors deliver personalized treatments through health technology advances. Penn Engineering is driving advancements that make society safer, healthier and more connected. This kind of innovation matters: it defines the future for all of us.
We face urgent challenges in climate change, public health and disruptive technologies. Penn Engineering teaches students to turn challenges into opportunities by producing graduates who can think critically, act ethically and innovate boldly. With access to world-class faculty, advanced labs and a collaborative campus, students dive into hands-on, interdisciplinary learning from day one. Penn Engineering graduates don’t just fill jobs — they shape the technologies, systems and policies that will determine our shared future.
Penn Engineering is committed to making STEM education accessible to students from all backgrounds. This commitment matters because when determined, creative minds gain access to top-tier engineering educational opportunities, the ripple effects benefit us all. By supporting outreach and access, Penn Engineering is opening doors for more voices to have a seat at the table of innovation, producing solutions that are smarter, stronger and more impactful.
Penn Engineering is producing the groundbreaking innovations that will shape our world. From health technologies to sustainable solutions, the stories below highlight how Penn Engineers are solving global challenges and improving lives, demonstrating the transformative power of interdisciplinary research.
Undergraduates participate in research
Active patents stemming from faculty innovations
Interdisciplinary research centers and labs
In the 1940s, Penn Engineers changed the world with ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer. This breakthrough launched the digital age and set the tone for decades of transformative, world-wide innovation.
Penn Engineering’s GRASP Lab pioneered aerial vehicle swarming technology, enabling small drones to fly in coordinated groups for purposes such as search-and-rescue and disaster relief.
Penn Engineering has developed flexible sensors and smart textiles that can monitor vital signs in real time, paving the way for wearable health tech like medical monitors and fitness trackers.
Meta’s Chief AI Scientist and Turing Award winner, Yann LeCun, joined Dean Vijay Kumar on Penn Engineering's "Innovation and Impact" podcast to discuss the evolution of AI, how we define intelligence, and the possibilities and challenges it presents.
Learn MoreFocused on the relationship between AI and human well-being, AI Month 2025 gave members of the Penn community — and the broader AI world — a chance to see how Penn Engineering is helping shape the future of this rapidly evolving field.
Learn MoreIn collaboration with others, Penn Engineering researchers have developed 3D-printed materials that change color when stretched, caused by the material’s ability to manipulate light.
Learn More
From May 15 to May 17, Penn Engineering will host Commencement ceremonies in celebration of the 2025 Penn Engineering graduates. Details for each ceremony can be found at the link below, including guest speakers and start times. On Monday, May 19, the School will host an Open House immediately following University Commencement to welcome graduates and their guests to the Penn Engineering campus.
We encourage our graduates and their families to use the hashtag #PennEngineeringProud on Instagram and Twitter so that we can include participants’ photos and messages in our celebrations.
Life at Penn is designed to be collaborative. Our community connects brilliant minds to fuel imaginative ideas. Here’s how we do it.
With six academic departments and over 25 programs, students have a variety of novel academic options to explore their interests and ideas.
Follow along to see what an average day for our students looks like.
There’s more to college than the classroom. Stay up to date on campus organizations, events and opportunities to get involved.
Shafag Idris
Master of Science in Engineering, EE'15
The value of a Penn Engineering degree starts the moment our students enter the classroom and continues on for years to come. Our engineering students are primed for success from day one through our active alumni networks, access to top-performing companies and dedicated faculty mentors.
undergraduate student-faculty ratio
Tenure-track Faculty
of students receive a job offer before graduation
