The URF will be held Monday, April 21, 2025 at the UIC Dorin Forum
This important campus-wide event, led by the Office of Academic Programs, Student Success, and Effectiveness, the Office of the Provost, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, the Honors College, the University Library, and the UIC Alumni Association, showcases undergraduate student research covering a broad range of scholarship across a variety of disciplines. This year, the Undergraduate Research Forum will be featured as part of UIC Research Week, an annual series of events to celebrate and share the exceptional efforts of our faculty, staff, students and research trainees. We look forward to your participation in this week-long celebration of UIC’s research community.
If you are an undergraduate student who is involved in research or creative inquiry projects on campus under the direction of a UIC faculty member or other project supervisor, please consider attending the Undergraduate Research Forum to present your work. Registration for student presenters will open Monday, February 10, 2025 and close Wednesday, April 2, 2025:
- If registering for a group: Groups are limited to a maximum of 4 undergraduate team members. One team member should submit a single registration for all students in the group.
- All student presenters are required to submit their abstract (300 words or less) as a Microsoft Word document, containing the Project Title at the time of registration. Abstracts should also be submitted by pasting the text into this form.
UIC Undergraduate student presenters registration link: https://go.uic.edu/URF25Student
Faculty, staff, postdoc researchers and graduate students: Please consider volunteering your time and expertise to serve as a judge for the event. Judges play a crucial role in the success of the event, and the student presenters and event organizers are grateful for the service you provide. Registration for judges will open Monday, February 10, 2025 and close Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
Faculty, staff, postdoc researchers and graduate student judges registration link: https://go.uic.edu/URF25Judge
See below for additional information pertaining to the event, including registration links, resources to help students prepare their research abstracts, presentations, and posters. If you have additional questions, email us at our@uic.edu.
Undergraduate Research Forum 2024 Recap
Deadlines & Resources
Important Deadlines
Student Registration & Abstract Submission Period: Monday, February 10, 2025 –Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
- If registering for a group: Groups are limited to a maximum of 4 undergraduate team members. One team member should submit a single registration for all students in the group. Only undergraduate students should be listed as part of the project.
- All student presenters are required to submit their abstract (300 words or less) as a Microsoft Word document, containing the Project Title at the time of registration. Abstracts should also be submitted by pasting the text into this form.
To register to present at URF, please follow this link: https://go.uic.edu/URF25Student
UIC Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Student Judge Sign-Up: Monday, February 10, 2025 –Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
To register to serve as a judge at URF, please follow this link: https://go.uic.edu/URF25Judge
What to Expect at the Undergraduate Research Forum
What: UIC Undergraduate Research Forum 2025
Where: UIC Dorin Forum – 725 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL 60607
When: Monday, April 21, 2025
Metal Detector Check: All attendees will be required to undergo a metal detector check upon entry. Persons entering metal detectors will be required to remove their phone, keys, coins, wallet, etc. from their pockets. Please familiarize yourself with the details of the Dorin Forum metal detector security check policy prior to arrival.
Bag Policy: Student presenters will be permitted to bring backpacks into the Forum. Otherwise, bags and large purses are restricted according to the Dorin Forum bag policy. Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the policy for bags, purses, and backpacks prior to arrival.
For Student Presenters
10:30 am | Student Presenter Check-In Begins
- Arrive as close to 10:30am as you are able to in order to get set up in your presentation location.
- At check-in you will need to present:
- Your I-Card
- At check-in you will receive:
- Your presentation location & presentation ID number
- Map of the space
- Schedule for the day
- Wi-Fi access card
- A sign to post at your presentation location should you need to step away for a few minutes
12:00 pm | Student Presentations & Judging Begin
- During this time, over the course of two-and-a-half hours, you will have the opportunity to give your 7 minute presentation to various UIC faculty, staff, and alumni judges as well as other students, faculty, staff and guests as they make their way through the space.
- Each presentation will be assigned several judges who will visit during the judging period to listen to your presentation, view your poster/visual, and ask some questions about your project.
- Be prepared to speak to a wide audience and answer questions!
2:30 pm | Student Presentations & Judging Ends
- Student presentations will end, and judges will have some time to submit their final scores.
- Use this short break to grab a drink of water, use the restroom, or even stop by another student’s presentation (time allowing).
2:45 pm | Keynote Address & Awards Ceremony
- Come together with your peers and other attendees in the main hall for a keynote address and awards for top scoring presentations in the following categories:
- Life Sciences
- Arts, Design & Humanities
- Social Sciences
- Business, Computer Science, and Mathematics
- Engineering and the Physical Sciences
- Honors Capstone Innovation Award
4:00 pm | The event concludes
For UIC & Alumni Judges
11:00 am | Judge Check-In Begins
- Upon arrival, you will need to present:
- Your I-Card
- At check-in, you will receive a judging folder that will include:
- Paper scorecards for notetaking and instructions for digitally submitting your scores
- A copy of the project abstracts for each presentation assigned to you for judging
- A map of the space
- Wi-Fi access card
- Judging Tips and Sample Questions
- Schedule for the Day
- After check-in, you will be invited to the Judges Rooms for a brief welcome and orientation before judging begins at 12pm. You will be able to use this same location at any point during the judging period to take a break and/or to submit your scores.
12:00 pm | Student Presentations & Judging Begins
- During this time, over the course of two-and-a-half hours, you will have the opportunity to review your assigned student presentations and possibly to view additional presentations at your own pace.
- Using the map provided and the presentation ID numbers assigned to each presentation, you will be able to locate your assigned presentations for judging.
- Each presentation should last approximately 7 minutes with time thereafter for a chance for you to ask questions of the student(s) to learn more about their work.
- During these presentations you can use the provided paper scorecards to take notes and to reference when you submit your final scores later.
- Presentations should be tailored for a general academic audience and therefore it is expected that you may be assigned one or more presentations in an area outside of your field.
- After you have reviewed all of your assigned presentations, feel free to view others and connect with other faculty, staff, alumni and students in attendance, but be sure to submit your final scores no later than 2:45pm. You can use the link provided on the paper scorecards to access the electronic scorecard.
- We invite you to return to the Judges Room at this time so you can submit your scores in a quiet setting. There will be plenty of chairs and tables in the Judges Room.
2:30 pm | Student Presentations & Judging Ends
- Student presentations will end and judges will have several minutes to submit their final scores before the 2:45pm deadline if they have not already done so.
- Use this short break to grab a drink of water, use the restroom, and/or submit your final scores.
2:45 pm | Keynote & Awards Ceremony & Score Submission Cutoff
- Score Submission Cutoff
- At this time, the digital scorecard will shut down and no additional scores will be received online.
- Keynote & Awards Ceremony
- Join us in the main hall for a keynote address and awards for top scoring presentations in the following categories:
- Life Sciences
- Arts, Design & Humanities
- Social Sciences
- Business, Computer Science, and Mathematics
- Engineering and the Physical Sciences
- Honors Capstone Innovation Award
- Join us in the main hall for a keynote address and awards for top scoring presentations in the following categories:
4:00 pm | The event concludes.
For General Guests
This event is open to UIC students, faculty, staff, and invited guests.
12:00 pm | Guest Admission & Student Presentations Begin
- Guest check-in
- After check-in, you will have two-and-a-half-hours to explore the forum and student presentations at your own pace.
2:30 pm | Student Presentations and Judging Ends
- Use this short break to grab a drink of water or use the restroom before the keynote address and awards ceremony begins at 2:45pm.
- Join us in the main hall for a keynote address and awards for top scoring presentations in the following categories:
- Life Sciences
- Arts, Design & Humanities
- Social Sciences
- Business, Computer Science, and Mathematics
- Engineering and the Physical Sciences
- Honors Capstone Innovation Award
4:00 pm | The event concludes.
Presentation Guidelines
- Presentations will take place from 12:00 to 2:30 p.m. in the UIC Dorin Forum on the day of the event (April 21, 2025).
- Posters will be mounted on fencing inside the main hall of the Forum. Each student will be assigned a designated space for their poster and presentation.
- Your presentation should be approximately 7 minutes in length and you should allow for approximately 3 minutes of Q&A immediately following your presentation with a judge and/or visitor(s).
- Presenters are encouraged to consult with their mentors about what to include in their research poster or other applicable visual aid.
- Presenters should be prepared to explain their poster and project to a non-specialist audience of students, faculty, and staff.
Learn more about crafting a stellar presentation with the Poster Design & Presentation Video Workshop presented by the UIC Honors College.
Abstract Guidelines & Submission
All students who register to present at the 2025 UIC Undergraduate Research Forum are required to submit a project abstract of 300 words or less as a Word document, no later than 11:59pm on Wednesday April 2, 2025. Updates will be listed on submission guidelines.
Abstract content will vary depending on the nature of the project, but the abstract should summarize the project in language that is understandable to a broad academic audience. The abstract submission must include the following:
- Project Title
- Abstract Author Name(s)- Only include undergraduate students
- Abstract Text (maximum of 300 words)
- An abstract typically includes a sentence or two that introduces the project/research; a statement related to the significance of the research; and a summary of the project’s methodology, results, and conclusion(s).
Learn more about abstracts with the Abstract Writing Video Workshop presented by the UIC Honors College.
General Poster Resources and Guideline
General Poster Creation Guidelines
- 48”x36” recommended, matte required (not glossy or fabric), in horizontal (landscape) format.
- General font size recommendations: Title=60pt, Author’s Name=48pt, Headers=36pt, Text=24-30pt. Helvetica or Arial fonts work well for legibility.
- Use simple fonts such as Arial or Times New Roman.
- Posters should be legible at 3 to 4 feet away and the project title should be legible from at least 6 feet away from the poster.
- There must be a minimum of a 3/4-inch border around the outside of the poster.
- Photos, graphics, illustrations, graphs, and tables add visual interest to posters.
- If using an image from another source, it must either be licensed, or you must have written permission granting you use of the image by the creator. High-quality images work best since low-resolution images don’t reproduce well.
- Avoid using dark backgrounds behind your body text; dark backgrounds can sometimes work well for presentations on computers (e.g., PowerPoint files), but they generally do not work well for printed text. Dark backgrounds behind titles on printed posters, on the other hand, may be acceptable since titles should be in bold font.
- Make sure that your formatting is consistent throughout the poster. For example, if you have an extra line break below one section title, make sure the same spacing is used below other section titles.
Learn more about crafting a poster with the Poster Design & Presentation Video Workshop presented by the UIC Honors College.
Poster Printing Instructions
[Note: The instructions in this section do not apply to Honors College students presenting a Capstone. If you are an Honors College student presenting a Capstone, please see the relevant section below.]
UIC students will be offered free poster printing from PosterNerd. Free standard shipping is included in the poster printing cost. The link and UIC student code for poster printing will be made available to students after they have registered for the research forum. Posters must be shipped either to a student’s personal residence or to the office of their faculty supervisor or their department, but only in cases where explicit permission to do so has been obtained.
The final deadline for poster printing orders via PosterNerd will be Monday, April 14, 2025.
Poster Printing for Honors College Students
All posters should be 48″x36″ in horizontal orientation (i.e., landscape). Free poster printing will be available for students presenting an Honors Capstone at the URF event. The link for printing of posters will be provided via the Blackboard HON 322 site. We anticipate the final deadline for poster printing orders will be Monday, April 14, 2025. Keep an eye on the Blackboard HON 322 site for further information.
Honors College Capstone Project Resources
UIC Honors College Capstone Project Information & Best Practices Video Presentation
A Closer Look at the Capstone Project presented by the UIC Honors College
Prepare for the Undergraduate Research Forum
Signed up for or interested in the Undergraduate Research Forum (URF) but feel you need some help organizing yourself and your presentation materials? Join the staff from the UIC Library, the Honors College, and L@S GANAS for various workshops that will help you prepare for this year’s research forum. Each workshop is geared to help ensure your preparedness, organization, and most importantly, your confidence on URF day!
Undergraduate Research Forum 2024 Abstract Book
2024 Undergraduate Research Forum Award Winners
**Social Sciences**
1st Place: Anjali Patel
- Project: The Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Academic Performance and Behavior in College Students and Differences in Demographic Factors
- Supervisor: Dr. Michael Meinzer
2nd Place: Jessica Sakalas
- Project: ADHD Symptomatology Severity Impact on Implicit and Explicit Language Acquisition
- Supervisor: Dr. Kara Morgan-Short
- Affiliation: Honor College; UIC Cognition in Second Language Acquisition (COGSLA)
3rd Place: Marisa Lametto
- Project: Psychology of the School to Prison Pipeline
- Supervisor: Dr. David Stovall
- Affiliation: Honors College
** Life Sciences**
1st Place (tied): Daniela Ostrov
- Project: Presence of benzyl alcohol in urine of premature neonates in first three days of life
- Supervisor: Dr. De-Ann Pillers
- Affiliation: Honors College; Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Initiative (LASURI)
1st Place (tied): Prarthana Prashanth
- Project: Therapeutic enzyme depletion of L-serine for the treatment of serine auxotrophic tumors
- Supervisor: Dr. Jon Coloff
- Affiliation: Honors College
1st Place (tied): Nethra Senthilkumar
- Project: Characterizing interferon signaling of the prefrontal cortex after adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure in rats
- Supervisor: Dr. Subhash Pandey
- Affiliation: Honors College
**Arts, Design & Humanities**
1st Place: Seyedeh Zahra Nabavi
- Project: From Manufactured to Market: Navigating Pharmaceutical Pricing
- Supervisor: Dr. Chirag Rathod
- Affiliation: Honors College
2nd Place: Ivan Tedrowe
- Project: “Opulent Textures”: Tolstoy, Wagner, and the Aesthetics of Expansiveness
- Supervisor: Professor Michal Markowski
- Affiliation: Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Initiative (LASURI)
3rd Place: Jair Alvarez
- Project: Inclusivity or Illusion: A Critical Examination of Hispanic-Serving Institutions
- Supervisor: Dr. Mitzi Ramos
- Affiliation: Urban Public Policy Fellowship; LARES
**Business, Computer Science & Mathematics**
1st Place: Jacob Cohen
- Project: Course-Path Visualization Tool
- Supervisor: Dr. Diana Diaz
2nd Place: Keshav Gandhi
- Project: Creating a COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Index: A Scoping Review
- Supervisor: Dr. Alexander Gutfraind
- Affiliation: Honors College; Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Initiative (LASURI)
3rd Place: Maxxwell Guffey
- Project: The Evaluation of Ecolabels
- Supervisor: Professor Teresa Moreno
- Affiliation: Honors College
**Engineering and Physical Sciences**
1st Place: Louis Quigley
- Project: The Depression Connection: Mapping the Interplay between Hydrologic Connectivity and Topographic Depression
- Supervisor: Professor Kerry Callaghan
2nd Place: Chenille Lawrence
- Project: Unveiling Bias in Image Recognition: Investigating the Impact of Demographic Ratios on Facial Detection Models
- Supervisor: Professor Gonzalo Bello Lander
- Affiliation: Honors College
3rd Place: Elizabeth Wynn
- Project: Model Tuning of Total Knee Replacement FEA Model to Knee Laxity
- Supervisor: Dr. Steven Mell
- Affiliation: Honors College
**Honors College Capstone Innovation Award**
Presenter: Angie Brito
- Project: Patria y Vida
- Supervisor: Hugh Mundy
- Affiliation: Honors College