About

USask students, researchers, faculty, staff, senior leaders, and community members are invited to celebrate outstanding research, collaboration, and mentorship within the health sciences at the Life & Health Sciences Research Expo.

This annual event acknowledges exemplary research and learning activity at the University of Saskatchewan and is a showcase of interdisciplinary health science research taking place on campus and throughout the province. Competition categories explore basic, translational, clinical, and applied science as well as social and population health.

Over $5,000 in student prizes are available to USask graduate students, undergraduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and dentistry and medical residents!

The expo consists of in-person research poster presentations — some in the morning and some in the afternoon with up to 120 researchers competing — plus an afternoon awards ceremony. Awards will also be presented for Best Paper in each competition category and for Best Supervisor. 

Download the 2023 Life and Health Sciences Research Expo book to review abstracts and summaries from previous research competition participants.

Ways to participate

  • Submit an abstract for the research poster presentation competition
  • Submit a paper for the Best Paper Award
  • Nominate an outstanding faculty supervisor for the Best Supervisor Awards
  • Volunteer as a PhD-qualified adjudicator for the research poster competition

2024 dates

  • Feb. 12, 2024
    • The registration period for abstracts, best paper submissions, and best supervisor nominations opens.
  • March 4, 2024
    • The Call for Judges opens.
  • April 5, 2024
    • Deadline to register and submit materials.
      • Late applications will not be accepted.
    • Call for Judges closes.
  • May 2, 2024
    • 2024 Life & Health Sciences Research Expo
      • Free event. Everyone welcome.
  • May 31, 2024

Registration (closed)

The registration and materials submission period for the 2024 Life & Health Sciences Research Expo closed April 5. Late/incomplete submissions or amendments to completed submissions will not be accepted after this deadline has passed.

Only active or recently active USask students are eligible to participate. Registrants must have been an active USask student at least three months prior to the date of the expo (i.e.: Feb. 2 of 2024). 

Research Poster Presentation Competition

Graduate students, undergraduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and dentistry and medical residents are invited to submit an abstract in order to participate in the Life & Health Sciences Research Expo poster presentation competition. Review abstracts from the 2023 Life and Health Sciences Research Expo book.

Research poster presentation competition categories:

  • Basic Science
    • Research focused on understanding fundamental aspects of phenomena or the treatment of diseases at the molecular, cellular, or tissue level.
  • Translational, Clinical, or Applied Science
    • Research conducted using humans or animals intended to answer questions about treating or preventing disease or researching healthcare delivery strategies.
  • Social & Population Health
    • Research involving epidemiology, surveys, and/or qualitative research.

NOTE: Presenters must choose one of the three primary competition categories listed above. Work presented in the research presentation competition must not have been published at the time of submission. The same research may not be presented by more than one student. Late applications will not be accepted.

Application guidelines

  • The call for abstracts operates on a first-come, first-served basis and will remain open until 120 abstracts have been received or until the deadline is reached—whichever comes first. 
  • The maximum word count permitted for submitted abstracts is 300 words.
  • The deadline for submitting an abstract to the research presentation competition is end-of-day April 5, 2024. Late/incomplete submissions or amendments to completed submissions will not be accepted after this deadline has passed.
  • Work presented in the research poster presentation competition must not have been published at the time of submission. The same research may not be presented by more than one student.
  • Accepted applicants will be notified by email no later than April 12, 2024.
  • Preview the 2024 expo registration form.

Poster guidelines

  • The accepted poster dimensions are no greater than 48" wide x 48" high.
    • Students are responsible for printing their own posters.
    • The recommended printer is XL Printing on USask campus.
  • Click here for tips on creating an eye-catching poster.
    • Click here to access USask poster templates (PAWS login required).
  • Click here for approved USask logos to include on your poster (PAWS login required).

Based on the quality of the research presented, there may also be additional awards presented for achievement aligning with the themes listed below. Declaring alignment with these themes when registering for the expo is optional.

  • Indigenous Health Research
  • Interdisciplinary/Interprofessional Collaboration
  • Sustainable Progress
Learn more about the Sustainable Progress Award. Review the judging rubric for the Sustainable Progress Award.

Best Paper Award

At an in-person awards event to be held on May 2, 2024, cash prizes will be awarded to outstanding research papers submitted to the Life & Health Sciences Research Expo.

Application guidelines

Previous award winner
2023 Best Basic Science Paper winner Poonam Dhindwal (right) with SHRF Programs and Engagement Manager Chelsea Cunningham (left)
  • Undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and dentistry and medical residents are invited to submit a paper aligned with one of the following competition categories:
    • Basic Science
      • Research focused on understanding fundamental aspects of phenomena or the treatment of diseases at the molecular, cellular, or tissue level.
    • Translational, Clinical, or Applied Science
      • Research conducted using humans or animals intended to answer questions about treating or preventing disease or researching healthcare delivery strategies.
    • Social & Population Health
      • Research involving epidemiology, surveys, and/or qualitative research.
  • The deadline for submitting a paper is end-of-day April 5, 2024. Late/incomplete submissions or amendments to completed submissions will not be accepted after this deadline has passed. 
  • The paper must be high-quality and published in an academic, peer-reviewed journal after July 1, 2022.
  • Applicants must be a senior author on the paper.
  • Applicants do not have to submit an abstract for the research presentation competition to be considered for this award.
  • Expo organizers reserve the right to move a submitted paper from its declared category into a more suitable category if deemed appropriate by the reviewers on the adjudication committee.
  • Winners will be notified via email and will be invited to the awards portion of the research expo, where they will receive their prize.
  • Best paper winners will share their research in a three-minute-thesis style presentation at the awards event.

Best Supervisor Award

This student-nominated award honours faculty supervisors who have provided outstanding mentorship and guidance to graduate students in the health sciences at the University of Saskatchewan.

Nomination guidelines

Previous award winner
2023 Best Supervisor Award winner Dr. Hassan Vatanparast, MD, PhD, (left) with award nominator and graduate student Mojtaba Shafiee (right)
  • Nominators do not have to submit an abstract for the research poster presentation competition in order to nominate a faculty supervisor.
  • Winners will be notified via email and invited to be recognized by their respective nominators among students and peers at the afternoon awards portion of the research expo.
  • The nomination deadline is April 5, 2024. Late/incomplete submissions or amendments to completed submissions will not be accepted after this deadline has passed.
  • Preview the Best Supervisor Award nomination questions.

2024 Agenda & Location Details

Life and Health Sciences Research Expo

Health Sciences Building, D-Wing, USask campus, Saskatoon

Thursday, May 2, 2024

NOTE: Poster presenters are kindly requested to attend their entire 90-minute presentation session in order to allow the public and expo adjudicators an opportunity to explore their work. 

9:30 – 11:30 am Student registration*
D-Wing Atrium (GD50), outside Room 1B21, Health Sciences Building
*Registration and poster setup begin 30 minutes prior to each presentation session.
10 – 11:30 am

Morning poster session #1
D-Wing Atrium (GD50), 2nd floor, Health Sciences Building

  • Undergraduate Research 1
  • Basic Science 1
  • Translational, Clinical or Applied Science 2
  • Social & Population Health 1
11 am – 12:30 pm

Afternoon poster session #1
D-Wing Atrium (GD50), 3rd floor, Health Sciences Building

  • Undergraduate Research 2
  • Basic Science 2
  • Basic Science 4
  • Translational, Clinical or Applied Science 3

12 noon – 1:30 pm

Afternoon poster session #2
D-Wing Atrium (GD50), 2nd floor, Health Sciences Building

  • Undergraduate Research 3
  • Basic Science 3
  • Translational, Clinical or Applied Science 1
  • Social & Population Health 2

1:30 – 2:30 pm

 Networking break (coffee & snacks provided)

GB01 (B-Wing Foyer), Health Sciences Building

2:30 – 3:45 pm

 Awards and recognition
HLTH GB03, Health Sciences Building

Call for Judges (closed)

Faculty members, trainees, and research facilitators from the University of Saskatchewan community with a PhD or equivalent degree are invited to serve as judges for research poster presentation sessions at the annual Life & Health Sciences Research Expo taking place on Thursday, May 2, 2024. 

The success of the expo depends, in large part, on securing enough judges to provide student researchers with professional adjudication:

  • The main research competition event will consist of morning and afternoon poster presentation sessions.
    • The research poster presentation competition is open to USask post-doctoral researchers, graduate students, dentistry and medical residents, and undergraduate students.
    • At previous expos, there has been student participation from all health science colleges/schools plus additional representation from Arts and Science, Engineering, AgBio, and CGPS.
  • Faculty, trainees, and research facilitators are encouraged to participate as judges for the morning session, the afternoon session, or (ideally) both sessions to help ensure that all student researchers receive professional adjudication.
    • Judges are also encouraged to attend the afternoon ceremony where awards for the research competition, Best Paper, and Best Supervisor will be announced.

Most judging duties are performed in groups comprised of two judges who use expo rubrics to assess and score research presentations from their assigned cohort. These judges then consult with each other to determine the winners from their assigned cohort and any potential candidates for optional, self-declared award categories.

The 2024 Call for Judges opens March 4 and closes April 5. For participation inquiries outside of this time period, please email Aly Sibley.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

  • How do I find the locations for the poster presentations, networking break, and award ceremony?
    • Locations are listed on the Agenda section of this website and can be found on this map.
  • Can I submit more than one abstract for the research poster presentation competition? More than one published paper for Best Paper consideration? More than one nomination for Best Supervisor?
    • Only one submission per student will be accepted for the research poster presentation competition.
      • Work presented in the research poster presentation competition must not have been published at the time of submission.
    • Only one submission per student will be accepted for the Best Paper Award.
    • Only one nomination per student will be accepted for the Best Supervisor Award.
      • Nominators do not have to submit an abstract for the research poster presentation competition in order to nominate a faculty supervisor.
    • The same research cannot be presented by more than one student.
  • How will I know which research poster presentation session I'm presenting in?
    • The USask Health Sciences will notify research poster presentation participants as to whether they will be presenting in the morning or afternoon session.
      • The schedule for all presentation cohort groups will also be available on the Agenda section of this website once finalized.

Sponsors

The University of Saskatchewan Life and Health Sciences Research Expo would not be possible without the continued support of its sponsors. Special thanks to the expo's sponsors for helping showcase the interdisciplinary health science research taking place throughout the province and across both basic and clinical sciences.

Special thanks

Thank you to the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) for sponsoring this year's Best Paper Awards.

 

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Contact

For questions regarding registration, judging, or sponsorship opportunities, please contact expo organizers.