SLAS Student Poster Competition

The SLAS Student Poster Judging Panel reviews all qualifying poster presentations from the abstracts received in response to the Call for Abstracts. To qualify for entry into the SLAS Europe 2021 Student Poster Award, the author must opt in for consideration using the appropriate check box during the abstract submission process.

The panel of judges will be scheduled to do a virtual interview with each poster finalist. This will include a question-and-answer period. Presenters will be asked to sign up for this virtual interview.

Each of the top five (5) authors will be notified of their standing prior to SLAS Europe 2021.

In scoring the posters the judges will consider the following:

Pre-Conference Phase

Poster Design:

• Organisation: Is the poster content organised in a logical manner, such that experimental problem, approach and results are easily understood?
• Layout: Is the poster layout, look and feel well done? Does the presenter use appropriate font sizes, readable graphics, suitable colours, etc.?

Poster Content:

• Motivation/Background: Does the poster present sufficient context for the reader to understand the purpose and originality of the experiment as well as the background and motivation for performing the experiment?
• Approach: Does the poster present sufficient data on the experimental methods used for the reader to understand and judge the quality of the approach?
• Discussion: Does the poster demonstrate an understanding of the selected methods and technologies in the context of the state-of-the-art? Presenter should provide appropriate statistics.
• Conclusion: Does the poster present sufficient information and data to support the conclusion of the poster?

The panel of judges will have a set amount of time to visit each poster and move on to the next poster. This will include a question-and-answer period. Presenters will be notified of the approximate time the judges will visit each poster and of the time constraints of the on-site presentation. Each of the top five (5) presenters is required to remain at their poster for the duration of the poster session in order to be eligible for the award. Once the on-site panel of judges has determined the three winners, the Student Poster Award Chair will notify the winners in-person and provide details regarding the award ceremony.

Each candidate will be judged on the same criteria as listed below. In scoring the presentations the judges will consider the following:

On-site Phase

Poster Presentation:

• Timely Presentation: Did the presenter explain the key concept(s) of the poster within the time allowed?
• Content: Was the poster content presented clearly and concisely in a way that enhanced understanding of the written poster content? (Rather than just a verbatim reading of the poster itself.)
• Questions and Answers: Did the presenter satisfactorily answer questions from the judges within the time allowed?
• Overall Presentation: Was the presenter able to keep the judges’ attention during the presentation and was the presentation easily understood? Did the presenter show an appropriate level of enthusiasm for the research?

Candidates are encouraged to be dues-paying members of SLAS to participate in the contest and/or win the SLAS Student Poster Award; however, membership is not required.

Candidates must be the primary author of a selected poster abstract and must present their research during SLAS Europe 2021.

Candidates must be a student, graduate student, post-doctoral associate or junior faculty (less than four years in first academic appointment.) Tony B. Academic Travel Award winners presenting a poster will automatically be entered into the competition, but candidates are not required to have been selected for a Tony B. Academic Travel Award to qualify for the SLAS Student Poster Award.

The panel of judges will review only those poster presentations selected and slotted for the conference by the Annual Conference Programme Committee and submitted online for pre-screening by the published deadline. All candidates must adhere to the SLAS Abstract Submission policies, timelines, rules and regulations¹.

The following individuals are not eligible to participate in the SLAS Student Poster Award programme:

• SLAS Board of Directors, officers, the Scientific Program Committee*, contractors, employees, members of the Judging Panel, and/or those considered to be “insiders.”
• Candidates affiliated with anyone on the judging panel are permitted to participate, but the judge must recuse him or herself from evaluating that particular candidate.

*The SLAS Europe 2021 Conference Programme Committee comprises Conference Chairs and Session Chairs.

¹ Abstract Submission Policy SLAS invites academicians, scientists, and post-doctoral and graduate students to submit abstracts poster presentations for this international educational forum. Presentations will be hand-picked by the SLAS Scientific Program Committee. Rules, regulations and guidelines are subject to change at the discretion of the SLAS Board of Directors in accordance with bylaws, policies and procedures.

The cash prizes will be awarded on the day of the SLAS Student Poster Session assigned to the SLAS Student Poster Award presentations.

The following rules apply:

• The candidate presentation author, co-author, or a representative must be present to accept the award at the poster award ceremony (see full schedule). The cash prize is awarded solely to the winning presenting author.
• Prior to receiving the check, each winner will be required to fill out any appropriate tax forms.
• Winners have the option to decline the monetary award.
• The monetary award is not to be considered an obligation of SLAS.

Discrimination based on race, religion, gender, age, national origin, ethnicity, veteran’s status, or disability in regard to the SLAS Student Poster Award is prohibited. Each candidate shall be evaluated based on the award’s criteria, which are tied to the SLAS express purpose of advancing the science and education of technologies in the laboratory.