2022 Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Biological Sciences and Psychology, Hosted by The University of Chicago on November 4-5, 2022

Applications for this event are now open

The Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Biological Sciences and Psychology will be Friday-Saturday, November 4-5, 2022 at the University of Chicago.

The purpose of the Symposium is to provide undergraduates from the areas of biology and psychology 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 subjects ranging from ecology, environmental science, zoology, biochemistry, medicine, molecular biology, behavioral and cognitive science, pharmacology, neuroscience, and other fields relating to biology and/or psychology. 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

Application Information

2022 Midstates Undergraduate Research Symposium Application Timeline

  • July 29, 2022: Online Application and Abstract Submission opens (see link below)
  • Sept 30, 2022* Abstract Submission & Application Deadline (University of Chicago students’ deadline for applications is Oct 7*)
  • Oct 4, 2022: Notification of decision on abstracts will be sent to both the applicant and their Midstates campus representatives.
  • Nov 4-5, 2022: Biological Sciences Symposium – University of Chicago

The application deadline for is Friday, Sept 30, 2022 (Oct 7 for University of Chicago students*).

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 other questions at any time regarding the meeting, you may contact Dr. Ed Hansen at midstatesdirector@gmail.com.

*Because the University of Chicago starts their term later than our other schools, their students have an extra week to apply for the conference. For University of Chicago students the deadline for applications is Oct 7.

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 meeting online application form