Penn State Lehigh Valley Campus

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Students from the eight eastern Penn State campuses are invited to present posters showcasing their scholarly research at the annual Penn State Eastern Regional Undergraduate Research Symposium.  The symposium will be held at the Penn State Lehigh Valley campus on April 20, 2024, from 10:30–4:30 p.m.

Tentative Schedule

Event Time
Poster set up 10:30–11:00 a.m.
Lunch  11:00 a.m.
Opening Remarks 11:45 a.m.
Keynote  Noon
Judging (votes in by 2:20 p.m.) 1:00–2:20 p.m.
Presentations continue, results compiled, etc

2:20–3:00 p.m.
Awards 3:00 p.m.

Keynote Speaker:

Director Cole Donovan
Keynote Title: “Mega Science, Mega Diplomacy”

Man looking at camera

Cole Donovan serves as Assistant Director for Research Security and Infrastructure in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), detailed from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.  Previously, he served as OSTP’s Assistant Director for International Science and Technology at the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration.  He previously served as Advanced Technology Coordinator in the Office of Science and Technology Cooperation at the State Department, in addition to serving as the Department’s representative to the National Science and Technology Council Research and Development Infrastructure Subcommittee and the Physical Sciences Subcommittee. 

Cole’s career has focused on implementing research security policy, promoting U.S. leadership in major international facilities, and fostering collaboration with U.S. allies and partners.  As a State Department Foreign Affairs Officer, Cole was awarded runner-up for the Keith J. Krach Award for Excellence in Economic Security for his efforts to ensure that future large research facilities investments take place in like-minded countries and the Rockwell Anthony Schnabel Award for Advancing U.S.-EU Relations.  He led U.S. negotiations toward science agreements with the United Kingdom and CERN, worked to make it easier for the U.S. academic community to engage with the EU’s framework programs for research and innovation, and served as the action officer for the U.S. relationship for large-scale international projects including the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility, CERN, and the ITER fusion facility.

Project Categories

The symposium is separated into four categories, and each campus can submit up to two projects per category

  • Arts and Humanities

  • Biological Sciences and Health

  • Physical Sciences, Information Sciences, and Engineering

  • Social Sciences and Business

Judging rubric
Posters should not exceed 48" x 36"

Registration

Student presenters are selected by their host campuses to participate in this regional research symposium. Students should consult their research mentor before registering. 

Registration for attendees and presenters is due by April 11. Presenters must register for both presenting and attending.

Register to Present

Judges

Please Consider Volunteering to Judge

Register to judge

Contact for Penn State Lehigh Valley

Todd Retzlaff
Associate Professor, Mathematics
Email: [email protected] Phone: 610-285-5104