Students

Did You Know?…

… Students who present their research at IFoRE ‘24, either orally or in poster form, have the opportunity to win awards, including cash prizes, paid membership dues, and induction into Sigma Xi?

IFoRE ‘24 continues a long tradition of student participation in Sigma Xi’s annual meetings and research conferences. Students who attend IFoRE get unique opportunities to network with peers, showcase their research, learn invaluable science communication skills, and discover future opportunities by connecting with school programs and professionals in their field.

Student research presentations will be evaluated by a panel of expert judges. IFoRE Awards will be given to top presenters at each student level, across most disciplines. Special awards will also be designated for interdisciplinary research entries.

Students interested in presenting research at IFoRE:

Step 1—Visit the IFoRE Student Registration Page and complete the student registration form. (Discounted rates are available for all students.)

Step 2—Once you complete your conference registration, you will receive a confirmation email that includes a direct link to the research submission portal, where you will be able to upload your abstract and research materials for review and entry into the IFoRE student research competition.

Note: Students MUST complete IFoRE registration before submitting their research.

(In the unlikely event that a student’s research submission is not accepted or incomplete, student’s will be offered a refund for their registration fees.)

Students may compete in one of 13 discipline-specific research categories:

  • 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

In addition to the discipline-specific research categories, students may select an interdisciplinary category if their research project contributes to developing solutions for any of the following national or global pressing issues:

  • Understanding the Universe (Astronomy and Space Sciences)

  • Biology and Biotechnology (Understanding the Brain, Origins of Life (Assembling Tree of Life), Understanding Biological Systems)

  • Environmental Challenges (Providing Access to Clean Water, Mitigating Climate Change, Food Security, Managing the Nitrogen Cycle, Sustaining Clean Air, Preserving Biodiversity)

  • Human Health (Advancing Drug Design and Limiting Drug Resistance, Advancing Health Informatics, Advancing Vaccines, Preventing Pandemics, Cancer Detection and Therapy)

  • Advances in Computation (Cyber Security, Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence)

  • Engineering (Making Solar Energy Affordable, Engineering Tools for Scientific Discoveries such as Lasers, Cameras, or Software)

  • Design, Construction, and Manufacturing (Improving Urban Infrastructure, Innovations in Manufacturing, Advanced Materials)

  • Critical Breakthroughs (Energy from Fusion)

  • Tools for Science, Education, and Personalized Learning

  • Human Sciences and Policy

Resources for Student Presenters: