Frequently Asked Questions

How can I receive notifications about the Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Chemical and Biological Sciences ?

Send a message to cnmssymposium-group@umbc.edu from the address you want to subscribe to the list with the subject line Subscribe: Add to List. If you have any direct questions, please email symposium@umbc.edu.

What is the maximum poster size for this symposium?

The maximum poster size for the Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Chemical and Biological Sciences is 36-inches wide by 42-inches high (~92 cm x ~107 cm). This poster size ensures that two posters fit side-by-side on the poster display units. Additional information is available on the Poster Requirements & Template page.

Who is invited to attend this symposium?

The Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Chemical and Biological Sciences is open to the public; anyone is welcome to attend. We ask all individuals who plan to attend to register in advance.

Who is invited to present research at this symposium?

Any undergraduate student whose research topic intersects and overlaps with biology or chemistry and whose research is conducted under the mentorship of a research scientist or faculty member, regardless of institution or location, may submit an abstract to the Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Chemical and Biological Sciences. Abstracts, using the prescribed format, must be submitted via the Presenter Registration & Abstract Submission Form by the abstract submission deadline.

How many people may co-present a single poster?

Each poster may be co-presented by no more than two undergraduate student researchers. Co-presenters should submit one Presenter Registration & Abstract Submission Form together; only one Presenter Registration & Abstract Submission Form should be submitted for each abstract.

What affiliation should a student researcher list on the abstract and poster?

The affiliation listed for the student researcher should be the undergraduate institution where the student was enrolled during the time the research was conducted.

What topics are appropriate to present at this symposium?

All research projects must be related to the biological or chemical sciences. We require the presenter to identify, on the Presenter Registration & Abstract Submission Form, the project’s primary discipline (Biology, Chemistry or Biochemistry – Molecular Biology) and one to two related subcategories (see the list below).

Biology

  • Computational Biology / Bioinformatics
  • Development
  • Ecology
  • Evolution
  • Genetics
  • Methodology / Analysis
  • Neuroscience
  • Plant Biology

 

Biochemistry – Molecular Biology

  •  Biotechnology
  • Cancer
  • Carbohydrates
  • Cell Biology
  • Gene therapy / Gene function
  • Immunology
  • Metabolism
  • Methodology / Analysis
  • Microbiology
  • Protein structure / Function
  • Receptors
  • RNA
  • Signal Transduction
  • Spectroscopy / Photochemistry
  • Virology

 

Chemistry

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Fluorescence
  • Inorganic Chemistry / Organo-metallic Chemistry
  • Materials science / Surface Chemistry / Catalysis
  • Methodology / Analysis
  • Nanoparticles / Nanotechnology
  • Organic Synthesis
  • Physical Chemistry
  • Polymers
  • Proteins / Supramolecular
  • Spectroscopy / Photochemistry

I need to have my poster printed; will UMBC print my poster?

UMBC students should check with their research mentors regarding the procedure for getting their posters printed and how the printing costs will be paid. Unfortunately, UMBC does not have the resources to print posters for undergraduate students who are not enrolled at UMBC. Additional information is available on the Poster Requirements & Template page.

How are abstracts distributed after submission via the Presenter Registration & Abstract Submission Form?

All abstracts are printed in a book that is provided to each judge. Beginning in 2014, abstracts are also available online. Only those abstracts for which approval is received from the Research Mentor via the abstract confirmation form are made available online.