About the Symposium
Click here for a pdf of the complete meeting program and abstracts.
The Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Physical Sciences, Math, and Computer Science will be Friday-Saturday, November 15-16, 2019 at the University of Chicago. The purpose of the Symposium is to provide undergraduates from the physical sciences, math, and computer science fields with a venue to present their research projects and results to peers and faculty in a professional setting outside of their home institution. Students are welcome to present on topics including computer science, engineering, environmental science, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, geology, astronomy and other physical science and/or math-related disciplines. This conference is open only to students and faculty from colleges and universities that are members of the Midstates Consortium for Math and Science. Costs for participants including transportation, lodging, and meals will be covered by the Consortium.
The general format for the Symposium is a Friday evening program, typically starting at 5:30, that includes dinner, a Keynote presentation and the Janet Andersen Award lecture. On Saturday there will be several sessions of both oral and poster presentations throughout the day. Oral presentations are scheduled at 15-minute intervals, allowing 12 minutes for the presentation and 3 minutes for questions. The 60-minute poster session allows students to display their experimental results on a tack board panel and discuss their work with other meeting participants. The specific schedule for the time and locations of presentations will be sent to participants after all abstracts have been reviewed and organized into the appropriate sessions.
Lodging will be arranged for you and provided by the Consortium at the Hyatt Place Chicago-South/University Medical Center (5225 South Harper Avenue, Chicago, IL 60615, phone: 773-752-5300, www.chicagosouthuniversity.place.hyatt.com). Please contact your campus Midstates representative regarding arrangements for group travel of participants from your home institution.
Application Information
2019 Midstates Undergraduate Research Symposium Application Timeline
- August 26, 2019: Online Application and Abstract Submission opens (see link below)
- Sept. 27, 2019: Abstract Submission & Application Deadline, both meetings
- Sept. 28 – Oct. 2, 2019: Review of Submissions
- Oct. 3, 2019: Notification of decision on abstracts will be sent to Midstates campus representatives who will contact participants regarding the status of their application and group travel plans.
- Nov 1-2, 2019: Biological Sciences Symposium – Washington University St. Louis
- Nov 15-16, 2019 Physical Sciences Symposium – University of Chicago
The application deadline for both meetings is Friday, September 27, 2019. It is important that EVERYONE presenting or co-presenting submit their own application. Listing colleagues you are presenting with DOES NOT automatically generate an application for them. Please read the abstract guidelines below before submitting your application. Faculty members also need to register using the same form — just leave blank any irrelevant fields. If you have not heard from your campus representative regarding the status of your application by October 4, please contact them by email for additional information. If you have other questions at any time regarding the meeting, you may contact Dr. Michael Seymour at midstatesdirector@gmail.com.
Abstract guidelines
- Title: 15-word limit, no special characters except Greek letters and punctuation. First word and proper noun capitalization only.
- Abstract: 200-word limit. No figures, tables, or references. Avoid special characters other than Greek letters if possible – please put a note in your registration if a special character is required.
- Author/presenter/advisor names: Full first (given) name followed by last (family) name. Middle names/initials optional. No titles (Dr., Prof.), no degrees (Ph.D., M.D.). Other suffixes OK (III, Jr.)
Click here to open the Chicago meeting online application form
The 2019 Janet Andersen Award Lecture
- Dr. Jill Dietz, Grace A. Whittier Endowed Chair in Science, Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, St. Olaf College
Keynote Speaker
- Dr. David Cash, Department of Computer Science, University of Chicago
Hosts at University of Chicago
- Dr. Stuart Kurtz, Master, Physical Sciences Collegiate Division, stuart@cs.uchicago.edu
- Susan Rueth, rueth@uchicago.edu