2025 Spotlight on Student Research

Be Inspired! Be a Part of the Spotlight Audience.

Event Date/Time: April 11 from 11am to 4pm

The College of Liberal Arts is pleased to announce the Annual Spotlight on Student Research. The yearly event features undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Liberal Arts who have or are in the process of conducting research projects or creative activities under the guidance of UTA faculty.

Have questions? Email us (liberalarts@uta.edu) for inquires.

Call for Proposals

Deadline: March 7, 2025

Spotlight highlights innovative research by University of Texas at Arlington students in the College of Liberal Arts. Presentations will take place on campus. As a student, you can submit a presentation for one of the following sessions:

1. Paper sessions: Present a paper of your own novel research for approximately 10 minutes. This includes previously submitted academic work, such as a semester research project. Unsure about what to submit? Speak to your faculty mentors or professors.
2. Poster sessions: Present a creatively organized research project into poster form for a presentation that engages symposium attendees (your audience) as they view your poster and offer additional insights into the posters.
3. Rendition sessions: Share creative works through performance, spoken word, storytelling, and so on. Performances must be 5-10 minutes.

HOW DO I SUBMIT A PROPOSAL?

Now that you want to present, you will start with the online submission form:

Submit your proposal

Paper & Poster Abstract Guidelines and Text
To be considered for presentation, submit a one-page abstract, single-spaced in size 12 Times New Roman font (300-word limit). Your abstract should discuss why this research is significant and any areas where the research remains unfinished or in-process.

The abstract content depends on your discipline of study, but here are some broad categories of the elements that most abstracts include:

• Statement of the issue/problem and why this is significant. If this was part of a class project, state the overall goals of the project.
• Description of your research, including methodology
• Findings, or expected findings, if applicable
• A conclusion and recommendation for future research

Rendition Abstract Guidelines and Text
If this is a rendition, you will explain what and how you will be presenting work (i.e., poetry reading, music performance, spoken word, exhibition, etc.). Abstracts should be one-page, single-spaced in size 12 Times New Roman font (300-word limit)

• Artist Statement
• Description of the context of your rendition, including influences / inspirations.
• What is your medium or delivery? This includes performance, oil painting, spoken word, etc.
• A conclusion and recommendation for future related work

WHAT ARE THE PRESENTATION GUIDELINES?

Paper Presentation Guidelines
If your proposal is selected, you will be assigned to a specific panel and a time slot and allowed no more than 10 minutes to present your paper. During your presentation, you may have hand-outs or may present a power-point or video. This is an in-person, live presentation.

Poster Presentation Guidelines
Poster presentations are an effective forum to communicate research. You must present the poster in-person. You will have 5 minutes to present your poster. If selected, you will prepare a poster using the following guidelines that augment your departmental poster requirements.

• Must display UT-Arlington College of Liberal Arts graphic identity
• Must display your name, major, sponsoring faculty and project title
• Typically, no more than 3 colors
• High resolution photos only

Rendition Presentation Guidelines
Rendition presentations are ideal for poetry readings, performances, exhibitions, storytelling, and so on. You will have 5-10 minutes to present your rendition. Please note that not all accommodations can be met for what you may envision, such as additional or specialty lighting. However, you will be able to work with a member of the Spotlight committee to make your rendition as successful as possible.

Judging Criteria
All presentations will have a panel of faculty judges who represent Liberal Arts. Judges will use a rubric that measures your presentation in 3 areas: Content, Delivery, and Impact. Judges will select winners of the cash prize (amount to be determined based on available budget).

WHAT IS THE TIMELINE? 

March 7, 2025: Submission of Abstracts due by Midnight

March 17, 2025: Notifications of decisions. You will receive an email explaining your next steps

March 26, 2025: Conference Success Q&A (Come & Go)

April 11, 2025: Spotlight on Student Research Event

Submit your proposal

Faculty Spotlight Liaisons

If you have questions, please contact your departmental contact for answers. This includes basic questions, such as “On what topic may I present?” or “Who will be my faculty mentor?”