2026 Gabriel E. Gallardo Research, Student Leadership & Advocacy Symposium
April 19-21, 2027
UW-Seattle, HUB
Program Staff & Students: $425, increases to $475 on April 1
GEG Grad Fair Recruiters: $525 (no price increase)
We will continue to accept abstracts until April 6 on a rolling basis. To submit an abstract, you must be registered as a "Student Research Presenter" with the GEG Symposium. You will receive a submission link after registration within 24 hours. All abstracts are accepted.
Keynote Speakers
We welcome our 2026 Keynote Speakers!
Rachel R. Chapman, PhD. Rachel Chapman is a cultural, applied, activist and art-based medical anthropologist. Her research, teaching and service address the intersections of race, class, gender and labor in the politics of health justice within and outside of the U.S. For 37 years she has focused on illuminating processes of change and continuity, resilience and peace-making, power and performance in oppressed communities, especially movements to end health disparities, including state and intimate partner violence, and to build racial and social justice in the urban U.S. and Southern and East Africa.
Alshakim Nelson, PhD., is a Professor and the Department Chair in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Washington. He is a Job & Gertrud Tamaki Endowed Professor. His interdisciplinary research focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and processing of stimuli-responsive materials for 3D printing. These materials are centered around applications in medicine, soft robotics, sensors, and sustainability.
Miriam Flores Moreno, MPH, was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, and raised by agricultural working parents in Pasco, Washington. She is a first-generation college student who graduated from the University of Washington (UW) with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health in 2018 and an Epidemiology Master of Public Health in the Spring of 2022. Miriam is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Epidemiology.
The Gabriel E. Gallardo Symposium continues UW McNair's 30+ year legacy & is the ultimate experience for diverse undergraduates to connect over the power of student research, leadership & advocacy.
Present research in a supportive learning environment.
Participate in workshops on graduate school, student leadership & advocacy.
Attend our Graduate School Fair, featuring programs from across the country.
Network with faculty, graduate students, undergraduate researchers, leaders & advocates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find quick answers to common questions about the conference.
Submit your mentor-approved abstract using the GEG Abstract Submission link emailed to you following your registration as a Student Research Presenter, and follow the GEG Abstract Guidelines.
If you were registered as a Student Research Presenter and cannot find your GEG Abstract Submission link, please email us at gegsymposium@uw.edu.
You will select your desired presentation type, oral or poster, when submitting your GEG Abstract using the GEG Abstract submission link that was emailed to you following your registration as a Student Research Presenter.
Presentation formats are limited, 100 posters and 60 oral presentations, and are granted on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you have a strong preference for a presentation format, it is recommended that you submit your abstract PRIOR to the Mar. 13 GEG Abstract Submission Deadline.
For more information about presentation formats and expectations, please reference the Presentations Guidelines page.
Follow these instructions to edit your abstract submission and add your student research poster or oral presentation slides.
If you wish to change or update any other non-ticketed registration information, such as the discipline(s) associated with your registration record, dietary or ADA needs, etc., follow these instructions.
If updating your dietary needs, we will finalize our catering orders on Apr. 6; any dietary needs or meal selection updates made after Apr. 6 are not guaranteed to be covered.
To change your attendee type (such as from Student Research Presenter to Student Attendee) or cancel your registration and request a refund, please email gegsymposium@uw.edu.
There is no formal dress code; simply wear whatever makes you feel confident as you meet with graduate recruiters, graduate students, faculty, and other undergraduates from across the country and/or present on your research! If you are looking for a specific touchpoint, "business casual" can serve as as a reference.
Do note that you'll be spending a lot of time on your feet and walking around within an air-conditioned space. Outside, the weather in Seattle in April is generally in the high 50's with chances of light rain.
To change your attendee type (such as from Student Research Presenter to Student Attendee) or cancel your registration / request a refund, please email gegsymposium@uw.edu.
Refund Policy: Any registration changes or cancellations for a full refund must be made by Apr. 5, 2026. From April 6 - 19 there will be a 25% refund. No refunds will be issued once the GEG Symposium commences on April 20, 2026.
To see full event details and message participants, you must be logged in to our event website.
Click on the Log in button in the upper-right hand of this website to log in to your GEG / Fourwaves account using your school email address that ends in .edu
The Gabriel E. Gallardo Research, Student Leadership & Advocacy Symposium honors Dr. Gabriel E. Gallardo who passed away May 11, 2020, after a lifetime of service to educational equity, particularly on behalf of TRIO SSS, TRIO McNair, and CAMP students.
As Associate VP for Student Success and Director of the UW McNair Scholars Program, Dr. Gallardo advocated for low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students at the institutional, state, and federal levels. He oversaw all of the UW Office of Minority & Diversity's retention and academic support programs, which serve more than 6,000 students annually.
Dr. Gallardo considered OMA&D his family and made an indelible impact by mentoring and coaching hundreds of students, staff members, and colleagues both locally and nationally. The loss of Dr. Gallardo, affectionately known as Dr. Gabe, remains deeply felt.
GEG Symposium Organizers
We are grateful to these University of Washington units who made this conference possible.
Location
University of Washington Husky Union Building
4001 East Stevens Way Northeast
Seattle, WA
United States, 98195
Dates
Registration period:
January 2, 2026 - 12:00 AM PST - April 17, 2026 - 11:59 PM PDT
Contact us
If you have any questions, please contact gegsymposium@uw.edu
