LSU Summer Undergraduate Research Forum
The 32nd annual Summer Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF) will showcase the work of undergraduate students who have engaged in summer research projects at institutions throughout the LSU System. Visitors are welcome to attend any of the student presentation events.
Summer 2026 Event Details
Event Date: Friday, July 31, 2026
Event Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Deadline for student presenters to apply: To be announced. The application link will be emailed to summer research students registered with our office. Program directors, faculty mentors, and staff can register their summer research student's with our office via this form.
Location: To be announced.
Registration fee: $30
The schedule listed below is tentative and will be updated as we near the event date.
| Event | Time | Location | Details | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poster & display set-up | 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. | Follow set-up instructions found below | Presenters only | |
| Welcome Remarks | 9:00 - 9:10 a.m. | Presenters and visitors | ||
| Poster/Visual Display session | 9:10 - 11:00 a.m. | See instructions section below | Presenters and visitors | |
| Group Photo | 11:00 - 11:30 a.m. | Presenters only | ||
| Lunch | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Presenters and paid guests only | ||
| Panel: Pursuing Graduate Education | 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. | Presenters and visitors | ||
| Lightning Talks | 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. | See instructions section below | Presenters and visitors | |
| Keynote Speech | 2:30 - 3:00 p.m. | Presenters and visitors | ||
| Poster/display take down | 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. | Presenters only |
Details & Instructions for Presenters
Invited students can register to present either a Poster Presentation/Visual Display or a Lightning Talk. See below for more information about each presentation style.
This presentation format is for students who will present a poster, or some other
visual aid, which summarizes their research during the morning "Poster/Visual Display
Session." Students may display a poster and/or any of the following presentation
items: models, specimen, prototypes, laptops, screens, etc.
Make sure to note in your registration form all the presentation materials you intend to bring so that we can provide you with adequate space for your presentation display.
Our poster stands are 4 feet by 4 feet and we will provide you with velcro stickers to attach your poster to our stands. The standard conference/symposium poster measures 3 feet x 4 feet and can be built in PowerPoint or similar programs.
Presenters must be in attendance for the duration of the 2-hour session. Presenters should be prepared to give a short (3-5 minute) presentation to visitors.
All posters and display materials must be taken down by 3:00 PM on the day of the event.
If presenting a poster, make sure to include all presenter(s)’ and co-authors’ names and email addresses. All funding sources should be acknowledged in an “Acknowledgments” section on the poster as well.
In this presentation format, students will present a short, concise summary of their summer efforts. In plain, non-technical language, Lightning Talk presenters must explain: the broader impact of your research, the main question/hypothesis, a brief description of the methodology, what, if any, data you were able to collect this summer, and, if applicable, what are your next steps.
Rule #1: You may present a maximum of 3 slides. At minimum, you must present one title slide with your name, the department in which you conducted the research, project title, and mentor’s name.
Rule #2: You have exactly 2 minutes to give your presentation. You will be cut off at the 120 second mark even if you aren’t finished.
Rule #3: You must remain at the Lightning Talks event for the duration (no arriving late/leaving early).
Due to time constraints, selection for the Lightning Talks will be limited.
Submitting slides:
In order to keep with the fast pace of a Lightning Talk style event, we will not have time for the presenters to open files on jump-drives, attach laptops, or log into cloud accounts. Instead, we will compile all the presenters' slides into one continuous PowerPoint presentation a few days before the event.
In order to have this group slideshow ready in time for the event, you must email your slides to the Office of Undergraduate Research (lsuour@lsu.edu) by Wednesday, July 30th at 9:00 a.m. Slides must be in a PowerPoint format so that we can easily combine them into one slideshow document.
Professionalism:
- Arrive early to your presentation. It may take some time to set up so arrive at least 15-30 minutes early to make sure that you can begin your presentation promptly at the scheduled time.
- Make sure to be prepared for your presentation several days in advance of the event. Don’t wait until the last minute to print a poster or prepare materials.
Decorum:
- Student presenters are expected to act as representatives of their university/college/research group. Politely answer questions from visitors, and be courteous to your fellow presenters. When you are not scheduled to present, make sure to view other student presentations and ask questions. Should an issue arise, you should contact the event organizers before the event day (email: lsudiscover@lsu.edu) or by visiting the Check-In Desk during the event.
Dress Code:
- It is advised, but not mandated, that you dress in business casual or business professional for the event.
There are no overall awards given at SURF. However, each REU, or research cohort, is welcome to organize their own judging and awards. The winners from these cohorts can be announced during the closing remarks after the Keynote.
Past Events
Prior to 2023, the event was not hosted by our office.