Florida A&M University will host its 4th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium as a standalone event on April 8, marking a shift from its traditional place within STEM Week celebrations. Tiffany Ardley, Ph.D., director of the Office of Undergraduate Research at FAMU, said the date was chosen deliberately and approved by university leadership to highlight the importance of undergraduate research in the academic calendar.
The symposium aims to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration among students and faculty by organizing presentations into three main thematic areas: behavioral sciences, health sciences, and STEM. This structure allows students from diverse fields—such as broadcast journalism and mechanical engineering—to share ideas and approaches that reflect real-world professional collaboration.
To encourage participation across all experience levels, the event features separate groups for freshmen and for sophomores and upperclassmen. Organizers say this format gives first-year students a unique opportunity to present their work alongside more experienced peers. “The symposium is more than an assignment; it is a testament to the resilience and tenacity of our students,” organizers noted. Students spend months working with faculty mentors to develop their projects for presentation before expert judges.
The program begins at 10:00 a.m. with poster setup at Al Lawson concourse, followed by an opening session at 10:30 a.m., main poster presentations from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., final judging at 12:30 p.m., networking lunch at 1:00 p.m., and concludes with an awards ceremony at 2:00 p.m. “The structured nature of the day, from the morning setup to the final awards, is designed to mirror professional academic conferences,” Ardley said. “We want our students to feel the weight of their contributions and understand that their research has value far beyond the classroom.”
University leaders including the president, provost, and Title III director are expected to attend in support of high-impact academic outcomes promoted by both the Office of Undergraduate Research and Office of the Provost.
The event is free and open to all members of FAMU’s community as well as alumni and members of the public seeking more information about student research initiatives.
