Princeton Research Day 2024 submission portal is now open

Melinda Burton, Class of 2023, Economics, presented her project “Common Cents: The Impact of Personal Finance Education Mandates on Adult Financial Behavior” at Princeton Research Day in 2023. Photo by Sameer A. Khan
Annual event brings creative and scholarly works into the spotlight. Campus community and the public invited to engage on May 9.
The University’s annual public celebration of research and creativity, Princeton Research Day, will be held May 9 at Frist Campus Center.
Free and open to the public, the event offers a glimpse into the research and creative work conducted by early career researchers from across the University.
For presenters, it’s a chance to practice explaining complex ideas to non-specialist audiences including friends, family and community members, with the best videos and presentations earning prizes of up to $1,500.
Now through May 1, early career researchers and creators (undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars) are invited to create and submit 3-minute videos and posters to explain their scholarly or creative endeavors. All videos will be posted online by May 3 so they can be viewed by all, including panels of volunteer judges. On May 9 starting at noon, presenters will share their posters and displays at the PRD Showcase in Frist Campus Center, where presenters can network with fellow campus researchers and the community. The Showcase will be followed by a reception and Awards Celebration, which highlights the best videos and presentations, and includes Q&A discussions between winning presenters and University leaders.
Key dates for participants:
April 3: Presentation submission portal opens
May 1: Presentation submission deadline
May 3: Videos posted online for viewing and judging
May 9, 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Frist Campus Center: Showcase, reception and awards celebration
Find out more about how to prepare your presentation here.
Compelling outcomes
Now in its ninth year, Princeton Research Day has proven to be a valuable experience for presenters. Many participants have reported that creating their video and giving their presentation has helped them refine their speaking skills and even led to new research and creative opportunities.
Nathaniel Simon, graduate student in mechanical and aerospace engineering, said that creating and sharing his video last year attracted viewers who were interested in collaborating. His video, which won an Outstanding Presentation Award last year, highlighted his research on improving drone performance during windy conditions using new ultralight sensors. “I posted my video on YouTube, and it got a lot of people interested in my work who otherwise wouldn't have known about it,” he said. “A lot of people don’t want to read a blog post, but they’ll watch a three minute video.”
“I think this event is really worthwhile for the people submitting videos and for the people who attend the event, and it's awesome that the faculty are involved,” Simons said. “I’m definitely encouraging more people from my department to participate this year.”
Special awards
Volunteer judges will watch the videos and vote to award prizes for the best overall in-person presentations and videos, as wells as some special awards including:
- Campus Impact Award: recognizes a presentation by a participant whose work has positively impacted the campus in some way.
- Innovation and Entrepreneurial Mindset Award: recognizes the social, technological, and community impact that Princeton research and scholarship can have on the greater world.
- Graduate Student Impact Award: recognizes a presentation that communicates the positive impact that graduate-level research can have on enriching or improving our culture, community or society.
- Library Awards: recognizes two presentations that articulate thoughtful or innovative use of Library resources and services.
- The fan-favorite FitzRandolph Gate Awards: awarded to the most-voted-for video presentation and the most-voted-for in-person presentation.
Opportunities for exchange
For the public and the campus community alike, Princeton Research Day provides an opportunity to explore a vibrant cross-section of research and artistic expression at the University.
Danielle Samake, undergraduate class of 2024, said her presentation titled Uncovering Social Pathways to Economic Mobility for West African Women in the U.S. allowed her to connect with people from different parts of campus and from the community.
During Samake’s poster presentation last year, an attendee approached her and told her about his own immigration story. “It was cool to be able to make that connection with someone who was not necessarily part of the demographic that I was studying, but who found a lot of parallels between the story I was telling and his own,” Samake said. “Those are special connections that you can only really make at an event like Princeton Research Day.”
Princeton Research Day is free and open to the public, and registration is encouraged.
Princeton Research Day is a collaborative initiative between the offices of the Dean of the College, the Dean of the Graduate School, the Dean for Research and the Vice President for Campus Life, with support from the Dean of the Faculty and Office of the Provost.
Visit Princeton Research Day for information, important dates and tutorials for participants. The site also features a full showcase of past Princeton Research Day submissions.