Texas Tech University

Presenter Information

Guns Up URC

Welcome to URC 2023! 
Texas Tech University's annual Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) is a gathering of students, faculty, and staff who come together to learn, grow, and be inspired. Whether you're presenting or an active participant, the URC is a wonderful professional development and networking opportunity for you.                                                             

                      URC 2023 Workshops:

Poster Presentations

Poster presentations are paper displays that must be prepared and printed in advance. They may not include exhibits of models, devices or computer programs. Paper and supplies are not provided.

Please note: TrUE does not have a poster printer and is not able to cover the cost of poster printing.

Poster presentation sessions are typically ninety minutes in length. Presenters must be available to discuss their displays during the entirety of their assigned session.

Poster Display
  • Posters should be 42"X42" (recommended) but should not exceed 44"X44". 
  • Poster presentation sessions take place in the Student Union Building Ballroom.
  • Presenters should arrive during their assigned poster set-up time. This will allow ample time to find their assigned location and hang their posters.
  • Each presenter is provided with a 4' x 4' section on one side of a freestanding fabric display board and pins with which they can attach the poster to the board.
  • Posters should be readable from at least three feet away.
  • Posters should be taken down during the assigned poster take-down period.
  • Convenient places on campus for printing posters below:

Abstract Guidelines

  • Only the primary presenter needs to submit an abstract, and only one abstract should be submitted for each presentation. (Don't forget that you will need to register for the conference INDIVIDUALLY, once accepted to present.)
  • All formatting and special characters (e.g., scientific symbols) will not be processed by the form. Your abstract text should be in plain text format.
  • There is no minimum size for an abstract, but the main text, which should NOT include author and title information, may be no longer than 2000 characters.
  • Abstracts longer than 300 words (2,000 characters) will not be accepted.
  • The author information will be entered on a separate part of the registration form. Do not add as part of the abstract.
  • Communication regarding your abstract submission will be from the TrUE Office.

Additional Considerations

  • Abstracts should state, in clear terms, the central research question and the purpose of the research.
  • Abstracts should provide a brief discussion of the research methodology.
  • Abstracts should state conclusions, either final or anticipated.
  • Abstracts should be well organized.
  • The abstract could appear in the program exactly as you submit it, so check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation carefully.
  • Abstracts should be reviewed by faculty mentor for editing and verification before submission.
  • Faculty Mentor review/support will be confirmed through a validation process.
  • Abstracts that do not receive Faculty Mentor support will not be accepted.

PLEASE NOTE: ABSTRACTS ARE CONSIDERED FINAL UPON SUBMISSION. PROOFREAD YOUR ABSTRACT CAREFULLY.

Sample Abstract

Abstract Title: Of Squirrels and Men: A Story of Platelet Storage

Name of Author(s): Bailee Sliker, Scott Cooper

Abstract: Platelets are routinely used in transfusions, yet they cannot be stored in a refrigerator or else they will be cleared rapidly when re-injected into a patient. The objective of this experiment is to see if platelets from ground squirrels are resistant to cold storage, and thus could serve as a model to develop methods to store human platelets in the cold. To test this we will fluorescently label platelets from humans and ground squirrels, store them at 4C and 37C for up to 48 hours, and measure their uptake by cultured human liver cells. Previous research has shown that human platelets stored at 4C are rapidly taken up and we predict that ground squirrel platelets stored at 4C will be resistant to this cold storage.

Evaluation Criteria & Rubric

Because the URC is an interdisciplinary conference focused on supporting students in relating their work to the broader academic community, presenters should be prepared to discuss their work with a diverse audience. In alignment with the broader mission of the Discoveries to Impact Week, our presentation awards focus on recognizing students that most effectively articulate how they are making an impact through their work.

2023 Reviewer Rubic