Research Day

Who can participate in Research Day?

All undergraduate and graduate students can participate in Research Day. Students of all disciplines are encouraged to submit their research and creative projects and can also submit projects related to GC Journeys. Students can submit proposals related to their field of study; for instance, chemistry students submit their STEM research, dance students submit proposals to perform a dance routine, creative writing students submit their creative work, etc.

What is Student Research?

Student Research, in the context of Research Day, is interpreted as any scholarly or creative activity ranging from scientific experimentation to service-learning, to literary criticism, to case-study design, to artistic expression and so on. Students from all disciplines are invited to submit their work for presentation.  Students interested in presenting should consult with their faculty mentor and submit their work according to the conference guidelines. 

The GCSU Research Day Committee welcomes submissions from all current Georgia College & State University undergraduate and graduate students in all fields of research and/or creative projects. Projects related to GC Journeys (Study Abroad, Leadership, Community-based Engaged Learning, Internships) are also welcome. Students whose abstracts are accepted are expected to attend and present on Research Day.

The submission portal for 2026 is open now! Submissions are due March 2nd, 2026 by 11:59 PM.

Research Day 2026 Submission Form

Faculty mentors are asked to identify students who have a scholarly and/or creative contribution to make to the conference and encourage them to submit it. Faculty are also asked to share this opportunity with their classes and encourage students to attend. 

When working with a mentee in preparing the abstract for submission, please ...

1. Verify that all elements of the abstract align with the Abstract Writing module on the MURACE D2L course (see instructions to self-register for the course here).
2. Review the poster and/or oral/performance presentation guidelines with the mentee.
3. When edits or revisions are required to meet the standards for rigor, style, and completion of your discipline, please work with your mentee by assisting them in making the changes or direct them to a MURACE consultation at the GCSU Writing Center.
4. Be in regular contact with your mentee regarding their submission. Also, check your email regularly as you will receive the Faculty Mentor Approval Form when your student submits. Please submit the Approval Form as soon as possible after you receive it.
   1. Upon your approval of the abstract submission, the project will be accepted to present at Research Day.

View the Preparing for Research Day (FAQs) brief presentation for tips to prepare for Research Day.

Please also see the following resources and guides to help you in preparing for Research Day:

• Writing a Successful Abstract (in Collaboration With the GCSU Writing Center)
• Research Day Submission Guide
• Poster Presentation Guidelines
• Oral Presentation Guidelines

Make sure to arrive early to check-in prior to your presentation. Upon check-in, you will receive a name badge, which will also have a QR code to give you access to the full, detailed schedule. All presenters MUST check-in and pick up their name badge.

Feel free to visit other students' presentations until time for your presentation. Arrive at your presentation location at least 10 minutes before the session is due to begin. During any sessions, do not leave the presentation room until all presentations are completed and refrain from using electronic devices during presentations. Also, be sure to take the opportunity to browse through the poster sessions to find out what other research is happening on campus!

• Conference Registration:  Free
• Opens 8:00 a.m. and continues throughout the day
• All presenters MUST check in before presenting

Research Day partners with several campus entities to offer many engaging sub-events for students to participate in. If students are interested in submitting to any of the following events, please select them on the Research Day Submission Form.

GC Journeys Showcase

The GC Journeys Showcase will be featured for the first time at Research Day 2026. Students are welcome to submit a proposal to highlight their experiences in Study Abroad, Leadership Programs, Internships, and Community-based Engaged Learning. There will also be opportunities for participating students to learn about how to get involved in GC Journeys.

Women's & Gender Symposium

The Women's & Gender Symposium begins the Tuesday before Research Day (4/14), with presentations extending into Research Day (4/15). Presentations for the two-day event focus on topics related to women and gender as well as related literature and interdisciplinary inquiries. This event is led by rotating faculty from various departments and co-sponsored by MURACE, the Office of Inclusion and Belonging, the Office of the Provost & Academic Affairs, the Flannery O’Connor Institute for the Humanities, the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business and Technology, the Philosophy, Religion, and Liberal Studies Department, the College of Arts and Sciences, and GCSU. 

3-in-3 Competition

The 3-in-3 Presentation Competition is hosted by the GCSU Career Center. This selective event challenges students to present their research in just 3 minutes, using only 3 slides, breaking it down for a non-specialist audience. Participants in this competition must be currently enrolled undergraduate students, and contestants will be judged by a faculty panel. Please direct any questions about the 3-in-3 Competition to career.center@gcsu.edu. 

Writing Center Poster Competition

Each year, the GCSU Writing Center hosts a Poster Competition during the Research Day poster presentation sessions. Student interested in entering the Poster Competition must submit a PDF of their poster before Research Day for consideration. Posters that are entered into the competition will be judged by Writing Center tutors.

Digital Humanities

Digital Humanities (DH) sessions on Research Day will feature poster and oral presentation sessions comprised of projects that use digital tools to investigate topics in the humanities. DH projects may include, but are not limited to, interactive mapping, data and spatial visualization, podcasts, virtual reality, text and social network analysis, data structuring, and web publishing. DH proposals should include the digital project’s URL. Students presenting in DH sessions are eligible to receive monetary awards for excellence in DH scholarship from the Digital Humanities Collaborative. For examples of DH scholarship by GCSU students, see the DHC’s project showcase.

First-Year writers' Showcase

The First-Year Writers' Showcase is led by GCSU's English Department and is included in the Research Day poster presentation sessions. First-year students are eligible to submit their writing (paper, essay, etc.) as a poster presentation to this event to showcase their work.

25th Annual SRC Conference Winners

Best On-Campus Oral Presentation: Robert Rozelle, "COVID-19 and the Effect on Grades," Dr. Jebessa Mijena, MATHEMATICS

Best On-Campus Poster Presentation: Maung Tlung, "Cyanobacteria community analyses and Cyanotoxicity testing in Lake Sinclair, Georgia," Dr. Kalina Manoylov, BIOLOGY (CbEL)

Best Virtual Sciences Poster Presentation Winner: Evan Sinclair, "The Importance of FGF2," Dr. Arnab Sengupta, BIOLOGY

 Best Virtual CbEL Poster Presentation: Abigail Sindersine, Eliza Berry, & Jessica Berry, "Creating Awareness of Sexual Assault on the GCSU Campus with the Women’s Center," Dr. Stefanie Sevcik, GENDER STUDIES 

24th Annual SRC Conference Winners

Best Oral Presentation Winner: Katie-Rose Borrello
Best Poster Presentation Winner: Jenna Bryson