Undergraduate Research Conferences
The following is a sampling of the dozens of conferences open to undergraduates. Check with your department and professors for more opportunities.
- If you are seeking funding to present your research at a conference, see the research presentation awards page.
- If you are interested in publishing your research with your mentor's approval, contact the Journal of Undergraduate Research through Campus Community Connections.
Lists of conferences compiled by other universities
- University of Chicago (National and international presentation opportunities.)
Students of All Disciplines
University of Rochester Undergraduate Research Exposition: The Undergraduate Research Exposition is a College-wide event in which University of Rochester students at all levels and in all areas of study are invited to present their investigative and creative work.
- Butler University Undergraduate Research Conference: Butler University's Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) provides hundreds of presenters from around the country an opportunity to showcase their research and creative endeavors.
- The Global Undergraduate Research Awards: Submit a course paper to one of 25 categories in this international competition to see your work recognized by an international program, judged by professional academics from the world's top universities, and represented as part of a network of fellow undergraduates delivering top research in your chosen field. Awardees will present at the Global Undergraduate Summit in Dublin, Ireland.
National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR): The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) promotes undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity in all fields of study. The annual conference gives undergraduate scholars in all fields and from all types of institutions of higher learning a forum to share the results of their work through posters, presentations, performances, and works of art.
The National Collegiate Research Conference (NCRC) at Harvard: The National Collegiate Research Conference (NCRC) is a platform for undergraduates from across the nation to share their interest in research. The Harvard College Undergraduate Research Association (HCURA) strongly believes that student researchers have the ability to make meaningful and significant contributions in all fields of study and to the greater body of world research knowledge.
- Stanford Undergraduate Research Association Conference (SRC): Since its inception in 2014, the Stanford Research Conference has served as a multidisciplinary forum where undergraduates from around the world can present their work, connect with researchers inside and outside their fields of interest, and hear from distinguished researchers from a variety of disciplines. SRC's mission is to facilitate exchanges of knowledge that drive intellectual engagement in every field of study, from the humanities and social sciences to the natural sciences, medicine, engineering, and beyond. Student presenters participate in a three-day immersion in workshops, research presentations, and other professional development programming with Stanford faculty and students.
Texas Tech Undergraduate Research Conference (URC): The URC is one of the largest interdisciplinary undergraduate research conferences in the nation. More than 300 students share their knowledge and ingenuity through poster and oral presentations, artistic performances, and visual art exhibits. URC presenters and performers represent a broad range of fields, including startups, the humanities, performing arts, biological and chemical sciences, social sciences, and physical sciences.
Humanities Students
- Humanities Education and Research Association (HERA) Conference: The mission of the HERA organization is to promote the worldwide study, teaching and understanding of the humanities across a range of disciplines. Awards available for undergraduate presenters.
National Undergraduate Literature Conference (NULC): Each year, nearly 200 undergraduate writers and poets head to Weber State University to present their work and learn from some of the most important writers in contemporary literature.
Undergraduate Conference in Medieval and Early Modern Studies: Students from fields such as art history, English, history, music, philosophy, religion, and languages present fifteen minute oral presentations. Groups of students can also present forty-five minute musical or dramatic presentations.
Undergraduate Research Conference in German Studies: Gives students the opportunity to present their research in all German-related fields, including but not limited to the study of German literature, film and culture, art history, music, philosophy, history and politics.
World Congress of Philosophy: The World Congress of Philosophy is a global meeting of philosophers held every five years. The purpose of these events is to contribute to the development of professional relations between philosophers of all countries, promote philosophical education, and contribute to the impact of philosophical knowledge on global problems.
- Humanities Call for Papers and Conferences: List compiled by the University of Pennsylvania.
STEM Students
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting: Every year, thousands of leading scientists, engineers, educators, policymakers, and journalists gather from around the world to discuss recent developments in science and technology. The meeting includes symposia, career development workshops, an international Exhibit Hall, poster sessions, Family Science Days, and more.
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting: As the largest gathering of Earth and space scientists in the world, AGU Fall Meetings aim to bring a diverse and relevant set of topics to help move Earth and space science forward.
American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Annual Student Conference: The Annual Student Conference is four days of career information, social events, competitions, and fun. Student engineers from more than 150 schools celebrate the Chemical Engineering profession, along with young professional members, AIChE leaders, and industry professionals from numerous engineering specialties.
Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Annual Conference: The annual Biomedical Engineering Society Meeting hosts more than 2,000 leading scientific presentations, a Career Fair, robust exhibit hall and sessions of networking and career development for biomedical engineers and bioengineers.
Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS): The Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) is one of the largest communities of underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students attend this conference to present their research, enhance professional development skills, explore graduate schools, and network.
Grace Hopper Celebration: The Grace Hopper Celebration is the world's largest gathering of women technologists. It is produced by AnitaB.org and presented in partnership with the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium: The Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium (GCURS) is hosted by Rice University in Houston, Texas. GCURS provides current undergraduates the opportunity to present their original STEM research discoveries to scholars from around the world.
IEEE MIT Undergraduate Research Technology Conference: The IEEE MIT Undergraduate Research Technology Conference (URTC) brings together undergraduates from around the world to present, discuss, and develop solutions to advance technology for humanity. Students may publish papers of their school projects, research, innovations, or case studies. Conference attendees will attend a rich program with keynote speeches and technical talks featuring renowned speakers, a student design competition, and networking events.
Rochester Symposium for Physics Students (RSPS): This northeast regional undergraduate research conference is held each year, typically in the latter half of the spring semester. Hosted on the campus of the University of Rochester since 1981, the symposium is hosted at other regional colleges every third year (as of 2006). At RSPS, research projects have been presented in talks by undergraduates representing regional institutions.
SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference: The largest multidisciplinary and multicultural STEM diversity event in the country, the SACNAS conference is a three-day gathering which serves to equip, empower, and energize participants for their academic and professional paths in STEM.
Society for Neuroscience (SfN): As the largest gathering of neuroscientists in the world, more than 30,000 neuroscientists, clinicians, and advocates attend the SfN meeting each year.
Student Research Presentation Opportunities with Sigma Xi: Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, offers opportunities for outstanding undergraduate students to share their research through both traditional poster presentations and virtual multimedia presentations. Presentations are evaluated by career researchers to provide invaluable feedback for students. Awards are presented for outstanding research.
Young Mathematicians Conference (YMC) at the Ohio State University: Accepted students (typically around 65) are invited with support to the conference during a weekend at the Department of Mathematics of the Ohio State University. In addition to student and plenary presenters, the YMC includes a Graduate School Orientation event in which representatives from various PhD programs from around the country provide information and insights about a graduate career in mathematics.
Social Sciences Students
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) Convention: ABCT highlights advances in research, clinical practice, and training that feature strategies for strengthening the impact of evidence-based psychological treatments through increasing their reach and improving their effectiveness.
L. Starling Reid Psychology Research Conference at the University of Virginia: Highlights outstanding empirical research conducted by undergraduate scholars in psychological theory.
Linguistics Society of America (LSA) Annual Meeting: Opportunity to share research, network, and socialize with colleagues from academia, industry and government. The Annual Meeting includes a number of activities geared to professional development for linguists at all stages of their careers, and contains many programs and events of interest to students, who make up one third of attendees.
Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference (PURC) at UCLA: PURC has the objective of creating opportunities for undergraduate research assistants to develop their presentation skills and share their research efforts with their peers and colleagues. Students present their research as posters or paper talks during a day-long event.
Self-Determination Theory Conference: Since the 1st International Conference on Self-Determination Theory, held in 1999 at the University of Rochester, the conference has been instituted as a regular event every three years. It presents an opportunity to meet with others who share similar research interests, to discuss and extend research based on feedback received from SDT experts, and to build relationships that will facilitate future research.
Society of Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) Annual Meeting: The Society for Personality and Social Psychology’s Annual Convention is the premier international event for more than 3500 social and personality psychologists. Attendees from academia, non-profit, government, and private sectors present and discuss research, network and collaborate on projects, and pursue professional development while advancing science and pedagogy in the field.
Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union: The primary purpose of this conference is to enhance undergraduate training in and knowledge of the European Union and US-European relations. In addition, the aim of the conference is to allow students with expertise in different areas to interact with each other as well as with faculty, foster inter-campus cooperation, and recognize the excellent work achieved by students.