Poster and Presentation Guidelines

The UNC Library System, UNC Health Sciences Library, and the UNC Graduate School, among other departments, have excellent resources for designing effective academic posters and presentations.

Please see the links below:

Poster design

You will have one poster board and easel on which you will place your poster. The space of the actual board measures 30” x 40” and we will have push pins available for your use although it helpful to bring a few of your own just in case. Your poster does not have to be these exact dimensions, but just remember that if you have a large poster, you may need to support the edges. We recommend that your smallest font be no smaller than 16 point font. You may use the logos available in the “UNC School of Medicine Logos” folder on your poster.

Poster printing

Here are some options for poster printing. Many students have their poster printed using funding from their principal investigators.

Lineberger Cancer Center Digital Imaging Facility (on first floor), $11 per linear foot for cancer center members, $22 per linear foot for non-members. http://unclineberger.org/dif/posters
Kinkos on Franklin Street.
PhD Posters – an affordable and high-quality option that has been recommended by some of our PhDs. Posters can be picked up at the Health Sciences Library.

Poster presentation

You can set up your poster at your assigned poster board on the morning of Student Research Day. Register at the check-in table prior to setting up your poster, and a JBG representative will assist you.
You should plan to be at or near your poster during the entire poster session so that you can present it to the judges and to attendees. Business professional clothes recommended.
You must take your poster down at the end of the poster session. We cannot guarantee the safety of any posters remaining after this time as we must clean and vacate the premises.
To be inducted into the society, you are expected to attend the keynote lecture.

Poster judging

Judges will select the best presentation in each category to receive either a Pillsbury or Kuno award.

The judges will be evaluating based on the following criteria.

Clarity and effectiveness of poster presentation
Explanation of study design, data, results, and conclusions
Knowledge of research topic
Quality of research performed
Ability to answer questions
Applications for future research
Aesthetic quality of presentation

Slide design

There are no specific guidelines for designing your slide presentation, except that your slides should be in Powerpoint format.

Be prepared to speak to a general student/faculty audience who will have varying backgrounds and training. Also, keep in mind the judging criteria below.

Do be wary of special formatting in your slide files. Video and graphic capability/compatibility may vary between computers, especially between Mac and PC computers, and between software versions. Transitions, animations, or sound effects may not work as planned, and they can even be distracting and take away from the presentation itself.

There are no specific guidelines for designing your slide presentation, except that your slides should be in Powerpoint format.

Be prepared to speak to a general student/faculty audience who will have varying backgrounds and training. Also, keep in mind the judging criteria below.

Be wary of special formatting in your slide files. Video and graphic capability/compatibility may vary between computers, especially between Mac and PC computers, and between software versions. Flashy transitions, animations, or sound effects may not work as planned, and they can even be distracting and take away from the presentation itself.

There will be a PC available, but plan to bring your laptop just in case, especially if you use a Mac. It is your responsibility to make sure that your slides will work properly at the venue.

Practice giving your talk as much as possible to any kind of an audience you can find, as practice always makes perfect. If you are able to, please seek advice from your research mentor in preparing your talk.

Slide presentation

Schedules will be emailed to you and posted on the JBG website under “Student Research Day.”

You do not have to give a poster presentation in addition to your slide presentation

You will have six to eight minutes to present your slides and four minutes to answer questions from the audience. The eight minute limit will be enforced due to time constraints. A JBG volunteer will be present to time the presentation and let you know when you have 1 minute remaining. They will also help you field questions from the audience.

As a courtesy to your fellow peers who will also be giving slide presentations, you are required to attend the entire session in which you are scheduled.

Slide judging

Judges will select the best presentation in each category for either an award.