Midwest Graduate Research Symposium Proposal Guide
Considering submitting a proposal to present at the 2025 Midwest Graduate Research Symposium?
Here is a quick guide with additional information about the presentation proposal process and tips to help you!
Use our quick and easy Microsoft form to submit your Midwest Graduate Research Symposium proposal:
Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis until Sunday, March 23rd or until all slots are full.
At this time, 30-minute seminar slots are full.
Who is Eligible to Present?
All currently enrolled graduate & professional students in a Midwest college or university are welcome to submit a proposal to present their work!
They can be at any point of their graduate/professional studies.
What Can Students Present?
Students can present:
- Thesis research
- Dissertation research
- Scholarly project research
- Field experiences
Presentation Types
Seminar
Seminar sessions will occur in 15 or 30 minute time slots (10 or 25 minutes for presentation and remaining time for questions). Presenters may have an optional slide deck.
Poster
Poster sessions will occur in 45-minute time slots. For judges, presenters should explain their content in a maximum of 5 minutes. Posters must be 36" by 24" or 24" by 36" to fit on easels.
Lightning Talks
New! Lightning talks will occur in 15 minute time slots (5 minutes for presentation and remaining time for questions). Presenters may have an optional slide deck with a maximum of 3 slides.
How to Submit a Proposal
Here's our complete step-by-step guide. You can use the left checklist for a guide-at-a-glance and to navigate through this guide.
Personal & Academic Information
The easiest part! We use this information to contact you with additional information and to determine where to place selected presentations. (We will primarily use your university email to reach you).
Proposal Information
This is where you will input your proposal items. Please note that you are welcome to submit multiple proposals and you must submit a different proposal for each presentation type (multiple proposals within one form will not be considered).
PRESENTATION TYPE
Please review the schedule at a glance and presentation descriptions as you select a presentation type to ensure the type you select best suits your content.
ABSTRACT OR DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTATION
Provide us with a brief, 150-300-word abstract or description of your presentation.
Here is a rubric inclusive of all presentation types with what we are looking for:
PRESENTER BIOGRAPHY
Share a snapshot of who you are with us with the following information:
- Current institution, department, degree program, and major
- How far are you into your program?
- If you are completing research, share a brief summary of your research.
- What are you hoping to do following graduation?
ADDITIONAL AUTHORS & PRESENTER(S)
If your work has additional authors tied to it, please include their names even if they are not presenting. If you have an additional presenter(s) that will present with you, please include their information as well (if possible, we would like to have their bio(s) as well).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & SUBMISSION
Please read the acknowledgement very carefully prior to submitting. You'll have space to include any questions you may have for the organizers as well. Once you are ready, input your name as your signature and agreement to the terms listed in the acknowledgment to submit!
Proposal Checklist
- Personal & Academic Information
- Presentation Type
- Presentation Title
- Abstract or Description
- Presenter Biography
- Additional Author(s) and Presenter(s)
- Acknowledgement & Submission
What to Expect
Prospective presenters will submit their presentation proposals until the final deadline. We have a priority deadline as well as a final deadline to provide flexibility for our UToledo students and neighbors. Submitting presentation proposals by the priority deadline increases the submitter's chances of being selected as well as receiving their preferred time slots.
Following submission, presenters can expect an email regarding the status of their proposal as well as additional information about the symposium.
Our symposium coordinators are here to answer questions along the way! Please don't hesitate to reach out if we can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What audiovisual equipment will be provided?
Poster presenters: You will be provided with a presentation poster board/easel. You will share this with another presenter.
Seminar & lightning talk presenters: You will be provided with a seminar size classroom including a project, computer, and projector screen for a slide deck. You will not have a microphone.
If I am a presenter, do I have to register as an attendee?
Nope! Students selected to present their work will be provided with a separate presenter registration process.
Are there awards?
Yes! Each category of presentations will be evaluated by a series of faculty, staff, and community member judges. The highest scored presentations from each category will be provided awards.
Do I have to incorporate the theme into my presentation?
No, but you are encouraged to tie it in if you are able! Presentations will not be evaluated for their connection to the theme of the symposium.
Contact Us
Saad Andalib
Lead Symposium Coordinator
Email: GSA@utoledo.edu
Yasmeen Hamdah, M.Ed.
Program Manager,
Graduate Student Success
Phone: 419.530.2633
Email: Yasmeen.Hamdah@utoledo.edu