Celebrating Research Week

CLICK HERE to see the 2024 Research Expo Award Winners

THE VIRTUAL POSTER PLATFORM IS OPEN FOR VIEWING!  

Overview

The Undergraduate Research Exposition is a University-wide event in which University of Rochester students at all levels and in all areas of study are invited to present their investigative and creative work. The Expo reflects the passion for learning that enlivens the University, professors and students alike, and that finds expression in varied forms, in every area of study.

Speakers Symposium

Symposium sessions will be held on Friday, April 5 in the Hawkins Carlson Room of Rush Rhees Library. Sessions will run from 10:00am to 5:30pm.

  • 10:00-11:30 - Natural Sciences
    • Derek ChienSymposium Speakers
    • Katherine Kaiser
    • Sarah Mehta
    • Miraz Sadi
    • Ashley Updike
    • Natasha Vacca
  • 12:00-1:30 - Engineering & Math
    • Zichen Bai
    • Loralai Crawford
    • Alexander Martin
    • Sicheng (JD) Qian
    • Stephanie Wang
  • 2:00-3:30 - Humanities
    • Kirsten Bell
    • Kendal Jordan
    • Glory Linebach
    • Clarice Speight McKee
    • Lizmairi Vargas Santa
  • 4:00-5:30 - Social Sciences
    • Garrett Briggs
    • Dariel Guerra
    • Geneva Hinkson
    • Robert Ke,YIchen Li, Muchen Zhong, Yuka Shimakazi
    • Trisha Mondal
    • Ben Noe, Keitaro Ogawa, Oskar Lelko

The Speakers Symposium will consist of four sessions, each representing a distinct disciplinary section of the University: humanities, engineering and mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences. There are six presentations during each session; each speaker will give a 10-minute presentation with 5 minutes of Q & A immediately following.

New! Research Lightning Talks

Wednesday, April 10, 4:30–6:30pm, Feldman Ballroom

Students may also apply to present a Lightning Talk on their research. Presentations should be geared toward a lay audience. This competition will help hone research communication skills.

Rules:

  • Presentations may be no longer than 3:00 minutes. A timer will be used, and presenters will get 1:00 minute, :30 second, and :15 second warnings.
  • Only a single, static slide is permitted. No slide transitions or animations of any kind are allowed.
  • No additional props are allowed.
  • Presentations begin once the presenter starts talking.

A maximum of twenty students will be selected to give lightning talks. Judges will award a first prize, and audience members will select a “Viewers’ Choice” award. Each award will be a $100 Amazon gift card.

While our competition is not a formal 3MT competition, students may find it helpful to view some of the resources that the University of Queensland provides:

  • Tips on developing your slide
  • Tips on putting together your presentation
  • Videos of past finalists from 3MT competitions

Poster Presentation

THE VIRTUAL POSTER PLATFORM IS OPEN FOR VIEWING!  

The Poster Fair will take place in the Feldman Ballroom in Douglass Commons from 1:30–3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 12.

The Poster Presentation Fair serves as a place for all undergraduate students who have conducted research in the last year to present their findings to the University community and beyond. See Printing Resourses for details and poster specifications.

Awards Ceremony

The following Expo Awards will be presented immediately following the Poster Fair:

  • President's Award: Awarded to the top oral presentation from each of the four disciplinary areas of the Speakers Symposium
  • Deans' Award: Awarded to the second-place oral presentation from each of the four disciplinary areas of the Speakers Symposium
  • Professors' Choice Award: Awarded to four students participating in the Poster Fair, one from each of the four disciplinary areas

In addition, the Students' Association will present their Professor of the Year Awards.

How to Get Involved

Students who have engaged in research and who are interested in participating in the Expo are requested to fill out an application form by the March 18 deadline. We will accept recommendations until four days after the student deadline. See "Important Dates" below.

Whether or not you are involved in undergraduate research, we invite you to attend the Exposition and see some of the exciting things your fellow students are doing.

Application Procedure for Students

Students interested in participating in the poster fair and/or speakers symposium should fill out an application form. Your supervisor need not be a Rochester faculty member; letters in support of your presentation may be written by your mentor/P.I. regardless of location, institution, or affiliation.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • It is NOT necessary that the research was conducted at Rochester.
  • All current University of Rochester undergraduates may submit an application.
  • Only one application per project is necessary.
  • If submitting a co-presented project, please designate one student as communications liaison to complete the application. Add a "co-presenters: Full Name, major(s), and class year" line to the top of your abstract.
  • All applicants must submit an abstract.
  • Those who wish to apply for an oral presentation will also need to submit a 2-page description: PDF only, maximum of 2 single-spaced pages (excluding diagrams/charts/images), detailing project background, techniques and methods, and pertinent results. Describe the expected project status in April if the project is currently incomplete.
  • Oral presentation applications require a letter of support from the sponsoring faculty. Poster applications require sponsoring faculty approval. The appropriate request will be sent to the applicant's sponsoring faculty upon submission of the application.

Judges reviewing the applications will be looking for the following:

  • Quality of research
  • Student's command of the subject
  • Topic interest to a broad audience

apply now button

The Expo 2024 application is now closed; Expo 2025 applications will open in January 2025.

Important Dates for Expo 2024

  • January 18 – Expo application opens
  • March 20 – Student applications due by 11:59 pm
  • March 22 – Recommendations due by 11:59 pm
  • April 5 – Undergraduate Research Exposition: Oral Presentations
  • April 10 – Undergraduate Research Exposition: Lightning Talks
  • April 12 – Undergraduate Research Exposition: Poster Presentation Fair

The University of Rochester is committed to providing inclusive experiences and equal access to programs and services. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, please contact Ann Robinson (ann.robinson@rochester.edu). In all situations, a good faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide accommodations.

Keep scrolling for information about poster design, writing about research, and poster printing!

Printing Resources

Presenters are responsible for printing their own posters. Ask your research mentor about helping with the costs of printing. Poster size is 36"h x 48"w (landscape orientation). In "page setup," resize to 36"h x 48" wide, then "save as" PDF. The Office of Undergraduate Research will provide poster backings and clips for you to hang your poster; you need only bring your poster with you at set-up.

Option #1: The URMC's Xerox Print Services are available for printing of student posters; there are also many online printing services that you may use.

  • Matte and glossy poster paper is available
  • Choose "wide format"
  • Must be .pdf
  • Turnaround times are 3 business days depending on drying time.
  • Located in G-7230. You can reach them at 585-275-3879
  • Open from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday
  • ONLY cash, check, or UR account number are accepted as payments

Option #2:  Department of Physics & Astonomy, Barnes Computing Center (BCC); provides large format printing to the general University community.

PLEASE NOTE: THE BCC WILL BE CLOSED APRIL 8th-12th (THE WEEK LEADING UP TO THE POSTER EXPO).

PLEASE ALLOW AMPLE LEAD TIMES FOR PRINTING of posters to be sure they are ready in advance of your presentation!

Writing Resources

Below is a link with writing tips and examples from PLOS (Public Library of Science), a non-profit, Open Access publisher. Topics covered include:

  • How to Write a Great Title
  • How to Write an Abstract
  • How to Write Your Methods
  • How to Report Statistics
  • How to Write Discussions and Conclusions
  • How to Edit Your Work

https://plos.org/resources/writing-center/

Poster Design

As you design your poster, please keep the following in mind:

Think of the poster session as an actual (albeit short) presentation of your work. The poster functions as a billboard to draw people in, and then you talk to the viewers and provide them with additional details about your research. Remember that design matters!