Office of the Dean
Main Building, Room 202
Main Building, Room 202
Office of Undergraduate Research
Flawn Academic Center, Room 22
2304 Whitis Avenue
Austin, Texas 78712
Phone: 512-471-5949 | Fax: 512-471-4990
Develop Content
Posters typically include many of the sections listed below. Starred items are required. Which sections do you need to include?
- Title*
- Collaborators and their institutional affiliations*
- Abstract
- Background/literature review
- Research question/s*
- Materials and methods*
- Results
- Discussion/conclusion
- Future directions
- Acknowledgments*
- Contact information
- Visual aids
Title
Select a title that effectively communicates the topic and significance of your project while retaining a professional tone. Avoid jargon; use terms all audience members can understand.
Collaborators & Institutional Affiliations
The order that you list the authors on the project matters a great deal. Check with your faculty supervisor for information on listing authors if you are working as part of a research team. If this is your independent research project, you are the sole author.
Abstract
An abstract is the succinct summary of your research project. It is customary in some disciplines to include your abstract on your poster. Ask your faculty advisor whether this is the case for your discipline, and learn about writing an effective abstract at the Undergraduate Writing Center.
Background & Literature Review
Make the case for your research question(s) and explain how your research contributes to the existing literature on the topic.
Research Question(s)
Provide a clear statement about the problem(s) you are trying to solve or the issue(s) you investigated.
Materials & Methods
This should be a brief description. Use visual aids to summarize information.
- What did you do to address your research question(s)?
- What measures did you use?
- What sample did you use?
- Were there any manipulations, comparisons, or correlations of interest?
- What are the strengths and limitations of your methodology?
Results
What were the outcomes of the research? You can express results quantitatively or qualitatively. If your research is in progress, report your preliminary results.
Discussion & Conclusion
What are the broader implications of your research and/or findings?
Future Directions
Did your research leave unanswered questions that could be explored in the future?
Acknowledgments
Thank your funding source(s) and acknowledge help from others not on the list of authors.
Contact Information
People looking at your poster should be able to contact you, even if you are not standing next to your poster. In a section titled “For Further Information,” provide your email address and, if applicable, a Web site that has information about your research.
Visual Aids
We highly recommend using graphics and images to communicate information. Not only will visual aids make your poster more interesting to look at, but they allow you to effectively tell your story without the use of lengthy text. Find a thorough discussion of Visual Aids at the Undergraduate Writing Center web site.
Adapted from College of Natural Sciences Poster Presentation Workshop materials.