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Susan A. Siltanen Graduate Student Research Symposium

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The Susan A. Siltanen Graduate Student Research Symposium will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2026 from 10:00am-11:30am in the Thad Cochran Center (2nd Floor). The Graduate Symposium is open to the public from 10:00-11:30am, while the Awards Luncheon is exclusive to participating students, judges, and invited faculty. The Awards Luncheon will be held in the Thad Cochran Center Grand Ballroom, 3rd floor, from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. The symposium winners, as well as the Graduate Mentor, Research Assistant, and Teaching Assistant of the Year awards, will be announced. The awards luncheon will also be livestreamed on the Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ page. 

What is the Graduate Student Research Symposium?

Each year the Graduate School and the Graduate Student Senate host the Susan A. Siltanen Graduate Student Research Symposium. The symposium provides graduate students with an opportunity to present their research to faculty, staff and students in a friendly competitive environment through oral and poster presentations. The symposium is designed to enhance the scholarly environment for graduate students and highlight the innovative and scholarship being done by Southern Miss graduate students. In addition, the Graduate Faculty Mentor of the Year and Graduate Assistant of the Year will be announced.

Eligibility and Presentation Guidelines

Students are required to present original research completed as part of their degree program at Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ. Previously presented research may be submitted. To participate in the symposium, students must first register and submit an abstract of no more than 300 words. Participants must choose either an oral or poster presentation format. Oral and poster presentations are limited to 10 minutes.

• All Master's and PhD students at Southern Miss are invited to participate.
• Students enrolled in 100% online programs can participate virtually. 

Oral Presentations (PowerPoint)

1. Oral presentations are delivered using a PowerPoint in landscape orientation, (8 1/2 x 14).

2. Oral presentations must include: 

• A title consistent with the submitted abstract
• Presenting author, coauthors, and principal investigator
• School and college names
• Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

3. Only one presenter is allowed, even if the project has multiple authors.

Poster Presentations

1. Posters must be 48 inches by 36 inches and displayed in landscape orientation.

2. Posters must include:

• A title consistent with the submitted abstract
• Presenting author, coauthors, and principal investigator
• School and college names
• Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

3. Two presenters are permitted if the project is a joint effort approved by a degree program.

Symposium Categories and Awards

Student will compete in four categories:

• Arts and Humanities
• Physical Sciences and Mathematics
• Social and Education Sciences and Business
• Life, Health and Environmental Sciences

First and second place winners will be recognized in each category. If a category does not receive a sufficient number of oral or poster presentations, the Graduate School reserves the right to reassign submissions to a different category.

1st Place for Each Category: $150
2nd Place for Each Category: $75

What Symposium resources can I take advantage of?

• Sample Poster Presentation
• Frequently Asked Questions

2025 Symposium Winners

Oral Presentations

Poster Presentations

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