About the Event

Summer students from all research programs are invited to present their work (literature review, results of experiments they have conducted or participated in, etc.) in either oral or poster format. The goal of the event is to provide a unique opportunity to RI-MUHC trainees and to introduce the RI-MUHC community to their research projects. Up to two oral presentations will be chosen from participating research programs from the pool of submitted abstracts. The other abstracts will be selected for poster presentation. Lunch will be provided only for presenters and their supervisor (PI or senior lab mentor).

Who can participate: Any undergraduate student, visiting student, enrolled at the RI-MUHC, medical student, as well as a summer student, intern or volunteer.

How to Register

Click on the Registration tab above to register for this event. You must register prior to submitting an abstract. Everyone wishing to attend the Summer Student Research Day must register to have access to the abstracts, posters and meeting links.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: TBC

How to Submit an Abstract

Click on the Submission tab above and enter your abstract details. Your abstract can be edited after the abstract submission deadline.

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: TBC

Instructions for Oral and Poster Presentations

Detailed instructions for Oral and Poster Pitch Presenters are below. Please note that we may modify the length of orals and poster presentations based on the number of abstract submissions.

The following information will be required to submit an abstract: Abstract title, Authors, Affiliations, Abstract body (max. 500 words). If you would like to be considered for an oral presentation please select “oral” or both “oral/poster” when you submit your abstract. If you are not chosen for an oral presentation you will automatically present a poster. Your abstract body should include: background section introducing your research project, rationale; hypothesis and goal; short description of the methods used; short description of the results (if any); conclusion. An abstract template is available on the home page of the website.

Oral Presentations:

Up to 2 oral presentations will be chosen from each research program. Oral presentations will be held in person in the Cruess Amphitheatre. Each presenter will have 10 minutes for their powerpoint presentation. Plan for ~8 minutes for your presentation, which should cover an intro, hypothesis, methods, results, and conclusions. Leave ~2 minutes for questions. Remember to make your presentation accessible to a broad audience and avoid jargon. Explain all clinical terms (e.g. remember to explain diseases and clinical procedures). Explain all scientific methods (e.g. not everyone does flow cytometry, so remember to describe your experiments and methods clearly).

Poster Presentations:

If your abstract is not chosen for an oral, each presenter will have the opportunity to present their summer research project by poster. Poster presentations will be held in the RI-MUHC Elspeth McConnell atrium. Pushpins will be provided and feel free to print individual powerpoint slides should you not be able to print a large poster. During the poster session, each presenter will have 8 minutes to present their poster followed by a 2 minute Q&A period. PRACTICE THIS PITCH! The goal is not to read the poster, but to use this time to introduce yourself, your research, and your major outcomes in a succinct and clear manner. Once again, remember to have fun, avoid jargon, and make your presentation accessible to a broad audience! Recommended poster size: 45x45 inches. Remember to practice your presentation - an 8 minute poster pitch goes by very fast!

Over lunch, there will be an open poster period where anyone can visit you at your poster. Starting at 13:30, you will be assigned to a “poster group”. All presenters in your poster group will take turns presenting their poster. In essence, you will move from poster to poster together. You will be responsible for asking questions to the other presenters in your group and engaging in open discussion. We recommend reading the abstracts in your poster group in advance to help you prepare your questions. A moderator will be assigned to your poster group to help keep time and moderate the discussion.

Presentation Workshops

This year, DCAT is once again offering Summer students the opportunity to attend a series of workshops designed to help them hone their scientific presentation skills. We strongly recommend that all students who will participate in Summer Student Research day attend these workshops.

DETAILS TO COME