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CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a
nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu.
For an accessible format of this publication, visit cfaes.osu.edu/accessibility.
2022 Annual Research Poster Competition
GRADUATE/PROFESSIONAL GUIDELINES
T
he Ohio State University is one of the world’s best public research universities, offering about
280 graduate study programs in all. Research is a key component of graduate education, and the
College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) translates this cutting-edge
research to stakeholders across the state. By engaging with our stakeholders, we provide
research, technology, and knowledge to support safe, sustainable, and viable agricultural
practices across Ohio and the world. Each year, the research done by our students and research
scientists is put on display at the CFAES Annual Research Conference and Poster Competition.
P
OSTER COMPETITION ELIGIBILITY
The Graduate and Professional Poster Competition is open to any currently enrolled or recently
graduated (Spring 2021 or later) students, including M.S., Ph.D., and professional students,
working on a CFAES supported project. Post-docs and Research Assistants/ Associates/
Scientists, including Visiting Scholars that are not currently enrolled in an advanced degree
program, are also invited to participate. There will be separate competitions held for Master’s
students, Doctoral students, Post-doctoral Scholars, and Research Assistants/ Associates/
Scientists.
Entrants may present only posters on original research they have conducted while at The Ohio
State University. Students don’t need to have completed their research to participate in the
poster competition. For research in progress, rather than including your final results, we will ask
you to discuss initial observations about the progress you have made.
RE
VIEW PROCESS & AWARDS
Separate competitions will be held for Master’s students, Doctoral students, Post-docs, and
Research Assistants/ Associates/ Scientists.
All posters will undergo a review process during which they will be scored. Poster judges are
recruited from a variety of fields within CFAES, so it is recommended that content is clearly
explained for the non-technical audience. Evaluations will be based on the abstract, poster
content, design, and the poster presentation according to a rubric developed by the Conference
Committee, which can be found at https://annualconference.cfaes.osu.edu/poster.asp
.
First, second, and third place winners in each competition will receive awards of $500, $300, and
$150, respectively. Winners will be announced at the CFAES Annual Research Conference
Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 14, 2020. Winners must participate in all aspects of the
competition to be eligible for award (including attending a poster session). Excused absences for
non-moveable obligations or challenges (e.g., a final exam or unexpected illness) will be allowed
with written explanation from the entrant’s advisor or supervisor. If a participant is unable to
complete the requirements of the competition, their advisor needs to provide a justification by
emailing the Graduate Education Coordinator, Kayla Arnold (arnold.1065@osu.edu) or they will be
disqualified from the competition.
POSTER AND ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
Participants in the poster competition must submit their abstract and a PDF of their poster by
5:00pm on Wednesday, March 23, 2020 at oardc.ohio-state.edu/annualconference/
posterreg.asp.
An e-mail confirmation will be sent to the entrant to acknowledge receipt of submission. The
website will be closed for submission at the deadline and no late submissions will be accepted.
The following will be required during the submission process:
P
oster registration form: Participants must submit their name, degree sought,
department, advisor’s name and email address.
Abstract: Must include title, authors, and a maximum 250-word summary of the study and
findings.
Poster: All posters must use a university approved poster template, which can be found at
brand.cfaes.ohio-state.edu/brand-template-categories/research-posters
. Failing to use
the pre-approved template will result in elimination from the competition. Each poster
sho
uld be uploaded in PDF format.
A
ll abstracts can be published in the Knowledge Bank and made available online, allowing the
abstracts to be listed in the authors’ curriculum vitae. In order to have their posters uploaded,
participants must complete the Knowledge Bank License Agreement
and submit this to the
Graduate Education Program Manager via email. Otherwise, posters will not be posted online.
P
OSTER PREPARATION GUIDELINES
Poster Size: One sided, no larger than 42” x 36” displayed horizontally or vertically.
Format: All posters must use the university approved poster template, which can be found
at brand.cfaes.ohio-state.edu/brand-template-categories/research-posters
.
Each poster should include:
1. Title BannerIncluding the title, author(s), and department(s). The entrant must be
the first author listed.
2. Introduction – A clear and concise statement of the rationale, hypothesis, and
justification for the project, the objectives of the research, and general approach.
3. Materials and Methods – An outline of the key materials and methods defining
how the experiment or study was conducted.
4. Results – Tables, figures, photos, etc., showing and documenting experimental
findings and analyses.
5. Conclusions and DiscussionA statement of the conclusions from the study
results and a brief explanation of the study’s scientific rigor, discoveries and their
significance, and congruence (or lack of) with the body of scientific knowledge.
6. Acknowledgments and ReferencesA brief acknowledgment of other
contributors who are not authors, and key literature references to the study, if
required.
Note: Students pursuing a professional degree who would like to submit a
poster that may not follow these exact content guidelines, please contact the
Graduate Education Coordinator, Kayla Arnold for further details.
L
egibility: All text and figures should be readable from a distance of one meter, including
captions and figure legends. Illustrations should be relatively large with heavy lines.
Colors may be used to accent features or visibility.
Continuity: The presentation should be a coherent series of statements and supportin
g
ill
ustrations, with each leading to the next, which show the flow of the presentation and
the progression of the study.
AWARDS CEREMONY
All participants mu
st also register separately for the awards ceremony by 5:00pm on Friday,
April 8, 2022 at annualconference.cfaes.osu.edu/default.asp.
DAY OF PRESENTATIONS
Posters must be set up by the beginning of your session time on Monday, April 11 or Tuesday,
April 21, 2022. There will be opportunities to present at either the Nationwide & Ohio 4-H
Center or the Wooster Campus Conference Center (1680 Madison Ave, Wooster, OH 44691).
Access to the area will begin approximately 1 hour before your session is scheduled to begin.
Presenters are expected to attend the conference and participate in one live, in-person poster
session, on April 11 or 12. Students should stand by their posters and be prepared to answer
questions and discuss their research. This portion will count for 15% of their total poster score,
as outlined above. Transportation will be provided as needed.
Display boards and pins for mounting will be provided for display of posters. Posters must remain
up until the end of your session. Posters should be removed immediately following your poster
session.
IM
PORTANT DATES
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Registration portal opens
Wednesday, March 9, 2022,
5:00pm
Deadline to register to participate in the poster competition
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
5:00pm
Deadline to submit PDF of poster online along with abstract
Monday, April 11 and Tuesday,
April 12
Poster presentations in person, to be held at the 4H Center
in Columbus and the Wooster Conference Center in
Wooster
Thursday, April 14, 2022
TBD
Annual Research Conference Awards Ceremony
AWARD PRESENTATION
Awards will be presented at the CFAES Research Award Ceremony to be held virtually via
Zoom on Thursday, April 14.