Today we are highlighting one of our biggest events of the year: the Research Showcase. We held the sixth annual Research Showcase in April, and it was a great success!

This year was unique because it was the first year we included graduate students as well as undergraduate, and we loved seeing the breadth of research. The showcase took place over two days, and we featured a total of 21 posters.

Over the Summer, we will also be highlighting a few of the students’ work – so be sure to check back in to learn more about the projects they’re passionate about.

Step 1. Applying to the showcase

We release our application in February each year. This year we received a record number of applicants covering a wide array of topics. We were so excited to be able to feature this work. If you are interested in applying next year, keep an eye on our social media accounts for when we announce the deadline.

Step 2. Workshops

Prior to the showcase, participants attend 3 workshops facilitated by Dr. Tim Neufeldt. Additionally, each student had a dedicated mentor from within the faculty that they worked closely with. In these workshops, participants learned how to turn their paper into a poster, how to design the poster itself, and how to present their research succinctly to a general audience. They also got a chance to work with their peers.

Two graduate discuss their research with Dr. Tim Neufeldt and Dr. Ely Lyonblum in the Music Library.

Step 3. Making the poster

Over the three weeks of workshops, participants worked hard to create their posters. It is no easy feat to condense what is often a 2000–3000-word paper (or longer) into 600-800 words. There are a lot of design choices that also must be made so that their posters match their content. You can view all the completed posters on our website.

Step 4. The showcase

Finally, we came to the days of the showcases. We had two separate days for this, one for graduate students and one for undergraduates. Lasting an hour each, the events were kicked off by the Associate Dean of Research, Dr. Nasim Niknafs. Participants then had the opportunity to interact with other students, faculty, and members of the community to talk about their posters. We had an amazing turnout on both days, despite some wet weather.

aerial view of graduate showcase in EJB lobby

Aerial shot of the 2024 Graduate Showcase.

view of undergraduate poster showcase in EJB lobby

2024 Undergraduate Showcase

Step 5. Wrap up

Overall, this year’s showcase was an incredible success! A huge thank you to all our participants for taking part! We are looking forward to seeing how the event evolves in the coming years.

Group photograph of graduate showcase participants.

Group photo of undergraduate participants

Group photograph of undergraduate showcase participants.

By Sabine O'Donnell, TALint Student, Music Library

Showcasing the Showcase