OUR and Sigma Xi Student Research Showcase

The Office of Undergraduate Research is excited to announce open applications for participation in the Virginia Tech cohort (up to 20 students) of the Sigma Xi Student Research Showcase. The conference will showcase research presentations from over 250 students representing US and international institutions.

The selected student cohort will work together from February-March 2025, receiving mentorship from Dr. Deborah Good and others, and peer reviews from the cohort, to create individual webpages containing an abstract, a PowerPoint presentation, and a video describing their undergraduate research project. The cohort will then attend the sessions of the Student Research showcase on Sunday evenings from March 30-April 13, 2025. During the judging period, more than sixty Sigma Xi members volunteer as judges to evaluate students’ submissions and engage in digital conversations with presenters through their websites.

Students in the cohort will not only present on an international stage, alongside hundreds of other undergraduates, high school students, and graduate students, but also might win prizes up to $500 in their category. In addition, all student presenters will be inducted in the Virginia Tech Chapter of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society, with one year paid membership fees.

Read more information on the showcase

Since Sigma Xi is a STEM-based organization, the research projects must be in one of the following categories/disciplines:

Research Project Disciplines

• Agriculture, Soil, and Natural Resources
• Anthropology
• Cell Biology and Biochemistry
• Chemistry
• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Engineering
• Environmental Sciences
• Geo-sciences
• Human Behavioral and Social Sciences
• Math and Computer Science
• Microbiology and Molecular Biology
• Physics and Astronomy
• Physiology and Immunology

The application template can be found here. It is recommended that you fill this template out in advance of starting the online application and obtain the mentor letter (see below).

Applications are due by Sunday February 2, 2025 11:59 PM

Dates and activities of the cohort

Applicants must secure a letter from their research mentor, prior to submission of their application which provides a statement of the following: (see application template here):

1. Confirmation that you are currently doing an undergraduate research project with their group and have participated in at least one previous semester of undergraduate research.
2. Confirmation that you have results to present (data you have generated).
3. Statement agreeing that your research abstract, video and PowerPoint be published to the Sigma Xi Project Board Website.  An example of this site from the 2024 competition is found here.
4. Statement they agree for you to participate fully in the program, if selected.

Summary of Eligibility, Expectations, and Benefits to Students

• Successful applicants must be currently active in undergraduate research with at least one previous semester of research experience in one of the disciplines listed above. The research project should have results/data that can be described in the application and are your results (i.e. you independently produced these data or were part of a team that produced these data). 
• Applicants must agree to be present at all cohort meetings as part of the mentoring process for Student Research Showcase (February-March), and during the judging and zoom meetings held by the conference (March-April)—see dates above and check your schedule prior to applying.
• Applicants must secure a letter of confirmation for participation from their mentor. This is not a recommendation letter, and this letter will only be used to confirm your eligibly for the program.
• Selected students will receive mentoring on research presentations, including PowerPoint preparations, abstracts, and videos.  They will also peer mentor other members of the cohort.
• Selected students will be eligible to receive up to $500 in prize monies from Sigma Xi if their webpage presentation is selected (see webpage)
• All students in the cohort will be inducted as Associate Members of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society, and receive one year membership in the society (sigmaxi.org).
• Students will be encouraged to also apply to the Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Conference (deadline April 9, 2025)

Apply by Sunday February 2, 2025

Please email questions to Dr. Deborah Good, co-Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research.