Competitions

• Oral Presentation Skills Competition Guidelines & Application

  Oral Presentation Skills Competition - Guidelines

  Oral presentations sessions are designed to give presenters an opportunity to formally present their research to the GSBS and larger TMC audience. The purpose of the presentation is to clearly convey your research to an educated scientific audience. Presentations should include sufficient information for audience members to understand the methods, results, and significance of the research.

  Applications will open Monday, April 14, 2025.

  The deadline to apply for consideration for the competition is Thursday, May 8, 2025.

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  Eligibility:

  All GSBS degree students who have affiliated with a primary research advisor, and are in good academic standing, may apply.

  Format:

  • Oral presentations will be presented in-person during GSRD at Cooley Center. Students must apply to present an oral presentation. Ten contestants will be selected as finalists to compete. 
  • Each oral presentation will be allotted 10 minutes consisting of a 7-minute presentation and a 3-minute question & answer period before a panel of judges and the public audience.
  • Finalists should plan to be present for the entirety of their assigned oral session. The order of presentations within each session will be assigned randomly and delivered in the order indicated in the GSRD program.
  • Students will compete in two categories: (1) Pre-candidacy PhD students, MS students and SMS; and (2) Post-candidacy PhD students. Students should apply to the category that best matches their current status at the time of application.
  • Finalists competing in the Oral Presentation Skills competition may also apply to present a poster. Space permitting, they may present their poster, but they may not compete and their poster number will be labeled “NC” [non-competing].

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  Application link: 2025 Oral Presentation Skills Competition Registration

  Application Materials:

  • Research abstract: This summary should be written in language understandable by a broad general science audience and should be a concise and engaging description of the student’s research project that includes the title, background/objective, brief methods, results/progress, conclusions and future work. The abstract body should be at least 150 words, but no more than 300 words. Abstracts not meeting these criteria will be disqualified.
  • Curriculum vitae: Include past speaking and/or poster presentation experiences.
  • Approval form from advisor addressing the student's presentation skills. 

  
  Selection and award criteria:

  • Preliminary judges will select the finalists and students will be notified on May 20, 2025. In the preliminary phase, the project abstract and other application materials will be evaluated for scientific merit, and appeal to a general science audience. Evidence of prior presentations will be taken into consideration, but is not a requirement.
  • Finalists will present their oral presentations to faculty and/or PhD-level research scientist judges. Presentations will be evaluated on speaking skills/delivery, scientific content, and overall quality of the presentation. Winners will be announced at the GSRD Awards Ceremony.
  • Rubric for Oral Presentation Skills Competition
    
    

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  Prizes:

  • Category 1: Pre-Candidacy PhD, MS & SMS
    
    
    • 1^st prize: $1,000
    • 2^nd prize:   $500
    • Best 1^st-year: $300 
      
      
  • Category 2: Post-Candidacy PhD
    
    
    • 1^st prize: $1,000
    • 2^nd prize:   $500

  
  Please note: cash prizes may be subject to tax
  

• Oral Presentation Skills Competition Finalists (Announced in Late May)

  Pre-Candidacy PhD, MS & SMS Finalists - TBD listed in alphabetical order - will present in random order
  Student Name	Category	Advisor	Program

  Post-Candidacy Finalists - TBD listed in alphabetical order - will present in random order
  Student Name	Category	Advisor	Program

• Poster Competition Guidelines & Application

  Poster Session - Guidelines

  Poster sessions are designed to give presenters an opportunity to discuss their research with colleagues and other researchers. The purpose of the poster is to visually stimulate interest in the research, to present sufficient information for viewers to understand the methods, results, and significance of the research, and to promote conversations and networking among GSRD attendees.

  Applications will open Monday, April 14, 2025.

  The deadline to apply for consideration for the competition is Thursday, May 15, 2025.

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  Eligibility

  • All GSBS students who have participated in a research project at the GSBS, and are in good academic standing, are eligible to participate.
    
    

  Format:

  • Posters will be presented in-person during GSRD at Cooley Center. Students must apply to present a poster. Space is limited to 40 contestants, so students are encouraged to apply early.
  • Students are responsible for printing their posters [size: no larger than 3.3' H x 3.5' W].
  • Poster template and GSBS logo downloads are here.
  • Posters will be on display during the entirety of GSRD. The day before the GSRD (Wednesday, June 12) Poster Session, finalists must set up their posters in the afternoon at Cooley Center. If a finalist cannot go in person, they may ask another student or the Student Affairs staff to set up their poster for them. Each poster board will be numbered. Presenters should attach their posters to the board number corresponding to the number assigned to their poster in the GSRD Program, which will be emailed prior to set up. Presenters should remove their posters at the end of GSRD between the hours of 4:30-6:00 pm. [Presenters are encouraged to display their posters during the reception.]
  • On the day of GSRD, students will present their posters during their assigned session. Students should plan to stand with their posters until their assigned session is completed and they have presented to their faculty and/or PhD-level research scientist judges.
  • Students will compete in two categories: (1) Pre-candidacy PhD students, MS students and SMS; and (2) Post-candidacy PhD students. Students should apply to the category that best matches their current status at the time of application.
  • Students who are chosen as finalists in the GSRD Oral Presentation Skills competition may not compete in the poster session. They may, if space permits, still present a poster and their poster number will be labeled “NC” [non-competing].
    
    

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  Application link: 2025 Poster Presentation Application

  Application materials:

  Research abstract: This summary should be written in language understandable by a general scientific audience and should be a concise and engaging description of the student’s research project. The abstract body should be at least 150 words, but no more than 300 words. Abstracts not meeting these criteria will be disqualified.

  Your abstract should include:

  • • • Title
      • Author List
      • Background and Objectives/Hypothesis
      • Methods (Brief)
      • Results/Progress
      • Conclusions and Future Work

   

  Selection and award criteria:

  • Preliminary judges will select the finalists based on the quality of abstract, and students will be notified on May 29th, 2025.
  • Finalists will present their posters to faculty and/or PhD-level research scientist judges. Posters will be evaluated on the inclusion, quality, and details of the key sections of the poster (see Rubric below), as well as the presenter's level of content knowledge and delivery. Winners will be announced at the GSRD Awards Ceremony.
  • Rubric for poster competition.
    
    

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  Prizes:   

  • Category 1: Pre-Candidacy PhD, MS & SMS
    
    
  • $500 Best Poster - a total of four (4) winners will be selected to receive a Best Poster award
  • $300 Best 1^st-Year
    
    
  • Category 2: Post-Candidacy PhD
    
    
  • $500 Best Poster - a total of four (4) winners will be selected to receive a Best Poster award

  
  Please note: cash prizes may be subject to tax

  
  

• Poster Competition Finalists (Announced in Late May)

  Poster Finalists - Session A - TBD listed in alphabetical order
  Last Name	First Name	Category	Advisor	Program

  Poster Finalists - Session B - TBD listed in alphabetical order
  Last Name	First Name	Category	Advisor	Program

• Elevator Pitch Competition Guidelines & Application

  Elevator Pitch Contests - Guidelines
  

  The scientific Elevator Pitch is a 90-second summary of the student’s research project intended for an educated, lay audience. The scientific elevator pitch is an excellent career tool for students, helping them to establish credibility, form relationships with other scientists, and gain support for their ideas. It also helps students clarify and articulate their thoughts, build professional confidence, and communicate across disciplines.

  Applications will open Monday, April 14, 2025.

  The deadline to apply for consideration for the competition is Thursday, May 15, 2025.

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  Students are encouraged to attend special workshops to prepare for this competition:
  
  Tamara Laskowski, PhD, GSBS alum and Sr. Director at Lonza will facilitate the virtual 2025 Elevator Pitch Competition Workshop. This is a two-part workshop that will assist students in preparing a 90-second elevator pitch. 

  Wednesday, May 14 and Tuesday, May 20

  2-3 p.m.

  Zoom link will be provided to all that register. 

  
  Sign up to attend: go.uth.edu/2025EPWorkshop

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  Eligibility:

  All GSBS degree students, who are in good academic standing, are eligible to compete.

  
  Format:

  • Elevator pitches will be presented in-person at GSRD at Cooley Center. Students must apply to present an elevator pitch. Twenty contestants will be selected as finalists to compete. 
  • Each elevator pitch will be allotted 90 seconds. The time will begin once a contestant starts speaking. Speakers may use note cards as long as they do not read straight through, and/or may use small props/objects. Speakers are not allowed to use PowerPoint slides. There will be no time allotted for questions during the session.
  • Elevator pitches should be accessible to a non-specialist audience with a basic college education, succinct, and last no more than 90 seconds; they should be well organized and easy to follow, delivered in an engaging manner, and have impact. The speeches should contain key elements commonly found in scientific presentations, including an introduction/background, description of the gap in knowledge or research question being addressed, a brief description of method(s), results if they have been obtained, a statement of significance, and possible next steps if applicable. In addition, the delivery of the pitch should be enthusiastic, confident, conversational rather than overly formal, and use accessible language that minimizes jargon.
  • Finalists should plan to be present for the entirety of the elevator pitch competition session. The order of presentations will be assigned randomly and delivered in the order indicated in the GSRD program.
  • Students will compete in two categories: (1) Pre-candidacy PhD students, MS students and SMS; and (2) Post-candidacy PhD students. Students should apply to the category that best matches their current status at the time of application.
  • Students who are chosen as finalists in the GSRD Elevator Pitch competition may not compete in the poster session. They may, if space permits, still present a poster and their poster number will be labeled “NC” [non-competing].
    
    

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  Application link: 2025 Elevator Pitch Application

  Application materials:

  • Tentative title for elevator pitch
  • Short description (1-2 sentences) of the impact, relevance, or importance of the research as it relates to science or a lay audience
    
    

  Selection and award criteria:

  • Preliminary judges will select twenty finalists and students will be notified on May 29, 2025. Evidence of prior presentations will be taken into consideration, but is not a requirement.
  • Finalists will present their elevator pitches to a panel of judges on June 26, 2025 that includes faculty, PhD-level research scientists, and lay community members. Elevator pitches will be evaluated on the delivery of the pitch, organization and engagement with the pitch content, and impact. The pitch will not be evaluated on the complexity of the project, whether experimental results have been obtained so far, minor grammatical mistakes, or speaking with a non-English accent. The audience will choose the People's Choice Award winner. Winners will be announced at the GSRD Awards Ceremony.
  • Rubric for elevator pitch competition.

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  Prizes:   

  • Category 1: Pre-Candidacy PhD, MS & SMS
    
    
    • 1^st prize: $1,000
    • 2^nd prize: $500
    • People’s choice: $300
      
      
  • Category 2: Post-Candidacy PhD
    
    
    • 1^st prize: $1,000
    • 2^nd prize: $500
    • People’s choice: $300
      
      

  • Category 3: First Year Students
    
    
  • • 1^st prize: $300

  Please note: cash prizes may be subject to tax

• Elevator Pitch Competition Finalists (Announced in Late May)

  Elevator Pitch Finalists - TBD listed in alphabetical order - will present in random order
  Last Name	First Name	Category	Advisor	Program