Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference: A Hub for Innovation and Collaboration

The Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference (GURC) serves as a vital platform for undergraduate students in Georgia and the surrounding region to showcase their research, creative works, and scholarly endeavors. This multidisciplinary conference fosters a collaborative environment where students can connect with peers, faculty, and professionals, gaining valuable experience and insights that propel their academic and professional journeys.

Overview of GURC

The Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference (GURC) is a regional, multidisciplinary conference for Georgia’s undergraduates. GURC strives to be the premiere Southeastern regional undergraduate research and creative conference. This conference is hosted once a year to promote original student scholarships conducted with faculty and staff mentors. It also provides networking opportunities to assist undergraduates with career and graduate school opportunities. GURC is hosted every fall by a member of the Georgia Undergraduate Research Collective, an organization dedicated to promoting high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship across the state of Georgia and the surrounding region.

GURC welcomes all fields of research and creative activities.

GURC 2025: A Resounding Success at Oxford College

Oxford College of Emory University hosted the 14th Annual Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference (GURC) on November 7-8, 2025. Over the course of a weekend packed with energy and collaboration, attendees learned about the exciting research being conducted throughout the state. Although all undergraduates needed to be enrolled in a Georgia college or university, statewide submissions were welcomed beyond the 22 GURC member institutions.

Leadership and Organization

Daniel Walter, Associate Professor of German and Linguistics at Oxford, served again as the board's president. Walter attended his first GURC in 2019 and has served on the GURC board for the past six years.

Walter also credits the exceptional Oxford GURC Organizing Committee for a successful conference, thanks to the team’s unwavering dedication and commitment. The Oxford 2025 GURC Organizing Committee consisted of: Alejandro Abarca, Assistant Teaching Professor of Dance; Natalia Bayona Vásquez, Assistant Professor of Biology; Christopher Blake, Assistant Professor of Economics; Paige Crowl, Head of Library Teaching; Scott Foster, Director of Information Technology; Nicole Ingram, Director of Events and Conference; and Emily McLean, Assistant Professor of Biology.

Committee member Bayona Vásquez said, “In a time when artificial intelligence fosters a passive approach to obtaining information, creating and investing in spaces that enhance critical and creative thinking, active communication, and discussion should be a priority. GURC was a wonderful demonstration of how young minds can and do engage in intellectual and artistic exchange, showcasing the potential in our state for advancing knowledge and the humanities.”

Attendance and Participation

Exactly 400 people attended the two-day event, including 303 students and 97 non-students. About half of the non-local attendees stayed in the town of Oxford, especially those traveling from farther away, such as Valdosta. Forty-six students and non-students attended as friends and family, lending their encouraging support to all presenters, particularly the 128 student researchers presenting for the first time. Walter noted that the Oxford supportive mentor/mentee-based, hands-on approach to undergraduate research develops confidence, as evidenced by the 23 first-authors from Emory, plus additional co-authors. Thirteen of those were either current or former Oxford students.

Conference Highlights

Registration opened on Friday afternoon, followed by two pre-conference workshops held concurrently. The student workshop was led by Dr. Ayanna Faith Young and Adelaide Richardson and covered the theme: “Get to the Point: How to Describe Your Work in Your Resume in a Way That Hits.” Richardson is the director, and Young is the assistant director of Career and Professional Services at Oxford College. Meanwhile, Dr. LaTonia Taliaferro-Smith led the exciting mentor and faculty workshop “From Curiosity to Discovery: Engaging First- and Second-Year Undergraduate Students in Research.” Following her workshop, she gave the conference’s opening address. Afterwards, the doors of the Oxford Student Center opened to the vibrant Evening Mixer, while the Executive Board of the GURC gathered for their business meeting. In total, 195 people attended Friday programming, and all of those stayed to socialize at the evening mixer.

The second day began bright and early on Saturday with breakfast, followed by the morning welcome address at the Oxford Student Center, led by Rev. Brent Huckaby, Oxford College Chaplain, Oxford College Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. Three, hour-long paper presentation sessions occurred before noon, followed by one session after lunch. Students were given 15 minutes to present their papers, followed by five minutes for questions. Over 20 Oxford student volunteers helped ensure the 120 paper presentations ran smoothly.

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After lunch, the keynote address was given by Nichole Fazio, DPhil, Senior Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, Emory College Office for Undergraduate Education. The Poster Presentation and Graduate Program Fair followed the keynote in Williams Hall/Gymnasium. Alison Wen, 25Ox27C, was one of the 101 presenters.

Positive Feedback and Impact

Walter and his team received great feedback about GURC 2025. One of the professors from Oglethorpe shared that her students had the best time networking at Oxford and seeing what other students were researching. Of the 84 participants who answered the first exit survey question about their impressions of GURC, all responded positively, with 44 rating it excellent.

Walter pointed out, “Most of these students have not had a chance to engage in an academic-type conference before. It’s a great learning opportunity to see what it’s like to present to an audience and to explain their work in a much more comfortable environment. Then, hopefully, they will have the confidence to go and take their projects to bigger, more focused conferences.”

Opportunities for Students at GURC

Students may submit four types of presentations for consideration at GURC. Students presenting at oral, performance, or visual arts presentations should be present in their presentation space at least 10 minutes prior to their session to upload any digital content onto the presentation computer desktop.

Oral Presentations

Open to all disciplines. 8-10 minutes in length with an additional 3-5 minutes allocated for audience comments or questions. Audience may be comprised of attendees within and outside of your discipline as GURC is multi-disciplinary. Note that all computers in our presentation rooms are PCs- please prepare file types accordingly and bring them on your OneDrive AND a USB drive Arrive 10 minutes early to your scheduled session to set up your presentation. When you arrive, please introduce yourself to the panel moderator.

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Poster Sessions

Open to all disciplines. Poster session will be about 1 hour in length. Students MUST be present throughout the entirety of the session to discuss their research and answer questions. Posters may be landscape or portrait but must not exceed 48” x 36” or 36” x 48” Plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early to your scheduled session to set up your poster. A more specific timeline will be available once the final schedule is released. Students are responsible for putting up and taking down their own poster.

Performance Presentations

Open to drama, dance, music, or any other kind of live performance. Performance presentations should be no more than 12-15 minutes long, with 3-5 minutes available for questions and comments from the audience. Students may also wish to include an artist's statement within their time of allotment. Students submitting a performance presentation should include information about the space needed for their presentation. Students will be expected to provide any equipment or props needed for their performance.

Visual Presentations

Open to film (no more than 15 minutes long), photography, artwork, or other creations Students are encouraged to prepare a one-page artist statement for presentation. Students submitting a visual presentation should include information about equipment or space needed.

Participating Institutions

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Augusta University
Clark Atlanta University
Clayton State University
Columbus State University
Dalton State College
Emory University/Oxford College
Fort Valley State University
Georgia College & State University
Georgia Gwinnett College
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia State University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southwestern University
Kennesaw State University
Mercer University
Morehouse School of Medicine
Oglethorpe University
Savannah State University
University of Georgia
University of North Georgia
University of West Georgia
Valdosta State University*Students do not have to attend a member institution in order to submit or present at the GURC.

GURC 2026: Georgia College & State University

GURC 2026 will be hosted by Georgia College & State University (GCSU) in Milledgeville, GA. Join us on November 6-7, 2026, for this 15th annual conference to present your research and creative works and to support and learn more about the work of other undergraduate students in the region.

Day-of Guidelines for GURC 2026

Students will arrive at the conference with ample time to retrieve their name badge and lunch ticket from the registration desk. Name badges must be worn at all times during the conference. Ensure you bring your accepted physical presentation materials (poster, product, etc.) and/or upload your digital presentation to BOTH your OneDrive and a USB Drive. GCSU Students are expected to utilize the GCSU presentation and poster templates in order to represent GCSU at GURC. Be dressed in proper business casual or business professional attire. Arrive to your presentation session at least 10 minutes early in order to set up your presentation materials. Be well-prepared and well-practiced for your presentation.

The Broader Impact of Undergraduate Research

Attendees were also encouraged to submit their research to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), the largest venue for showcasing undergraduate research across 50+ disciplines, fostering career readiness, and celebrating innovation. For students looking to publish their research, “The Undergraduate Research Journal” was suggested.

Additionally, for students looking to engage soon with influential community leaders and share their research on a public stage, the Georgia Undergraduate Research Collective will present a Posters at the Capitol event on February 17, 2026, in the James H. “Sloppy” Floyd Building, immediately northeast of the Georgia State Capitol.

Oglethorpe University students recently demonstrated their scholarly drive and their growing professional skills through two major research presentation opportunities: the Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference (GURC) and Posters at the Georgia State Capitol. These events offered students the chance not only to share their work publicly, but also to practice the essential skill of communicating complex ideas and make valuable connections with students and faculty from other institutions.

Across both events, Oglethorpe students practiced the professional art of translating research into compelling, accessible communication.

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