HPS Graduate Student Research Day

Wednesday, April 2, 2025 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Registration Deadline: February 21

Posters MUST be ready for print by March 19.

Graduate education is the heart of every great university. Graduate students come to UNT to make creative contributions and research discoveries that advance human knowledge.

Graduate Student Research Day is a HPS-wide poster and presentation session that showcases and awards research by graduate students. The day aims to strengthen graduate students’ presentation and networking skills, as well as their ability to distill down and articulate their research concisely and effectively to a non-specialist audience.

How to Enter

Am I Eligible?
  • The competition is open to all currently registered and enrolled UNT Master’s and Doctoral graduate students in the College of Health & Public Service.
  • Students must be registered and enrolled during Spring 2025 and be in good academic standing in order to participate and to be eligible to receive any prize.
  • Students on an official leave of absence, or with lapsed status in Spring 2025 are not eligible to compete for prizes. Also, while previous prize winners are encouraged to participate, they are not eligible to win prizes again.
  • Presentations must be on research. Projects and business plans are not eligible.
  • Students must meet the guiding principles of the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance.
Why Should I Enter Student Research Day?
  • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Student Research Day will strengthen your presentation skills, as well as your ability to distill down and articulate your research concisely and effectively to a non-specialist audience. 
  • NETWORKING: Graduate Student Research Day provides an opportunity for you to directly meet and engage with valued UNT associates (faculty, alumni and administration). 
  • MARKETING OPPORTUNITY: Graduate Student Research Day showcases the excellence, importance and relevance of your research! 
  • SWAG & PRIZES!
How Do I Present at Student Research Day?
  • Register by February 21.
  • Posters are required. Information on how to print your poster, free of charge, will be provided when you sign up.

Poster Guidelines

The poster size is either 24 by 36 inches (landscape format) or 36 x 48 inches (portrait format).

 

Example of portrait style poster
Example of landscape style poster

 

Posters too wide for the display boards will be folded down to size. Students are encouraged to work with their advisors to assure the standard elements are included in the poster.

Poster presentations are visual representations of field studies or research projects. Attendees include incoming and continuing students, and faculty with varying degrees of interest and experience.

Posters will be printed for free in the HPS GIS lab. After you submit your application, you will receive a link to sign up for poster printing.

Poster Design Resources:

Presenting Your Poster

Students will be expected to stand next to their posters between 2 and 4 p.m. to answer questions about their research. Here are some tips on effectively communicating your research:

  • Remember that people viewing your poster, including the poster judges, may not work in your discipline. Try to make your work understandable to experts in other fields. 
  • Student Research Day is about effective COMMUNICATION– engaging your audience in one or two aspects of your research that excite you, that tell the best story to people outside of your field.
  • Think about what sets your research apart from what has already been done already. What makes your work unique and valuable to your field?
  • The images you use on your poster should complement or illustrate what you are communicating verbally. Make sure they are relevant to your message.
  • Do not fill your poster with so much content that the audience will be spending time trying to it all figure it out.
  • Stay away from acronyms unless they are well-known or you can quickly explain them. Same with jargon and complex terms. You will need to briefly define them.
  • Slow down and relax. Don’t speak too fast. Clarity and being comfortable with your content is key.
  • Practice presenting in front of your roommate, friends, or family members — people who are not greatly familiar with your topic/research. They are great sounding boards.
  • Have fun with this! Your work is valuable and YOU are the expert. You have a lot to teach the rest of us and we’re here to listen.

Judging

Judging panels for Graduate Student Research Day will be comprised of the HPS research committee. Judges will review posters prior to the ceremony and winners will be announced at the event.

Posters will be judged on the clarity and presentation, and the ability to provide context for a non-specialist audience to understand and appreciate their research.

Points will be awarded based on the following criteria:
  • Clarity
  • Organization
  • Visuals
  • Appropriateness
  • Intellectual Significance
 
 

Prizes

$750 will be awarded for the top Master's and top Ph.D. poster.
Please note - We are not able to give out cash prizes.  Instead, UNT prize monies may go towards the following: