Celebrating Research Week
April 10-17, 2026
Overview
Celebrating Research Week (CRW) is series of University-wide events in which University of Rochester students at all levels and in all areas of study are invited to present their investigative and creative work. CRW 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. Registration for 2026 CRW events is now open.
Poster Expo—Friday, April 10, 2026
Feldman Ballroom, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
The Poster Presentation Expo 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. (Followed by a brief awards ceremony).
Lightning Talks—Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Feldman Ballroom, 5-7 p.m.
Students may apply to present a Lightning Talk on their research: one slide, three minutes. This quick, fun, and friendly competition offers an overview of student research in a wide variety of disciplines.
Symposium—Friday, April 17, 2026
RRL Hawkins-Carlson Room, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
The Speakers Symposium consists of four sessions, each representing a distinct disciplinary section of the University: natural sciences, engineering and mathematics, humanities, and social sciences. There are six presentations during each ninety-minute session.
- 10-11:30: Natural Sciences
- Noon-1:30: Engineering and Math
- 2-3:30: Humanities
- 4-5:30: Social Sciences
How to Get Involved
Students who have engaged in research and who are interested in participating in CRW must submit an application form by March 15, 2026.
Sponsoring faculty recommendation letters, Lightning Talk submissions, and/or faculty approval due on March 20, 2026.
More Information
Jump to information about poster design, writing about research, and poster printing, as well as student presenters and past winners:
- Application procedure for students
- Printing resources
- Writing resources
- Poster design and presentation
- Student presenters and past winners
Application Procedure for Students
Students interested in presenting at the Celebrating Research Week events 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.
The Poster Expo application requires:
- a presentation title and abstract, due March 15
- faculty approval, due March 20
The Lightning Talk application requires:
- a presentation title and abstract, due March 15
- a brief video introduction and headshot, due March 20
- a slide, due March 20
- faculty approval, due March 20
The Symposium application requires:
- a presentation title and abstract, due March 15
- a 2-page research description (details below), due March 15
- a letter of support, due March 20
- 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.
- The symposium research 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.
- Symposium presentation applications require a letter of support from the sponsoring faculty. Poster applications and Lightning Talks 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
Whether or not you are involved in undergraduate research, we invite you to attend these events and see some of the exciting things your fellow students are doing.
Important Dates for Celebrating Research Week 2026
- March 15 - Student application deadline (The 2026 application is closed)
- March 20 – Mentor approval (posters), slide (lightning talk), and/or letter of support (symposia) deadline
- March 23 - Poster Expo applicants notified
- March 31 - Symposium/lightning talk applicants notified
- April 10 - Poster Expo, Feldman Ballroom
- April 15 - Lightning Talks, Feldman Ballroom
- April 17 - Symposium, RRL Hawkins-Carlson Room
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 by email at ann.robinson@rochester.edu. In all situations, a good faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide accommodations.
Printing Resources
Scroll down for writing and poster design and presentation tips.
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 University Mail, Copy, and 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 at 1510 Mt. Hope Ave. You can reach them at (585) 275-5208.
- Open from 7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
- ONLY cash, check, or UR account number are accepted as payments
Option #2: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Barnes Computing Center (BCC); provides large format printing to the general University community.
NOTE: The Barnes Computing Center is typically closed the week leading up to Expo. The last day to submit a poster for printing is Friday, March 27, 2026. Pickup by Friday, April 3.
- Refer to the BCC Poster Order System to submit a print job
- Bausch and Lomb Hall, Room 470
PLEASE ALLOW AMPLE LEAD TIMES FOR PRINTING of posters to be sure they are ready in advance of your presentation!
Writing Resources
See 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
Poster Design and Presentation
As you design your poster, please keep the following in mind:
- Your poster should be designed for a general audience;
- Your title should be jargon-free and easily understandable;
- Do not overload your poster with text (or images):
- The audience should be able to read your poster from a reasonable distance;
- There needs to be adequate white/negative space so the viewer is not overwhelmed;
- Avoid large blocks of text.
- See some of the tips provided by the River Campus Libraries and academicposter.org
- Remember that design matters!
- Consider adding a QR code for those viewers who are perhaps in the same or similar field and who would like more detail;
- Come up with at least two different spiels for different audiences (someone totally outside the field and someone who is in your field). You could also develop a third that falls somewhere in the middle. Consider an appointment with the WSAP Speaking Fellows;
- Aim to limit your main presentation to around 3 minutes or so, but have further details prepared for those who want to know more;
- Try to stick to a color scheme of 4–5 colors;
- Use accessible fonts and colors:
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.
Speaking fellows are undergraduates at UR trained to help their peers prepare for all kinds of public speaking events, including presentations, interviews, and even conversation practice. Speaking fellows can help at any stage of the process, from drafting to practicing to polishing. They can help speakers work through communication anxiety and can also give feedback on visual aids. If you are interested in working with a speaking fellow, you can make an appointment here or drop in during their open hours in the WSAP space in Rush Rhees Library.