Use one of the PPT-based templates linked below for developing your research posters to be presented on Symposium Day. Several varieties are present, including an annotated version that includes information on what you might want to put into each section. Feel free to modify them as you see fit to meet your presentation goals.

All templates included here have been sized to 36″h x 48″w, compatible with USJ’s large-format printer housed in McDonough NC3. Instructions for how to print can be found here: Secure Print Large Format Poster Printer Instructions.docx. Your poster dimensions should be 36″ by 48″, and students can print on the large format printer in the library at an estimated cost of ~$15-20 per poster. The cost needs to be on your card in advance as it can take time from when you pay on Cashnet to when you see the money available to use toward printing the poster (please confirm the money is on the card before coming to print).  Appointments are not necessary. You can open tickets if you wish to advise when a good time would be to come and print on the large format printer, but the printer is available to all students.  So, if someone not on the list comes in to use it, you will have to wait. Printing a poster takes 15-20 minutes, so you will want to plan accordingly. Please note that we are anticipating a very high volume of posters needing to be printed, so we strongly recommend that you plan to print your posters early. Do not leave it to the last minute!

IT will be managing all poster printing-related issues, but please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] if you have any questions!

General guidelines: use one, or a maximum of two, typefaces

• choose suitable font sizes for titles, body copy, etc. (see suggested ranges below) and use them consistently
• if you use bold, italics, or underline, use them consistently
• check if the conference or event has specific guidelines for formatting posters and follow them

Suggested ranges for font sizes of different poster sections (Remember, a typical academic poster, when printed, is MUCH larger than a laptop screen!):

• poster title: 80-150 pts (bold recommended)
• author name(s): 54-60 pts
• headings: 36-40 pts
• body text: 24-32 pts
• figure captions: 18 pts

Serif vs sans serif typefaces

*From: https://libguides.tru.ca/academicposters/font

• USJ Poster Template 1 – Six Section Annotated
• USJ Poster Template 1 – Six Section
• USJ Poster Template 1b – Five Section
• USJ Poster Template 1c – Four Section
• USJ Poster Template 1d – Three Column
• USJ Poster Template 2 – Four Column
• USJ Poster Template 2b – Seven Section
• USJ Poster Template 3 – Rows
• USJ Poster Template 4 – SOPPAS
• USJ Poster Template 5
• USJ SOPPAS Poster Template – Three Column – Updated 2023
• USJ SOPPAS Poster Template – Four Column – Updated 2023

• How to Create a Successful Research Presentation
  • Source: Princeton Correspondents on Undergraduate Research
• Creating a 10-15 Minute Scientific Presentation
  • Source: Northwestern University’s Biomedical Sciences CLIMB initiative
• Oral Presentation Resource
  • Source: Iowa State University

1. Read the agenda carefully and decide which posters/oral presentations you want to attend and make a strategy for the symposium day.
2. Also plan ahead whom you want to network with. This is a good opportunity for you to make connections and find a research advisor.
3. If you can, drop a note to the presenter beforehand saying that you are looking forward to their presentation. This encourages the presenter and help you to establish a connection.
4. Try to meet new people. Be ready to talk about your interests and research.
5. Try to ask questions to the presenters and engage in a meaningful discussion. For many young scientists, coming up with poignant and meaningful questions is a big challenge. A key is the way you listen to the talk: do not simply absorb information, but continuously compare the information being presented with what you have in your brain (including what the presenter has told you so far), and try to make connections between them.

Center for Student Research and Creative Activity

2026 Program

29th-Annual-Symposium-Day

Symposium-Day-2024-Program

Symposium-Day-2023-Program

Best Undergraduate Oral Presentation in Natural Sciences

Jacob Krzeminksi ’26
Determining Signaling Mechanisms Used by CXCR2 to Promote Epithelialmesenchymal Transition in Pancreatic Cancer
Advisor: Irene Reed

Best Undergraduate Oral Presentation in Social Sciences

Tiago Paula Santos ’26
Physical and Psychological Well-Being Among Firefighters
Advisor: Kristin Cistulli

Best Graduate Oral Presentation

Maya Tomko ’25, Pharm.D. ’28

Investigating the Therapeutic Potential of Pterostilbene and Harmine for Cancer
Advisor: Anisha Gupta

Best Undergraduate Oral Presentation in Natural Sciences

Mateus Silvestre ’25
Balancing AI and Human Intelligence: A Framework for Critical Thinking in Educational Innovation
Advisor: Agnes B. Curry, Ph.D.

Best Undergraduate Oral Presentation in Health Sciences

Nova Brown ’26
Environmentally Sustainable Burial Methods and Practices
Advisor: Charles R. Morgan, Ph.D.

Best Graduate Oral Presentation in Social Sciences and Humanities

Olivia Heslin
Conducting Literacy Interventions for Students with Reading Difficulties as Literacy Interns
Advisor: Shuai Zhang M.Ed, Ph.D.

Best Graduate Oral Presentation in Health Sciences

Fatmata Williams
An Implicit Racial Bias Education for Maternal Health Providers
Advisor: Theodora Sirota Ph.D.

Outstanding Undergraduate Oral Presentation in Natural Sciences

• Understanding the Role of GPR30 in Endometrial Cancer 
• Presenter: Syed Ali 
• Faculty Sponsor: Irene Reed

Outstanding Undergraduate Oral Presentation in Social Sciences and Humanities

• Consensus in Self-Other Personality Assessment Among Student Athletes  
• Presenter: Friedrich Feldrappe  
• Faculty Sponsor: Kristin Cistulli 

Outstanding Graduate Oral Presentation in Natural Sciences

• Antisense Strategies Targeting AKT for Breast Cancer Therapy 
• Presenter: Mahnoor Khan 
• Faculty Sponsor: Anisha Gupta

Outstanding Graduate Oral Presentation in Social Sciences and Humanities

• Implementation of the Patient Health Questionnaire – 9 Modified for Adolescents (PHQ-9A) into a Pediatric Neurology Outpatient Clinic to Improve the Screening and Identification of Depression 
• Presenter: Constandina Conley  
• Faculty Sponsor: Kimberly Joerg 

Outstanding Oral Presentation in the Natural Sciences

• High Throughput Drug Screenings of the GABA_A Receptor Aiming to Discover Prospective Ligands for The Development of New Therapeutic Drugs Treatments
• Presenter: Gavin Cabral
• Faculty Sponsor: Asher Brandt

Outstanding Oral Presentation in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

• Impact of Disability Status and Classroom Environment on Social Satisfaction for Special Education Students in Connecticut
• Presenter: Julia Martocchio
• Faculty Sponsor: Kristin Cistulli

Symposium Day 2026 Abstract Book

Symposium Day 2025 Abstracts_Final

Symposium Day 2024 Abstracts