BCTR Poster Symposium

Undergraduate and graduate students working on translational research projects (in any phase) are invited to present their work at the BCTR Poster Symposium. This poster session is an opportunity for students to share progress on their translational projects while building research communication skills. Student presenters will also be eligible for awards.

We answer most of the questions you may have below, but if you have a question not answered here, email bctr@cornell.edu.

What is Translational Research?

This symposium is focused on student work on translational research within the social and behavioral sciences. Translational research is the collaborative application of research findings to real-world settings through partnerships with multiple stakeholders (researchers, practitioners, policymakers, community members, etc.). Examples of translational research projects include:

• Conducting a needs assessment to identify inequities within a population
• Partnering with community organizations to design/implement an evidence-based intervention
• Evaluating an intervention to assess and improve program quality
• Supporting the implementation of a program in a community setting with technical assistance or advising
• Communicating research findings to non-academic audiences for the purpose of addressing a need in the community

Translational research takes many different forms. If you are unsure whether or not your research qualifies as social/behavioral translational research, please contact bctr@cornell.edu, and we would be happy to discuss your project with you.

I want to present at the symposium, how do I apply?

Fill out this application before the deadline, which is March 16, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Some important application info:

• The application will be short and straightforward.
• You will be asked to share your name, year, college and major, your research or practice mentor (if relevant), and the title of your poster presentation.
• There may be multiple authors on your presentation (including other students). You are allowed to be an author on more than one poster.
• Prior to submitting, you should discuss your project with any relevant faculty members. You will be asked to verify that your faculty member is aware of your submission.
• You will share two summaries of your project: 1) a very brief 25-word summative statement to be included in the event booklet, and 2) a 200-word abstract describing your project.
• You will be asked to answer one additional question, “Why do you consider this work to be ‘translational research’?” You may refer to the page “What is Translational Research?” page to help craft your response. 

What criteria is being used to select presenters from applicants?

Experts from the BCTR will review all applications and select presenters. You’ll be notified by Mar. 25, 2026 about your selection. The symposium is intended to offer a robust array of translational research projects. Criteria for selection are:

1. Clarity of project (is the topic and goal of your project clear to reviewers).
2. Relevance to translational research (did you explain how your project is translational research).

I’ve been selected to present. What information should I include on my poster?

Posters should provide a visual representation of your work and highlight the translational research aspects of your project. Most scientific posters are designed using Microsoft PowerPoint. Dimensions should be 36″ H x 42″ W or 36″ H x 48″ W. Creative presentation methods are also encouraged. Resources on designing scientific posters, including templates, are included below:

What is a research poster? 

What do I include in a research poster? 

How do I print my poster?

If you’re accepted, you will be required to print your poster on your own, but limited scholarships will be available to cover the cost of poster printing. Instructions for how to print posters will be shared with presenters closer to the date of the symposium. 

What will participation in the poster symposium look like?

If selected, you’ll be expected to accompany your poster for the two hours during the symposium. It may be helpful to prepare a 2-minute “elevator speech” that summarizes your translational research work to judges and audience members. 

What if I’m presenting the same poster at another symposium? Is that allowed?

You are welcome to present a poster at the BCTR’s Poster Symposium that you are also presenting at other relevant symposia. For example, students who are presenting research at the Cornell Undergraduate Research Board Spring Symposium are welcome to submit those posters here as well. However, students should pay attention to rules that other organizations may prescribe related to their own poster sessions.

What are the awards that I could win as a presenter?

You’ll compete for three different awards at the BCTR Poster Symposium: 

• Best Overall Poster award (most compelling visual representation). See last year’s Best Poster
• Best Overall Presentation award (most effective oral presentation to judges). See last year’s Best Overall Presentation
• High Impact Project award (project with the most promise for community impact). See last year’s High Impact Project

Projects will be evaluated by a group of BCTR-affiliated faculty members and research associates on the date of the symposium.

QUESTIONS? Reach out to bctr@cornell.edu with questions about the symposium or your application.