Navigating the Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium: A Comprehensive Guide

The Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS) is a cornerstone event celebrating undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activities across various disciplines. This guide provides comprehensive information for students planning to participate in such a symposium, drawing upon examples and guidelines from various universities.

Introduction to Undergraduate Research Symposiums

Undergraduate Research Symposiums provide a platform for students to showcase their work, engage with the academic community, and develop essential presentation skills. These events highlight the innovative and engaged nature of undergraduates and demonstrate an institutional commitment to supporting and expanding research opportunities.

Key Components of a Successful Symposium

Event Format and Schedule

Symposiums typically include a variety of presentation formats, such as oral presentations, poster sessions, creative performances, and exhibits. For instance, the signature event of Undergraduate Research Week, the Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS) has been held on the University of Illinois (U of I) campus since 2008. Over the course of the day, students present their work in concurrent oral and poster presentations (including creative performances), the breadth and scope of which reflect not only the wide range of academic disciplines at the University of Illinois, but also speak to the caliber of our undergraduates. All Symposium presentations take place on Thursday, April 30, 2026. Poster sessions and exhibits are an 1 hour and 15 minutes long. Oral panel sessions are an hour long with individual presentations being 12 minutes long (with an additional 3 minutes for question/answer). Performance and Creative Showcase panels are also an hour long with individual presentations being 12 or 24 minutes long (with an additional 3 minutes for question/answer). Each panel will consist of up to 3 presentations. Students are expected to be present for the full duration of their session or panel.

Oral Presentations: Typically involve delivering a structured talk in front of a live audience. For example, at UC Irvine, students present their project in a 7-minute structured talk. Oral panel sessions are an hour long with individual presentations being 12 minutes long (with an additional 3 minutes for question/answer). Performance and Creative Showcase panels are also an hour long with individual presentations being 12 or 24 minutes long (with an additional 3 minutes for question/answer). Each panel will consist of up to 3 presentations.
Poster Sessions: Often involve communicating a project through a visual display complemented by a brief pitch. At UC Irvine, students might communicate their project through an engaging 3-minute pitch complemented by a poster.
Creative Performances: Showcase artistic works, such as compositions, poems, or paintings, often accompanied by an artist's talk. Present your creative work in a pre-recorded 10-minute artist's talk or performance. You will create a 10-minute presentation and voiceover for your presentation explaining your work.
Exhibits: Display research findings or creative projects in a visual format.

Eligibility Criteria

Generally, all current undergraduate students are eligible to present at the URS, including students who graduated December 2025.

Important Dates and Deadlines

Presenter Registration Deadline: Wednesday, April 1st
Presentation Submission Deadline: Wednesday, April 15th
Symposium Date: All Symposium presentations take place on Thursday, April 30, 2026. Scheduled for May 11-15, 2026, this annual celebration welcomes all UCI undergraduate students who have participated in a UCI faculty-mentored research or creative activity within the last year to share their projects.

Registration Process

If you are interested in being a presenter at the 2026 Symposium, you must complete two parts of the Symposium registration process. Each part requires you to submit specific materials and information. In the application, presenters will indicate their availability for five time periods over the course of the Symposium. They will then be assigned to a poster, oral, exhibit, or performance panel session based upon availability and presentation category (see Application Requirements below). Once a session is full, you will not be able to select that session.

Abstract Submission

Your abstract should provide a brief summary of your project. In 250 words or less, we want to know what you did, why you did it, how you did it, and what you found/made/discovered. Please consult with your faculty mentor to be sure your project title and abstract are appropriate, as they cannot be changed. View tips from the Writing Center on writing abstracts.

Presentation Guidelines

Oral Presentations: Participants deliver a 10-minute oral presentation. The first presenter should share their screen and show an opening slide, or the presentation title slide. If you are using presentation software, like PowerPoint, Prezi, Canva, or OneNote: Start your presentation at the assigned time and go into "presenter" mode to make your slides easier to read for the audience. If you are not using presentation software, we strongly encourage you to turn on your camera, so attendees have someone to look at. When you are finished giving your presentation, ask the audience if they have any questions. attendees informally if no one has to immediately leave.
Poster Presentations: For the in-person event, student presenters should create and print a research poster to present their research. Students should talk to their faculty mentor if they have questions about how to prepare their poster and what should be included for their specific field. Within each session, odd numbers will go first, then even numbers second. However, you are welcome to stand by your board whenever you'd like during your session (regardless of your number). We ask that you stay for your entire session time.
ACE Talks: These talks should be accessible, creative, and engaging. Avoid jargon and make sure to touch on what makes your research exciting. Your video should give us a preview of how you will make your project accessible, creative, and engaging to a general audience. Be our guide in understanding your research.

Expectations for Presenters

Students are expected to be present for the full duration of their session or panel. Presenter Check-InStudent presenters are expected to check-in at the registration table outside the Great Hall during the 30-minute check-in period before their session. At check-in, students will get a name tag and assigned poster spot to hang their poster. Pins to hang the poster will be provided.

Awards and Recognition

Outstanding Presentation Awards

The award amounts are listed below.

One Presenter: $50 award
Up to 5 Group Presenters: Split $50 award
6+ Group Presenters: $10 awarded per group member

ACE Talk Awards

Each student selected to give an ACE Talk will receive a $500 scholarship award. All ACE Talk presenters will receive a $500 scholarship.

Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research

First place winners from both oral and poster presentations in each theme who attend the Closing Ceremony on May 15 from 3:30 to 4:15 PM will receive the Chancellor’s Award, a $100 Amazon gift card, and a medal to recognize their achievements!

Read also: UCLA Spring Break: What to Expect

Preparing an Effective Presentation

Abstract Writing

Consult with your faculty mentor to be sure your project title and abstract are appropriate, as they cannot be changed.

Presentation Skills

Join us to learn what makes a presentation effective.

Content and Structure

Quality of project: the research itself is rigorous and of high quality. The project is far enough along to have initial results or conclusions.
Expertise: student understands their research and its significance to the larger academic conversation & communicates the complexities of their project to others.
Accessibility: avoids jargon and explains their research clearly to an intelligent but non-specialist audience.
Verbal communication skills: speaks at a comfortable pace. Words are pronounced correctly and clearly.
Engagement: makes the audience interested in the topic and want to know more.

Visual Aids

You may use any camera you have available, including a webcam. We are most concerned about the quality of your research project and the approach you take to explain your work, not your video camera quality.

Dress Code

While there is no required dress code, student presenters are encouraged to dress in professional attire.

Additional Opportunities

Special Area Competitions

In addition to showcasing research in the symposium, students also have the option to enter their projects into Special Area Competitions hosted by various departments and colleges across campus. Presenters who wish to be considered to compete in a Special Area Competition should designate that in their abstract submission form. After the abstract submission deadline, students selected for competitions will be notified of the separate rules and procedures by the hosting department or college.

Read also: UCLA Calendar

Judging Opportunities

The Undergraduate Research Symposium will have an online component, and we are looking for volunteers to serve as judges! Judges will evaluate students' online presentations the week of the event and submit a rubric with written feedback for each student. We encourage graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty from different disciplines at KU to volunteer to serve as a judge. No prior judging experience is required, and we will provide guidelines and rubrics.

Encouragement for Participation

Another important skill to develop as a researcher is learning how to explain your work to a general audience in clear language. Therefore, we invite all students presenting their work to apply to give an ACE Talk.

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