Chicago Area Undergraduate Research Symposium (CAURS)

FAQs

Who can participate in the CAURS symposium? Who can attend? Any University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, Loyola University Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, DePaul University, or Northwestern University undergraduate who has been conducting a faculty-mentored research project is eligible to submit an application and abstract to present at the Symposium. Other midwest institutions can apply with prior approval from CAURS commitee. Students from institutions other than the ones listed above can email their request to participate and their abstract to info@caurs.com. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

When do I have to submit an application and abstract for the 2009 Symposium? The deadline has now been extended to Friday, March 6, 2010. Submit yours today!

How are applications accepted and abstracts reviewed?
After consultation with the members of the Student Advisory Board, a representative from the board will notify students with the status of their application.

How do I know if I am an oral presenter or a poster presenter?
On the application, you will indicate your preference for talk or poster; you can select both. Upon review of your application, and acceptance of your abstract, you will receive a confirmation e-mail from the symposium director, indicating the time and location of your oral presentation or simply confirming your poster presentation, depending on what you checked in your application. There will be twelve oral presentations, up to 200 posters.

I worked on two different projects. Can I make two presentations? Yes, but remember to submit an Application & Abstract Submission Form for each project you wish to present.

Can a group of us make one presentation? Yes. Each group member must fill out a registration form, but only one group member must complete Sections 3 and 4. Please make sure all group members fill out the same "group name" on the registration form. Contact CAURS if you have any problems submitting your application.

Can I present if I do not have an IRB or IACUC approval (assuming your project includes human or animal subjects, respectively)? No. Your application will be rejected if we are not able to verify the protocol number you provided on your application.

Can I have a non-UC, UIC, Loyola, IIT, Depaul, or NU faculty mentor and still present at the Symposium? Yes. You are eligible to submit an application and abstract for the Symposium. Your mentor can be a faculty mentor at another institution, or a senior researcher at a national, private, or federal organization. You still need to provide evidence of IRB or IACUC approval for your study if applicable.

What are the requirements for the abstract? It needs to be submitted with the application form and be text only (no graphs, charts, or tables). It should be no longer than 250 words, typed as one single-spaced paragraph. Make sure to review and edit the abstract with your faculty mentor before you submit it.

Can I invite friends and family to come view my presentation?
Yes! You can invite as many guests as you would like. However, only presenters and their faculty advisors are invited to the closing banquet for free. A limited number of seats may be open for the banquet, but guest registration will open later.

What are the requirements for posters? Whatever you and your advisor feel is appropriate for your research. The Symposium Guidelines provides some additional guidelines, but here is some general poster information. Poster presentations should be displayed on a 3' or 4' (height) by 4' (width) poster board. Space on a poster is limited, so pick wisely what to present. Your display should be self-explanatory and have a logical flow; others should be able to follow the order even if you are not present. Place your title at the top of the poster and make sure that the text is large (usually at least 2 inches in height) and clear. Include your name and major, and the name of your faculty mentor and his/her department name, in addition to other co-authors. Incorporate appropriate graphics in your poster. Label or describe any charts, tables, figures, graphs, or photos that you use. Posters may be printed on separate boards, however we prefer a single sheet. Many university departments can help you with printing posters. One local source for commercial poster printing is makesigns.com.

What are the requirements for the oral presentations?
Consult the Symposium Guidelines for help in crafting an oral presentation. Oral presentation should be 10-12 minutes. Also please plan on a 5 minute Q&A period. There will be 5 minutes allowed for each changeover.

What if I need audio-visuals during the Symposium?
On the application, let CAURS know what you need for your presentation, whether it's a slide projector and screen, computer & LCD projector, or software. You will be notified by e-mail (at the address you provided on your application) prior to the symposium if we are not able to accommodate your equipment requests as indicated on your application. At this time we will ask you to bring your presentation on a different medium.

My presentation at the Symposium will be different from what was proposed. Is this acceptable? Yes, but any dramatic changes (such as different project or different mentor) need to be approved by your faculty mentor.

Can I go over my presentation with a member of the CAURS Team? Yes, simply contact CAURS.

When does a presenter need to come to the Symposium?
We ask that all presenters arrive during the registration period starting at 11:00am. Oral presenters should familiarize themselves with the room and any equipment (please make clear on your abstract submission form) that they will use in their presentation.

For any other questions, please contact the CAURS Research Office.