Volunteering
Call for Abstract Reviewers
The Undergraduate Research Symposium Steering Committee invites you to serve as a reviewer of abstracts for the Eighth Annual Undergraduate Symposium on Thursday, May 17 in the EMU.
To honor the original research and creative work of our students, the Undergraduate Research Symposium strives to frame the experience and environment of an academic conference, and the role of the Abstract Reviewers plays an integral part in this endeavor.
The 2018 Symposium anticipates exceeding last year’s record number of 292 presenters and 177 faculty mentors spanning 60 majors and eight colleges. Hence we are seeking 17 to 20 abstract reviewers. The Symposium Steering Committee performs an initial screening of the abstracts for minimum qualifications, and will only advance for review those abstracts that have been accepted to the Symposium. Members of the Abstract Review Committee will evaluate the abstracts for substantive and copyediting changes, which the Steering Committee will communicate to the abstract authors for editing. The final edited abstracts will appear in the official program.
Each abstract reviewer will receive approximately 15 abstracts contingent upon the total number of submissions received. The Steering Committee estimates that the time commitment will comprise approximately three to four hours, and will not require the abstract reviewers to meet in the interest of minding their time. Depending on the pool of abstracts submitted, the Steering Committee will allocate abstracts within areas of expertise as feasible. However, it is likely that reviewers will receive some abstracts from outside their field. Finally, abstracts will include a range of presentation formats, from oral and poster presentations to creative work installations, film screenings, and performance art. This year the Symposium will also host first-year presenters from FIG and ARC projects, as well as Lane Community College students.
The abstract submission deadline is Friday, March 16 and abstract reviewers will receive their set of abstracts by Thursday, March 22 at 11:59pm. Reviewers will have through Thursday, April 5 to complete their evaluation of the abstracts.
Reviewers will receive the abstracts digitally and review/edit them within an on-line platform. Full instructions will accompany a separate letter to abstract reviewers.
If you wish to accept our invitation to serve as an abstract reviewer please complete the brief survey linked below by Sunday, March 11 at 11:59pm or email us at ugresearch@uoregon.edu.
2018 Undergraduate Symposium Abstract Reviewer Survey
Reviewers will be our guests at the catered reception from 5:00 to 5:00pm in the EMU Ballroom Lobby on the day of the Symposium!
Call for Volunteers
The Undergraduate Research Symposium Planning Committee invites you to serve as a volunteer for the Eighth Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium on Thursday, May 17 in the EMU. To honor the original research and creative work of our students, the Undergraduate Symposium strives to frame the environment of an academic conference, and the role of the volunteer plays an integral part in this endeavor.
The 2018 Symposium anticipates exceeding last year’s record 292 presenters distributed across 21 oral presentation panels, four creative work sessions, 126 posters, several FIG and ARC group presentations.
Volunteers are welcomed to sign-up for one or more one-hour shifts between 7:00pm and 11:30pm on Wednesday, May 16 and 8:00am and 8:00pm on the day of the Symposium.
Volunteers will perform the following responsibilities:
• assisting with pre-Symposium set-up and poster installation
• staffing the registration desk and assisting with check-in
• assisting with the installation of posters and creative work exhibits
• ushering presenters, faculty mentors, and guests to presentation locations/rooms
• assisting with venue set-up and take-down
• offer general support and reassurance to students who are likely presenting their research in a public form for the first time
• assist Symposium staff, oral panel moderators, and faculty judges as needed
If you wish to accept our invitation to serve as a volunteer please complete the brief survey linked below by Thursday, May 11 at 5:00pm.
2018 Undergraduate Research Symposium Volunteer Survey
Volunteers will be our guests at the catered reception at 5:00pm in the EMU Ballroom on the day of the Symposium and receive a Symposium T-Shirt!
Call for Moderators
The Undergraduate Symposium Planning Committee invites you to serve as a moderator for an oral presentation panel comprising four to five student presenters and/or a creative work session at the Eighth Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium on Thursday, May 17 in the EMU.
To honor the original research and creative work of our students, the Undergraduate Research Symposium strives to frame the environment of an academic conference, and the role of the moderator plays an integral part in this endeavor.
The 2018 Symposium anticipates exceeding last year’s record 292 presenters distributed across 21 oral presentation panels, four creative work sessions, and 126 posters. Concurrent Oral Panel and Creative Work Sessions are scheduled for 10:00am-11:30am; 11:45am-1:15pm; 1:30pm to 3:00pm; and 3:15pm to 4:45pm. Each panelist receives 15 minutes to deliver their presentation and address questions from the audience immediately following their presentation. Panelists are encouraged to prepare a presentation approximately 10 to 12 minutes in duration to allow for 3 to 5 minutes of questions. The panels will also reserve 15 to 30 minutes after the final presentation to allow for general discussion and questions contingent on the number of panelists. Creative Work sessions assume many formats depending on the medium, and range from vocal, instrumental, and dance performances to art installations. Students submit abstracts with their applications that the Faculty Review Committee evaluates and advances to the Symposium. The Symposium does not collect full papers from the presenters.
Hence, oral panel moderators will assume the role of a “chair” rather than a “discussant,” and will not be expected to read the presenters’ papers in advance and offer commentary or critique of their work. Moderators will receive the abstracts and presenters’ contact information in advance, and are welcome to reach out to presenters. Moderators will perform the following responsibilities:
• introduce the panel title and the name and presentation title of each panelist
• record attendance
• keep time and guide flow of panel
• manage audience professionalism and conference etiquette
• facilitate questions and discussion between audience and panelists
• offer general support and reassurance to students who are likely presenting their research in a public form for the first time
If you wish to accept our invitation to serve as a moderator please complete the brief survey linked below by Friday, May 11 at 5:00pm. You may indicate your time preference on the survey.
2018 Undergraduate Symposium Moderator Survey
Moderators will be our guests at the catered reception from at 5:00 in the EMU Ballroom Lobby on the day of the Symposium!
Mentorship
A key component of high-quality undergraduate research and creative scholarship is faculty mentorship. Students rely on faculty mentors to teach them the skills necessary to conduct research in their discipline as well as demonstrate what it means to be a scholar in their field. The majority of the projects being presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium benefited greatly from the mentorship of UO faculty members, and the cumulative results of these relationships are clearly visible at the event.
Through mentorship, faculty members are able to inspire and train future generations of researchers and foster a community of scholars at the University. If you are interested in incorporating undergraduate students into your research please email us at ugresearch@uoregon.edu. For more information about engaging students in research and mentoring undergraduates, visit the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program website.
If you are an undergraduate student looking to find a faculty mentor to support you in your research or creative project, please contact us at ugresearch@uoregon.edu.