Save the date to join us in Spring 2025 on Friday April 11th!
Receiving feedback on their research project and presentation skills is one of the most valuable experiences our undergraduates students receive through participating in the Technology & Science Undergraduate Research Forum each year.
To accomplish this, we ask faculty, post-doc and graduate student researchers, staff, and industry and alumni partners to evaluate students’ posters. Judges can sign up to judge virtually, in-person, or both! In addition, we are looking for members of the award committee to help decide the winners of over $12,000 in student awards. New judge sign up coming in Spring 2025!
Virtual Judging: Open for self-paced virtual judging from Wednesday April 9th at 8am to Friday April 11th at 4:30pm.
In-Person Judging: Friday April 11th on the Welch Hall Grand Concourse. See our schedule for details about the in-person event.
Please review our FAQs and Feedback Best Practices below. If you have any questions, email us at urf@austin.utexas.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which posters to submit feedback on?
After you sign up to judge, you will receive an email from RocketJudge with your assigned student projects to review and judge. Each ballot will include the URL to the student's virtual poster presentation and their session/poster number for in-person judging. You will submit your feedback directly through RocketJudge.
What do I evaluate the student projects' on?
You will evaluate the student projects on 6 criteria on a scale of 1-10. The criteria are: statement of the problem, methodology, results, conclusions, visual layout, and oral presentation. RocketJudge will also prompt you to comment on the strengths of the project and your suggestions for improvement.
Can I look at virtual posters other than the ones I was assigned?
Sure! You can click on "presentations" in the website navigation bar and then browse or search projects.
Where should I park for the event?
We recommend parking in the Speedway Parking Garage for the event. Parking passes are available to external guests and judges upon request.
How do I find the student's poster I've been assigned at the in-person event?
The student's poster number in RocketJudge will start with A, B, or C, referring to the session that the student is presenting in and the number refers to their presentation slot. When you check in at the event, you will receive a map showing where the poster numbers are located in the event hall.
Student Poster Evaluation: Best Practices
- Be encouraging when asking questions, offering suggestions, or giving constructive criticism. Highlight what the student is doing well alongside what they could improve upon.
- In an effort to be fair, try to spend ample time with each presentation you are assigned.
- Every student and project should be treated with respect and consideration. Inappropriate, derogatory, or personal comments will not be tolerated.
- Be positive, enthusiastic, and supportive of the student’s work and efforts.
- If a conflict of interest arises, where you are well acquainted with a student you’ve been assigned to judge, let us know so we can reassign you a poster that will eliminate the conflict.
