Student Research Fair Applications

Our Student Research Fair aims to celebrate undergraduate research in the field of psychology.

Applications for the 2022-2023 year are open.
The deadline for applications is February 17^th, 2023 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

Applicants will receive decision emails within two weeks after the deadline.

On this page:

1. The benefits of applying

2. The types of eligible projects

3. The applicant eligibility criteria

4. The submissions selection criteria

Benefits of Applying

Presenting at an academic conference has numerous benefits, including gaining valuable research-related experience, and developing relevant professional skills.

1. Gain conference participation experience, which is considered an asset for research-intensive jobs and graduate programs.

2. Gain communication and presentation skills by designing and presenting engaging academic posters and/or presentations.

3. Gain in-person presentation experience by having the opportunity to present at a live in-person event during the conference.

4. Practice translating technical research findings to be accessible, relevant, and engaging to a diverse audience.

5. Learn about the work of your peers and exchange new ideas as part of an undergraduate community.

6. Stay updated on the latest research in the mental health field and how it translates to the real world.

7. Get a chance to win prizes celebrating excellence in student research.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria

IS MY RESEARCH PROJECT ELIGIBLE FOR SUBMISSION?

IMPORTANT: Projects do not have to be part of an undergraduate course as long as they align with the selection criteria. Projects completed as a part of an undergraduate course will also be accepted.
In-progress projects may also be submitted, provided they will be completed by the end of the Winter 2023 term.

The types of projects that you can submit for our poster fair are as follows:

1. Honours Theses/Empirical Research Studies

An empirical study seeks to answer specific research questions following the scientific method. Empirical studies typically follow a specific structure with introduction, methods, results, and discussion sections. Usually, the process of conducting a study involves collecting data, analyzing the data, and authoring a written report. Secondary analysis projects are also eligible.

You may have completed an empirical study in one of the following courses or similar courses: Honours Thesis (PSYC 4000; KINE 4100 series), Specialized Honours Thesis (PSYC 4001), Independent Study/Individualized Research Project (PSYC 3900/4900 series; KINE 4060 series; IHST 4000), Practicums (PSYC 4260; IHST 4300), a Capstone Course (PSYC 4180; IHST 4400; C4) or a Directed Reading (NURS 3800/4800).

2. Review Papers (literature reviews, systematic reviews & meta-analyses)

A review paper is a research paper that summarizes and evaluates the recent progress made in the existing scientific literature on a particular topic. A literature review looks at part of the research on a topic, while a systematic review typically includes all available research on a topic.

You may have completed a review paper in one of the following courses or similar courses: Honours Thesis (PSYC 4000; KINE 4100 series), Specialized Honours Thesis (PSYC 4001), Independent Study/Individualized Research Project (PSYC 3900/4900 series; KINE 4060 series; IHST 4000), Practicums (PSYC 4260; IHST 4300), a Capstone Course (PSYC 4180; IHST 4400; C4) or a Directed Reading (NURS 3800/4800).

3. Research-Informed Essay-Style Projects

A research assignment or essay-style paper is a research-focused, objective paper that has a clear thesis statement, offers evidence-based arguments and comprehensive citations. At least 5 citations must be included in the paper for it to be eligible.

You may have completed a research-based essay in many undergraduate courses. However, a few examples of courses that may assign these types of projects include: Writing in Psychology (PSYC 2010), Intermediate Research Methods (PSYC 3010), or Intermediate Experimental Psychology (PSYC 3525).

Don’t see your course on the list? Unsure if your project is eligible? Feel free to contact us here or send an email to luminateconference@gmail.com.

ELIGIBILITY

Please review this information carefully.

You must be enrolled as a current undergraduate student at a university in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA; i.e., York University, Toronto Metropolitan University, or University of Toronto).

York University students: students enrolled in any undergraduate program across all faculties and departments are eligible.

Other universities in the Greater Toronto Area: students enrolled in any undergraduate program across all faculties and departments are eligible.

The project must have been completed between 2018-2022. An in-progress projects may also be submitted, provided it will be completed by the end of the Winter 2023 term.

Group projects are eligible. However, all group members must consent to the submission of the project. Only one group member needs to apply, but all members’ names should be listed on the submission. Multiple group members cannot submit the same project but can make a joint submission. To do, please list multiple names on the submission form.

If the project was completed either in collaboration with or under the supervision of faculty members or graduate students, you must obtain their consent to submit the project. Additionally, you must credit them in both your submission and the final poster/presentation if accepted.

Research projects on any psychology-related topic are eligible. However, please be advised that submissions that are more closely in line with our theme, Student Mental Health & Wellbeing, may be given priority. For more information, see Selection Criteria below.

You can only submit one application and only one project (for each annual conference).

IMPORTANT: In order to present at the Poster Fair, selected applicants will either need to submit a poster, a brief recorded audio presentation, or both. For more information, see Application Process.

IMPORTANT: You are not required to be available at a specific time in order to present at the Virtual Student Research Fair. Posters and talks will be submitted prior to the Conference and then uploaded for viewing during the Conference.

IMPORTANT: In order to present at the Data Blitz you must be available during the allotted time that will be scheduled for the Data Blitz during the conference.

IMPORTANT: In order to present at the Data Blitz, selected applicants interested in showcasing their work in person will need to submit a short slide deck discussing their poster presented at the Student Research Fair and be prepared to present a 5-minute maximum summary of their project in front of a live audience.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All submissions will be anonymized by a Luminate Leadership Team Member who is not affiliated with the screening process. Next, the anonymized submissions will be screened by a student panel using a specific set of selection criteria. To increase your chances of having your submission accepted, please review the criteria below to help you understand what we are looking for in an application.

Organization & Writing – whether the writing is clear, well organized, without grammatical errors, and uses non-technical language appropriate for a diverse audience.

Content Quality – whether the author engages in critical thinking, makes well-thought-out arguments, establishes connections between concepts, uses sound and valid methodologies to investigate their research question (if applicable), and adequately identifies the limitations of their work.

Credible Sources – whether all sources used are from peer-reviewed academic journals, suitable for the nature of the research, support claims made, and cited in proper APA (7^th edition).

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