Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC) 2024
FURC is one of the largest multidisciplinary research conferences in the country, and it is available to all undergraduate researchers in the state of Florida who wish to submit their findings via poster. Along with important conference presentation experience, FURC offers some of the best networking chances with fellow academics and graduate programs nationwide, as well as workshops and other professional development opportunities. The University of North Florida (UNF) is excited to host FURC for the third time in 2024.
Important Dates
Conference Dates:
February 16-17, 2024
Deadline for Abstract Submission:
December 22, 2023
Final Decision Notification Date:
January 19, 2024
Registration Deadline:
February 2, 2024
- Abstracts
- Registration and Payment Process
- Group Registration
- Schedule
- FURA Institutional Members
- Workshops
- Poster Information
- Graduate Recruiters
- Location and Hotels
- Frequently Asked Questions
Abstracts
- Abstracts/creative statements should not exceed 250 words; abstracts over 250 words will be rejected.
- Abstracts should provide a summary of your project and allow people to quickly grasp the main purpose and ideas of your research/creative project (why does this project matter?).
- Because FURC is a multi-disciplinary conference, you want to make sure your abstract can be understood by a wide, general audience (not just people in your field). This means you should avoid jargon and try to make the language of your abstract accessible to non-experts.
- Abstracts are discipline-specific, so it is recommended you work with your faculty mentor when constructing your abstract to ensure you follow best practices for your discipline.
- There may be multiple student authors attached to a poster. Each presentation/poster only needs to submit ONE abstract. However, each student presenter that is attending FURC must register and pay the registration fee.
- To submit to FURC, you must be either: 1) an actively enrolled undergraduate student, OR 2) a recent graduate who has not yet enrolled in a graduate program as of Spring 2024.
- Graduate students, post-docs, and faculty members can be listed as coauthors on your poster, but should not be listed as co-presenters in your abstract submission.
Presenters
The deadline to submit your abstract to FURC is December 22, 2023.You may want to wait for the acceptance of your abstract before registering for the event.
If you have questions about your FURC abstract, email FURC@unf.edu
Abstract Resources
Registration and Payment Process
Students should submit their abstracts through the FURC 2024 Abstract Portal by December 22, 2023.
To attend FURC, you must complete the registration and submit payment. You do not have to present at FURC to register and attend.
Consult your institution’s Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) prior to registering to see how your school handles FURC registration/payment.
- Abstract submission is separate from event registration.
- You may want to wait for the acceptance of your abstract before registering for the event.
- To attend FURC, you must complete registration AND submit payment.
- You do not have to present at FURC to register and attend (friends, family, and colleagues are welcome, but they must register to attend the event. Late and on-site registration will not be available).
- Registration for students, faculty, and staff is $70 (FURA institutional members receive a 10% discount). Check the FURC Instituional Members tab to see if your institution is a member or visit the FURA website to learn how to become one.
- Registration payment for individual students (once abstracts have been accepted) and faculty can be done through the FURC 2024 Registration Portal.
Group Registration
- Register and pay for students through the FURC 2024 Registration portal by February 2, 2024.
- The FURC planning team will contact you to confirm your institution’s registered participants.
Schedule
Friday, February 16
Location: The Adam W. Herbert University Center (Building 43)
Check-in, reception, keynote speaker, dinner on your own
Saturday, February 17
Location: The John A. Delaney Student Union (Building 58)
Check-in, breakfast, poster sessions, lunch, workshops, graduate school fair
Watch this space for the FURC 2024 detailed schedule and program!
FURA Institutional Members
Please note that Florida Undergraduate Research Association (FURA) institutional members receive discounted registration to FURC. Check below to see if your institution is a current institutional member before purchasing registration.
If you are a student, check with your Undergraduate Research Office prior to registering to see how your school handles FURC registration.
|
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) |
South Florida State College (SFSC) |
| Flagler College (FC) | St. Thomas University (STU) |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) | University of Central Florida (UCF) |
| Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) | University of Florida (UF) |
| Florida International University (FIU) | University of Miami (UM) |
| Florida Southern College (FSC) | University of North Florida (UNF) |
| Florida State University (FSU) | University of South Florida (USF) |
| Florida SouthWestern State College (FSWSC) | University of Tampa (UT) |
| Lynn University (LU) | University of West Florida (UWF) |
| New College of Florida (NCF) | Valencia College (VC) |
| Bethune-Cookman University | |
Are you a faculty or staff member who doesn’t see your school on the list? Email FURA at fura@floridaundergradresearch.org or visit the FURA website to learn about how to become a member.
Workshops
If you are interested in submitting an abstract to be considered for a workshop presentation, please email FURC@unf.edu by January 24. Please include the presentation title, presenter names, and abstract in your email.
Poster Information
- Posters for FURC should be 48" wide by 36" tall. Vertical posters and posters larger than 48" x 36" will not fit on the provided poster boards.
- Poster boards, an easel, and binder clips will be provided to participants.
- Poster check-in will be available on Saturday. Participants may drop off their poster upon arrival and pick up their poster before presenting. DO NOT BRING YOUR POSTER TO FRIDAY NIGHT'S RECEPTION. WE WILL NOT BE CHECKING IN POSTERS UNTIL SATURDAY MORNING.
- Participants are responsible for finding their poster spot using the program as a guide, securing their poster(s) to the provided poster boards, and removing their poster(s) at the end of their session.
UNF Students
UNF students printing their posters through UNF's Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) must pay for and submit their posters by February 1, 2024. Visit the OUR website for more information on how to print a poster for FURC.
Graduate Recruiters
Each year, FURC hosts a graduate school fair in which graduate recruiters from across the country are invited to attend. Recruiters should be comfortable speaking about all their institution's graduate programs, including STEM, Arts and Humanities, Business, Medical, and Law. Recruiter registration for FURC 2024 includes a 6 ft. table (and 2 chairs) for Saturday's event, breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
The graduate recruiter registration fee for FURC 2024 is $300.
Graduate Recruiters should register through the FURC 2024 Recruiter Registration Portal by December 22, 2023.
Location and Hotels
The University of North Florida
Location: 1 UNF Drive Jacksonville, FL 32224
UNF Map
UNF is about 20 miles from the Jacksonville International Airport (JIA) and is 1 mile from the St. Johns Town Center, which is a hub for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Recommended Hotels
The following hotels are associated with FURC 2024:Courtyard Jacksonville at the Mayo Clinic Campus/Beaches
Location: 14390 Mayo Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
Rate: 137 USD per night (book by 01/19/2024)
Book Here
Courtyard Jacksonville Butler Boulevard
Location: 4670 Lenoir Avenue South, Jacksonville, Florida 32216
Rate: 149 USD per night (book by 01/17/2024)
Book Here
Hampton Inn & Suites Jacksonville Deerwood Park
Location: 4415 Southside Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32216
Rate: $149 USD per night (book by 01/26/2024)
Book Here
Hampton Inn Jacksonville South/I-95 at JTB
Location: 4681 Lenoir Avenue South, Jacksonville, Florida 32216
Rate: $149 USD per night (book by 02/01/2024)
Book Here
Additional Jacksonville Area Hotels
The following local hotels are associated with UNF:
Additional Hotels
Frequently Asked Questions
Logistics
Is parking provided? Where can we park?
Parking is complimentary for guests (this includes both vehicles and buses). On Friday, Feb. 16, if vehicles (non-buses) park in lots other than Lot 16 at the Adam W. Herbert University Center (Building 43), they will need to purchase a visitor parking pass from a kiosk (locations are included on the campus parking map) or via the Flowbird app.
Vehicle parking location: On Friday, Feb. 16, vehicles should park at Lot 16 (in front of the Adam W. Herbert University Center -- Building 43). On Saturday, Feb. 17, vehicles should park at the Arena Garage (Building 38), Lot 5 (tennis courts) or Lot 18 (Harmon Baseball field and Hodges Stadium). Please view the campus map for reference.
Bus parking location: For both Feb. 16 and Feb. 17, buses will need to park in the back of Lot 55 (by The Fountains housing) On Saturday, Feb. 17, it is recommended that guests are dropped off in front of the John A. Delaney Student Union (Building 58).
Campus Shuttle and Parking Map
Do you accommodate food allergies or dietary restrictions in the event catering?
Yes, when possible. Please indicate any accommodations in your registration.
Registration
I have not collected all my data for my research project, can I still present a poster with my research plan and anticipated results?
Students at every stage of their academic research are encouraged to apply to FURC, if they have the support from their faculty research mentor.
Can I attend FURC as a guest (parent, relative, friend, or significant other)?
Yes, the event is open to anyone interested in attending. However, they must register as a guest and pay the registration fee. On-site registration will not be available for the event, so it is important that guests are registered by the deadline.
Can I present if I am an undergraduate student in a different state and/or country?
No, student presenters must be enrolled in a Florida undergraduate 2-year or 4-year college or university. Recent graduates from an institution who are not yet enrolled in graduate or professional school by Spring 2024 are also eligible to submit an abstract and present their work.
Can I check-in if I miss the welcome reception?
Yes, the registration desk remains open throughout the two days of the event. Attendees can check-in anytime.
I recently graduated with my undergraduate degree. Can I present my undergraduate research?
Yes, students who graduated within the past 12 months from a Florida college/university and have not matriculated to graduate or professional school by Spring 2024 may attend and present.
Can a student present two posters?
Yes, but they must submit separate abstract submissions for each project.
I am a UNF student/faculty/staff member who does not plan to present at FURC. Can I still attend the conference?
Yes, however, you must register and pay the registration fee. On-site registration will not be available for the event, so it is important that all attendees are registered by the deadline. Please note that UNF is a FURA institutional member, so UNF attendees must register through the FURA-Member FURC 2024 Registration Portal in order to receive discounted registration.
Presenters
What should I include in my abstract submission?
Abstracts/creative statements are limited to 250 words, and should include an introductory statement, the approach/methods, any results, and a discussion/ conclusion. Only submit plain text – do not include any pictures, graphs, or special characters with your abstract submission. We suggest you contact your faculty mentor, campus Writing Center, or Office of Undergraduate Research for help constructing your abstract.
Are poster presentations judged at this conference?
No, participants are not judged at FURC. There are no awards.
What disciplines can present at FURC?
FURC is inclusive of all academic research, scholarship, and creative inquiry across all disciplines.
Do I need to bring anything to the graduate school fair (resume, business cards, etc)?
Students are strongly encouraged to bring copies of their resumes/CVs. The graduate school fair hosted by FURC is an excellent way to network with many universities across the country. Over 30 graduate school programs have participated at each past FURC.
Can I select what session I present my poster in, or is it randomly assigned?
Posters are randomly assigned a time to be presented. We highly encourage all presenters to stay for all poster sessions to visit the other student presentations.
What should I wear to the event?
Comfortable business-casual or smart-casual attire is recommended for the two-day event. We also recommend wearing comfortable shoes, as some of the workshop spaces may be in different buildings.
Any tips for first-time presenters?
It is highly recommended that you practice your presentation with your faculty mentor, graduate students, friends, and/or family. Since this is a multi-disciplinary event, you should be sure to describe your project in language that can be understood by all attendees. Poster presentations are short – typically less than 10 minutes. Be sure to tell why your work is important and the “take home message.”
What size should I make my poster?
The standard poster size is 36” tall x 48” wide. Materials used to hang the poster will be provided. It is highly recommended that all posters at FURC are printed through a digital poster printer. These are often available on campuses, please talk to your faculty mentor about options.
Can I present research not conducted at my home institution?
Yes, if you have a faculty mentor associated with the project.