Annual STEM Undergraduate Research Symposium

The Annual Life Sciences South Florida STEM Undergraduate Research Symposium will showcase the scientific work of South Florida’s undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) students. Participants gain valuable experience, presentation skills, and recognition from their peers, local colleges, and universities.

Join us every spring as we learn from our students while networking and engaging with the community!

  • 11

    Schools

  • 40+

    Research Winners

  • 100+

    Guests & Opportunities

Present your research & showcase your skills 

At the Symposium, students will have the opportunity to gain exposure to STEM industries in the South Florida region and initiate collaboration with industry leaders and peers. This year, students will have two options for presenting. They can either present their research orally or on a poster presentation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • Who can participate in the LSSF STEM Undergraduate Research Symposium?

    Students from the following institutions are welcome to apply and present at the Symposium:

    • Barry University
    • Broward College
    • Florida Atlantic University
    • Florida Gulf Coast University
    • Florida International University
    • Florida Memorial University
    • Indian River State College
    • Miami Dade College
    • Nova Southeastern University
    • Palm Beach State College
    • St. Thomas University
    • University of Miami
  • What are the presentation requirements?

    Option 1. Poster Presentation

    Option 2. Oral Presentation (PowerPoint Slide).

    Subject experts may choose to judge the poster or oral presentations, as the presentations will happen concurrently. Subject experts will ask each presenter (6-8 presenters total) 1 or 2 critical questions about their research and complete a brief rubric assessing the presenter's clarity, delivery, and overall presentation effectiveness.

    Only applications that follow the abstract requirement will be considered.

    Abstract Guidelines 

    • An abstract is a summary of the essentials of the research project, which includes the following:  
    • A clearly defined research question and the purpose of the study 
    • A concise discussion of the research methodology  
    • The project findings (final or in process)  
    • The title of the abstract should be as concise as possible and should appear in bold, lowercase, and centered  
    • Co-authors and affiliations appear below the title in italics (presenting author listed first). 
    • The word “Abstract” should appear below the affiliation in bold, centered, and underlined.  
    • The body of the abstract follows after a spacing line.  
    • The abstract body is to be no longer than 250 words in portrait, single-spaced, full justified. 
    • The Application and Abstract should be submitted as one MS Word document or PDF, saved using the following file naming convention: first author’s last name, then a period, followed by the institution, then a period, followed by the first three words of the title (Lastname.institution.3wordsoftitle.doc) e.g.: (Jones.FAU.NeuralStemCells.doc) 

     

    Sample abstract:

    The title is to be bold, lowercase, and centered on the page
    John Smith, Sally Jones, and Pat Advisor, Ph.D.
    Florida International University, Miami, Fl.

    The body of this abstract sample template contains important instructions that MUST be followed. Note the formatting above, including bold, spacing, and underlining. Your abstract (which is a summary of your project) goes here and should be no longer than 250 words. This document is single spaced and formatted in12-point Times New Roman font. Your faculty advisor must review and approve this abstract prior to submission.

  • What are the poster guidelines?
    • The suggested template poster is sized at 36 x 48 inches.
    • You may use charts, graphs, maps, photographs, illustrations, and pictures.

Engage & collaborate with students as a subject expert

Are you a scientist, industry professional, ABD Ph.D candidate, or faculty member who would like to participate in the LSSF STEM Undergraduate Research Symposium? We're seeking subject experts, researchers and industry leaders to engage, advise and collaborate with our students!

Serving as expert judges, subject matter experts will serve the important function of reveiwing student research presentations, including traditional poster and oral presentations, and providing feedback to our brave presenters as they continue to grow their research and presenting experience. 

Apply to be a subject expert and judge

Previous Symposium Winners

  • 2023

    Location:

    Florida Gulf Coast University

    Winners

    Oral Presentation:

    • 1st Place: Isabella Trespalacios, Florida International University
    • 2nd Place: Crisi Massimino, Indian River State College
    • 3rd Place: Sean Mahajan & Sneh Patel, NOVA Southeastern University

    Poster Presentation:

    • 1st Place: Erica Lin, University of Miami
    • 2nd Place: Nykkie Okoro, University of Miami
    • 3rd Place: Ronald Masse, Indian River State College
    • 3rd Place: Andrea Lora, Indian River State College
    • 3rd Place: Savannah Arvin, Florida Atlantic University
  • 2022

    Location:

    Online via Zoom 

    Winners

    Oral Presentation:

    • 1st Place: Leena Al-Hraki, Florida Atlantic University; Ian Fernandez, Florida Atlantic University
    • 2nd Place: Myra Sanders, Florida Memorial University; Chrissy Massimino, John Fitzgerald, Mary Nielander, Mya Maybank, Hannah Blossom, Indian River State College; Cassidy Loucks, Celina Nelson-Jordan, NOVA Southeastern University; Claudia Paredes, Florida International University.
    • 3rd Place: Tyler Sanford, Florida International University; Erika Pierre, Barry University; Lana Sumner-Borema, Barry University; Satviki Singh, Florida Atlantic University.
  • 2021

    Location:

    Online via Zoom 

    Winners

    Oral Presentation:

    • 1st Place: Roxana Diaz Cruz, Florida International University
    • 2nd Place: Erika Cabrera Ranaldi, Nova Southeastern University; Lia Paolino, Florida International University; Aisha Abdool, Nova Southeastern University; Maria Alejandra Chavez, Nova Southeastern University
  • 2019

    Location:

    Florida Atlantic University 

    Winners

    Oral Presentation:

    • 1st Place: Margaret Slobasky, Indian River State College
    • 2nd Place: Jenenia Perez, Florida International University
    • 3rd Place: Sharnikha Saravanan, University of Miami

    Poster Presentation:

    • 1st Place: Sabrina Rodriguez and Genesis Munoz, Barry University
    • 2nd Place: Analiese Thomas-Laroque, Florida Gulf Coast University
    • 3rd Place: Anastasia Zwenger, Nova Southeastern University
  • 2018

    Location:

    Florida International University 

    Winners

    Oral Presentation:

    • 1st Place: Esha Parikh, Nova Southeastern University
    • 2nd Place: Shwetha Mudalegundi, University of Miami
    • 3rd Place: Jovany Betancourt, Florida International University

    Poster Presentation:

    • 1st Place: Aimee Doiron, Nova Southeastern University
    • 2nd Place: John Peroza, Indian River State College
    • 3rd Place: Maria Daniela Santiago, Florida International University
  • 2017

    Location:

    Palm Beach State College

    Winners:

    Oral Presentation:

    • Ezana Assefa, Nova Southeastern University
    • Jorge Monroy, Indian River State College
    • Diarra Dia, Florida Memorial University

    Poster Presentation:

    • Danielle Bartz, Florida Atlantic University
    • Zoe Cosner, University of Miami
    • Jonathan Rivera, Florida Atlantic University
  • 2016

    Location:

    Broward College

    Winners:

    Oral Presentation:

    • tephanie Cheng, University of Miami
    • Emanuele Costantino, Miami Dade College
      • Wesam Ajavjeh, Barry, Florida International University
      • Haroldo Rodriguez, Florida International University

     Poster Presentation:

      • Sarah Mitchell, Florida Atlantic University
      • Alejandro Hernandez, Florida International University
      • Amelia Bahamonde, University of Miami
  • 2015

    Location:

    Indian River State College

    Winners:

    Oral Presentation:

    • 1st Place: Tevin Ali, Palm Beach State College
    • 2nd Place: Victoria Hoelscher, Barry University
    • 3rd Place: Lazaro Mesa, Florida International University

    Poster Presentation:

    • 1st Place: Johan Sanchez, Barry University
    • 2nd Place: Divya Pandya, Nova Southeastern University
    • 3rd Place: Christine Wipfli, Florida International University
  • 2014

    Location:

    Florida International University

    Winners:

    Oral Presentation I:

    • 1st Place: Sergeine Lezeau, Florida Atlantic University
    • 2nd Place: Hollyanne Apuli, Indian River State College

    Oral Presentation II: 

    • 1st Place: Syed Raza, Florida Atlantic University
    • 2nd Place: Sam K. Powell, University of Miami

    Poster Presentation:

    • 1st Place: Taaha Mendha, University of Miami
    • 2nd Place: Nicole Lopez, Barry University
    • 3rd Place: Leidy Gonzalez, Florida International University
  • 2013

    Location: Miami Dade College

    Winners:

    Oral Presentation:

    • 1st Place: Ruslan Garcia, Florida International University
    • 2nd Place (tie): 
      • Michael Butts, Palm Beach State College
      • Alex Perez, Florida International University

    Poster Presentation:

    • 1st Place: Danielle Howard, Florida Atlantic University
    • 2nd Place: Samantha Amat, Florida Atlantic University
    • 3rd Place: Katherine Leon, Miami Dade College