2026 CNS Graduate Student Research Symposium
All CNS graduate students are invited to present their work, and the UMass community is invited to attend.
Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Location: Campus Center Auditorium (lower level of the campus center)
Program includes:
- Poster presentations
- Lightning talks
- Professional headshots
- Networking with alumni
- Presentation awards with prizes up to $250!
Submit an abstract by the EXTENDED DEADLINE Friday, February 13, 2026
Register to attend by Friday, March 20, 2026
The 2026 CNS Graduate Research Symposium is an opportunity to showcase the innovative work being conducted by our CNS graduate students. The event will feature 2 poster presentation sessions, and selected abstracts will be invited to deliver 4-5min lightning talk presentations. The event will conclude with a networking reception, where our graduate students will have a chance to meet with CNS alumni and all attendees can connect over light refreshments. Presentation awards will be announced during the networking reception. Award prizes will range in value up to $250.
The goal of this event is to provide CNS graduate students with a supportive opportunity to strengthen their written, visual, and oral communication skills by presenting their work for peers, faculty, alumni, and the broader UMass community. The Office of Professional Development at the Graduate School will be hosting workshops to support and prepare graduate students in these efforts - check out their upcoming workshops. Graduate students are also encouraged to reuse past posters if available.
Abstract Submission Guidelines
Abstract Submission Deadline: EXTENDED to Friday, February 13th at 5:00 PM
Need to work on your abstract? Join us at the CNS Grad and Postdoc Workspace - a dedicated time and space for working with caffeine, snacks, and support.
Tuesday, February 3rd from 9am - 11am in Stockbridge Hall Conference Room 201
Thursday, February 5th from 4pm - 6pm in ISB 145
All CNS graduate students who wish to present their research or project are required to submit an abstract. Abstracts should be 250 words or fewer. There are no specific formatting requirements, but we encourage students to structure their research abstracts as follows: Background, Methods, Results, and Discussion. Preliminary results or intended analyses are acceptable and welcome. You may submit an abstract previously used for another conference or event.
Questions: Please email Lara Roach, CNS Director of Graduate Student Success and Engagement, at lararoach [at] umass [dot] edu.