Indy Student Showcase FAQs
How do I apply to present?
The application process is completed online via the OURConnect conference portal. How-to guides are available for the abstract submission and mentor approval processes. If you have problems with the online application system, please email us UGResearch@purdue.edu.
Do I need to be a student at the Purdue University Indianapolis location to present?
Yes. The Purdue's Student Innovation & Excellence Showcase is open to only Purdue University students who are at the Indianapolis location. Purdue students in West Lafayette and Indianapolis can present their work at the Spring Undergraduate Research Conference.
Can I still apply if I am still in the early stages of my project?
Yes. Your project does not have to be completed to be considered. Many students present ongoing projects with preliminary results or anticipated findings. Students also submit to present knowing that by the time of the Showcase, more may be available to present.
Can I present if I am not a Purdue student?
Yes, only if you are working with a Purdue research mentor or a Purdue-related program.
Can I submit applications for more than one research project where I am the primary/first author?
No, a student can only be the primary/first author on one submission. Multiple students may appear on multiple projects, but a student may only be the first author for one submission.
How long should my abstract/project description be?
Abstracts should be no more than 250 words.
Can someone show me how to write an abstract/project description?
Yes. The Office of Undergraduate Research is available to help you write your description, and you can utilize the resources in the Purdue Writing Lab and at the top of the Apply website. Look out for workshops to help get abstract questions answered as the deadline gets closer.
I am a faculty member and I received an email stating that a student indicated I was their mentor. Why did I receive this email?
Students must indicate a mentor on their application for presenting their project. You were included in the application for a student who has submitted a proposal for a research conference or symposium. Please contact the student and the Office of Undergraduate Research as soon as possible if you were unaware of this submission.
Can I update an abstract submission after I initially submit it?
Primary authors and primary mentors (listed first) can update abstracts after they have been submitted. Primary mentors should work with the students to make the updates instead of denying them unless it is not to be presented. This way, the student can make the updates directly before the mentor goes in and approves the final version.
However, this means that each update submitted by the primary author, even after being approved, requires additional approval by the primary mentor. This ensures changes are approved and nothing is accidentally presented incorrectly.
All submissions will have a final cut-off for any changes to titles, abstracts, and authors to be communicated after the deadline.
When I enter a Purdue email address that works and click "Confirm," the application site says it is invalid. What should I do?
Some individuals have "vanity" emails that work but are not connected to institutional data. OURConnect uses institutional data. The best way to locate someone's non-vanity email is to search them on the Purdue directory and include their "alias" with @purdue.edu as their email in OURConnect. The name should show up when you click "Confirm." If this does not work, please contact ugresearch@purdue.edu.
What is the dress code for presenting during the Showcase?
We recommend dressing at least in business casual for the presentations, but there is no official dress code. You will see individuals in business professional clothing, too. If you need assistance obtaining business casual or professional clothes, consider the Center for Career Opportunities' Career Closet.
Is the Indy Student Showcase judged with awards for the top presenters?
No, the Indy Showcase is not formally judged. However, there is a way to provide feedback during the event in an informal capacity. The Fall Expo and the Spring Conference are formally judged and do provide awards to the top presenters. These events are open to all Purdue University students.
What size should my poster be?
Posters should be 3' (36") wide by 2' (24") tall. This is a non-standard poster size due to the size of the poster boards and the space available.
How can I print my poster?
Posters will be printed on behalf of student presenters and brought to the event if submitted by April 14, 2025 following emailed instructions. Students will need to print and bring their posters if they do not submit their poster by this deadline. If students need to print and bring their posters, they should work with their research mentors on how this should be done.
Are there poster templates I should use for the Showcase?
Beyond staying within the 3'x2' size limitation, the content of the poster is up to you, your research team/mentor, and/or program . However, there are templates and recommendations through Purdue Marketing & Communications and Purdue Libraries & School of Information Studies. However, please ensure that the sizes are correct when you start using templates.
What is the "Authorship Standard" and how do I know who is included as an author on my abstract submission?
Many organizations, journals, and conferences publish guidelines for author identification. In the absence of such a guideline, include authors based on the following from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors:- Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND
- Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; AND
- Final approval of the version to be published; AND
- Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Acknowledgments may be used to denote contributions to the work that do not meet the criteria of authorship, such as supporting the study, general mentoring, acting as study coordinator or research technician, and other related auxiliary activities. Authors should verify that all individuals noted in an acknowledgments section have granted their permission to be listed.
- Undergraduate presenting authors: Undergraduate student who deserves authorship credit for this presentation and will be presenting this work at the conference.
- Undergraduate contributing authors: Undergraduate student who deserves authorship credit for this presentation but will not be presenting this work at the conference.
- Undergraduate researcher acknowledgments: Undergraduate student with substantial contribution to the research project but does not deserve authorship credit for this presentation.
For Purdue OUR conferences, mentors (non-undergraduate students who participate in the work) are listed separately to indicate their role with the project.
Is there a certificate I can receive for presenting during the Indy Student Showcase?
Yes! There are individualized certificates that are available. These will be available in May.
What is the research study referenced in the automatic emails I received?
Any data collected for this event – including the application, presentation feedback evaluations (if they exist), event evaluations, and additional data obtained from the Office of the Registrar – may be used for research purposes by the Office of Undergraduate Research and study investigators for an IRB-approved study titled “Undergraduate Research Conferences” (IRB-2023-1142). To learn more about this study, please review the study information sheet. Data for this study will be deidentified prior to any analyses and reporting. Data will be excluded as follows:
- Abstracts are automatically excluded for presentations when the abstract is not approved to be published within the event information.
- Cases are automatically excluded for any presenter who is a minor at the time of the event.
- Additional cases are excluded for any presenter/mentor who opts out of their data use for research purposes.
Any exclusions or inclusions for research purposes do not impact any presenter’s selection to participate in the event.
Are there opportunities to volunteer during the Showcase?
Yes! If you are interested, please email UGResearch@purdue.edu.