2025 CSU Student Research Competition Info Session

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Dr. Jane Lehr (she/they) | jlehr@calpoly.edu

studentresearch@calpoly.edu

@calpolystudentresearch on Instagram

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• T 11/19/24, 12:10-1pm Hybrid (38-114 and Zoom Meeting ID 883 6250 1116)​
• M 12/2/24, 7:10-8pm (Zoom Meeting ID 883 6250 1116)​
• M 12/9/24, 10:10-11am (Zoom Meeting ID 883 6250 1116)

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Slides

We acknowledge that Cal Poly is on the traditional lands of the yak tit^yu tit^yu yak tiłhini, Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County. We recognize these are unceded ancestral territories called tiłhini, the Place of the Full Moon, by the Northern Chumash peoples. We give thanks to them and their ancestors for the unbroken and careful stewardship of these beautiful lands.

Jane Lehr (she/they) Director of the Office of Student Research & LSAMP@CP

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About the Office of Student Research

Primary Goal: Increase access to Learn by Doing Research

1. Increase transparency of access for student research opportunities in all disciplines
2. Work with campus partners to enhance existing student research programs and build capacity in new areas
3. Support the professional development of mentors and mentees, with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, justice & access
4. Increase the funding available to support student research
5. Develop, test, and integrate meaningful metrics that measure outcomes and impact

What is the CSU Student Research/Creative Activity Competition?

Each year, Cal Poly hosts an internal student research/creative activity competition (2/20-2/22/25) to select 10 projects to represent the university at the CSU-wide Student Research & Creative Activity Competition. This is an annual event that brings together scholars from the 23 campuses of our California State University system. The competition showcases undergraduate and graduate research, scholarship, and creative works by recognizing outstanding student accomplishments across the 23 campuses.

The 2025 competition is open to current undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recent alums (2024 graduates).

• Note: The Office of Student Research will provide up to $750 for alums to return to Cal Poly for the internal competition. All expenses are covered for participants in the CSU-wide Student Research Competition

General Timeline & Process

How are projects evaluated?

• Clarity of purpose
• Appropriateness of methodology
• Interpretation of results
• Value of the research or creative activity
• Ability of the presenter to articulate the research or creative activity
• Organization of the material presented
• Presenter’s ability to handle questions from the jury and general audience

Due M 12/16/24 End of Day: Application Materials

1. Presentation Title
2. Author Name(s) & Contact Information
3. Project Summary/Abstract (100-200 words)
4. Project Narrative/Description about the scholarly research/creative project and findings (1-2 pages)
5. (optional) Bibliography & Other Supplemental Materials (3 pages)
6. Research Integrity & Compliance Affirmation
7. Select 1-3 SRC Competition Categories

SRC Categories

• Behavioral, Social Sciences & Public Administration
• Biological & Agricultural Sciences
• Business, Economics & Hospitality Management
• Creative Arts & Design*
• Education

• Engineering & Computer Science
• Health, Nutrition & Clinical Sciences
• Humanities & Letters
• Interdisciplinary
• Physical & Mathematical Sciences

* Entrants in the Creative Arts and Design category may present an audio and/or visual recording of a performance they have given or a work they have created; their oral presentation should focus on the rationale and historical context underlying their interpretation of the material.

Project Narrative/Description

• Different disciplines have different approaches for the organization of the project narrative/description (or "body" of the paper). One common approach is the IMRaD format, but this may not be the format most common in your discipline.
• Introduction – what is the topic; why study it? (may include a thesis statement and/or research question)
• Materials & Methods – how was the research conducted?
• Results – what was found in the research?
• Discussion & Conclusions – what do the findings mean?
• All students are encouraged to use headings and sub-headings in their submission whether utilizing the IMRaD format or another format.
• The project narrative must include the name(s) of the student(s) and the title of the presentation and
• Utilize a font size of 10 or above
• Have margins of at least 0.75”
• Should be a minimum of one page and not exceed two pages in total (1-2 pages)
• Appendices (bibliography, graphs, photographs, or other supplementary materials) are optional, may not exceed three pages total, and will be uploaded separately from the written narrative.

FAQ

• You are welcome to submit projects completed with a faculty or staff member (at Cal Poly or elsewhere).
• You may also submit projects with multiple student/alum authors.
• An individual student/alum is limited to the submission of two projects to the 2025 competition - one as primary author and one as a secondary author or two as secondary author.

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Next Steps

1. More info: https://studentresearch.calpoly.edu/csu-research-competition
2. Get in Touch!
1. studentresearch@calpoly.edu
2. https://calendly.com/janelehr/15min (Dr. Lehr appointments)
3. https://tinyurl.com/Lehr-Fall2024 (Dr. Lehr Office Hours)
4. OSR Advising Appointments
3. Submit your application via InfoReady by end of day on M 12/16/24
4. Look for emails from both jlehr@calpoly.edu and studentresearch@calpoly.edu
5. An optional “how to prepare for the competition” session will be held in January 2025 (date to be announced).
6. You will have the opportunity to select your presentation time for the internal competition.