OUR and Sigma Xi Student Research Showcase
The Office of Undergraduate Research is excited to announce open applications for participation in the Virginia Tech cohort (up to 10 students) for the Sigma Xi Student Research Showcase. The conference will showcase research presentations from over 300 students representing institutions from the U.S. and abroad.
The selected student cohort will work together from February-March 2026, receiving mentorship from Dr. Deborah Good, Co-Director and Faculty Fellow for the Office of Undergraduate Research, as well as peer reviews from the cohort, to create individual webpages containing an abstract, a PowerPoint presentation, and a video describing their undergraduate research project. The cohort will then attend the sessions of the Student Research showcase on Sunday evenings from April 12-26, 2026. During the judging period, more than 60 Sigma Xi members volunteer as judges to evaluate students’ submissions and engage in digital conversations with presenters through their websites.
Students in the cohort will not only present on an international stage, alongside hundreds of other undergraduates, high school students, and graduate students, but also might win prizes up to $500 in their category. Last year one person in our cohort of five won their category!!
In addition, all student presenters will be eligible to be inducted in the Virginia Tech Chapter of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society.
Read more information on the showcase
Since Sigma Xi is a STEM-based organization, the research projects must be in one of the following categories/disciplines:
Research Project Disciplines
- Agriculture, Soil, and Natural Resources
- Anthropology
- Cell Biology and Biochemistry
- Chemistry
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- Engineering
- Environmental Sciences
- Geo-sciences
- Human Behavioral and Social Sciences
- Math and Computer Science
- Microbiology and Molecular Biology
- Physics and Astronomy
- Physiology and Immunology
- Name
- Major
- Academic Level
- Transfer Student
- Ethnicity
- Are you participating in a least one credit/three hours per week of undergraduate research for Spring 2026 semester?
- Have you participated in at least one previous semester of undergraduate research?
- How many total credits of undergraduate research have you taken while at Virginia Tech (through Fall 2025)?
- Who is your research mentor?
- What is the name of the department or institute where you are doing research in (i.e. Department of Chemistry or National Security Institute), not the descriptive category.
- Which of these categories does your research project fit into (you can select more than one). (Agriculture, Soil, and Natural Resources, Anthropology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Chemistry, Ecology and Evolution Biology, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Geo-sciences, Human Behavioral and Social Sciences, Math and Computer Science, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Physics and Astronomy Physiology and Immunology, and Other)
- Describe the project you would like to present, giving your current findings and the “big picture” context (the “so-what”) of your research in ~250 words or less.
- Are you available to meet every scheduled in person day of this program? Week of February 16, 23, March 2, 9,16, 23, April 12, 19, 26.
- Why are you interested in taking part in the Sigma Xi Student Research Showcase Virginia Tech cohort? What do you hope to gain from this experience?
- Upload a letter from your research mentor approving your participation in the program. This letter is a recommendation, but rather should state the following: That you are currently doing an undergraduate research project in their laboratory. That you have independent results to present. That they understand that your research abstract, video and Powerpoint will be published in the Sigma Xi website for the Showcase. That they agree for you to participate in the program, if selected.
Applications are due by Sunday, January 25, 2026, 11:00 p.m.
Dates and activities of the cohort
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
Week of February 16 |
View previous winners and discuss “best practices” |
Week of February 23 |
Work on abstracts, and webpage layout |
Week of March 2 |
Finalize abstracts for March 13 deadline, and work on videos/PowerPoint |
Week of March 9 |
Spring Break-no meeting |
Week of March 16 |
Finalize videos, PowerPoints, and webpage |
Week of March 23 |
Group viewing of your webpage, final edits for April 3 deadline. |
Sunday, April 12 |
Opening Program: 5:00–7:00 p.m. |
Monday, April 13-Tuesday, April 21 |
Judging Period: watch for comments/questions on your project |
| Sunday, April 19 | Career/Mentoring workshops 5:00-7:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, April 26 | Closing Program and winners announced 5:00–7:00 p.m. |
Applicants must secure a letter from their research mentor, prior to submission of their application which provides a statement of the following:
- Confirmation that you are currently doing an undergraduate research project with their group and have participated in at least one previous semester of undergraduate research.
- Confirmation that you have results to present (data you have generated).
- Statement agreeing that your research abstract, video and PowerPoint be published to the Sigma Xi Project Board website. See an example of this site from the 2024 competition.
- Statement they agree for you to participate fully in the program, if selected.
Summary of Eligibility, Expectations, and Benefits to Students
- Successful applicants must be currently active in undergraduate research with at least one previous semester of research experience in one of the disciplines listed above. The research project should have results/data that can be described in the application and are your results (i.e. you independently produced these data or were part of a team that produced these data).
- Applicants must agree to be present at all cohort meetings as part of the mentoring process for Student Research Showcase (February-March), and during the judging and zoom meetings held by the conference (March-April); see dates above and check your schedule prior to applying.
- Applicants must secure a letter of confirmation for participation from their mentor. This is not a recommendation letter, and this letter will only be used to confirm your eligibly for the program.
- Selected students will receive mentoring on research presentations, including PowerPoint preparations, abstracts, and videos. They will also peer mentor other members of the cohort.
- Selected students will be eligible to receive up to $500 in prize monies from Sigma Xi if their webpage presentation is selected (see webpage).
- Students will be encouraged to also apply to the Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Conference (deadline April 9, 2026).
Apply by Sunday, January 25, 2026.
Please email any questions to Dr. Deborah Good, co-Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research.