Purdue Undergrad Research Pitch Competition

March 27, 2025 | 7-9pm

Grissom Hall, Room 103

Purpose

What giant leaps are undergraduate researchers completing at Purdue? The Undergraduate Research Pitch Competition highlights undergraduate researchers' projects while promoting concise and effective storytelling during this event celebrating undergraduate research.

What is a "research pitch"?

A research pitch is a (very) short story describing your research project in a way that describes your work to an audience, usually a general audience. A research pitch is similar to an "elevator pitch," but focuses on your research project and experience instead of yourself to employers or graduate programs.

Who can enter?

The pitch competition is open to any currently enrolled Purdue University undergraduate, at the West Lafayette or Indianapolis locations, involved in a research or creative endeavor in any major and discipline. Your work can be an independent project or one working with a research mentor.

How do I enter?

• Submit a brief (250-300-word) project summary and a draft of the visual component that would be used during the presentation.
  • Project summaries can be an abstract or an artist's statement. If you are unsure how to summarize your work, please contact the OUR.
  • The visual component draft helps provide additional context to the review panel and will provide an opportunity for feedback on how to improve the final live presentation.
• The project summary and visual draft should be submitted as a PDF or image via this Qualtrics form.

How am I selected?

• A panel of judges will evaluate your submission and will determine the final live presenters.
• The top submissions will be announced by March 14, 2025.

Live Undergraduate Research Pitch Competition

• Presenters must present in person and audience members may be present in person or watch the livestream.
• Participants are allowed one static PowerPoint slide during their talk.
• A panel of judges will evaluate the three-minute pitches using the following categories.
• The top presenters and an audience favorite will be announced at the end of the event.

Are there awards?

• We are currently determining awards for the 2025 Pitch Competition. For reference, the following were 2024 awards:
  • $300 for 1st, $200 for 2nd, $100 for 3rd
  • $100 for the Audience Favorite
    • Audience favorite is determined through a survey by those at the in-person event.
    • Awards will be distributed to the student's account through the Division of Financial Aid.
  • Top presenters will receive donated prizes from the following sponsors:
    • Mary Lou Donuts
    • Vienna Espresso Bar & Bakery
    • HuHot Mongolian Grill
    • GQT Movies

Resources

• "Want to be a great storyteller? First, break these habits"
• Learn to condense your research story into a Three Minute Thesis
• Avoid "Death by PowerPoint"
• Prepare your own "TEDx Talk"
• Watch other undergraduate research pitch competition videos 

Past Events

2024 Research Pitch Program | Photos

2023 Research Pitch Program | Photos

2022 Research Pitch Program | Photos

2021 Research Pitch Program | Photos

2020 Research Pitch Program