The Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum is an annual event that showcases research projects from the brightest undergraduates at Ohio State. Since 1995, the Denmans have supported this forum and continue to promote Ohio State as alumni.
The Denman Undergraduate Research Forum provides an opportunity for graduating student researchers to share their research endeavors with the university community. The Denman Forum is UR&CI's only competitive poster forum in which winners are recognized in each category as determined by faculty, staff, and Denman alumni reviewers. Students will be reviewed on their ability to communicate their research process and results effectively through written poster content and accompanying oral presentation. During the Denman Forum, we celebrate not only the hard work of these students, but also the dedication of their faculty research mentors.
Event Information
Thank you to all those who joined us for the 31st annual Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in the Ohio Union's Archie M. Griffin Grand Ballroom. Winners have been announced. We hope to see you in 2027!
In addition to the generous awards provided by the Denmans, we also partner with several organizations to award discipline-specific prizes, including the Center for Ethics and Human Values, the Infectious Disease Institute, the Secondary Data Core, and the Sustainability Institute. Students researching topics related to these fields are especially encouraged to apply to present at the Denman Forum.
Presentation Reviews and Prizes
Every student poster/presentation is reviewed from three separate reviewers using our standardized rubric which emphasizes the student's ability to communicate their research clearly. Winners are invited to an awards reception, where they receive a certificate of scholarship, placement medallion, and cash prize. The Denman Forum is meant to showcase research from the brightest undergraduates at Ohio State.
Denman Questions
Who can participate in the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum?
The Denman is open to students who will graduate in any semester of the calendar year of the event who have conducting faculty-mentored research. The 202y Denman Forum, therefore, will be open to students graduating in spring 2027, summer 2027, and autumn 2027.
Although the majority of students present alone, students working on the same project under the same faculty mentor are allowed to present in pairs. All students presenting, either individual or in a pair, must be graduating in 2027. Additionally, students may present research that was conducted under the supervision of a non-Ohio State faculty mentor.
Final research results are not necessary to present. Yet, because this is a competitive forum, having results to share may help our reviewers evaluate your work.
What are the application requirements for the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum?
Students should be prepared to complete an application survey with the following information:
- Student's demographic and contact information
- Research mentor's name and contact information
- Research/creative project title, abstract (450 words or less) and category selection
- Research/creative project co-presenter, if any
- Ohio State advising report upload (used to verify 2027 graduation)
Is the work presented in the Denman automatically published?
Students who participate in the Denman Forum are eligible to submit their poster to the Ohio State's Libraries' Knowledge Bank Denman Collection. We do not automatically publish any work. Students are not required to submit their work to the Knowledge Bank. Students should confer with their research mentor before publishing.
What are the categories of research for students to select that best represents their work?
Currently, students can submit their research in one of the following 10 categories (these categories are subject to change):
- Arts, Culture, & Humanities
- Earth and Beyond
- Engineering and Technology
- Food, Agriculture, and Animal Sciences
- Health Under the Microscope
- Innovations in Medicine
- Pediatric and Family Health
- Public Health
- Society, Commerce, & Behavior
- Understanding Cancer
What are the poster and day-of requirements for presenters?
- Students are responsible for printing their 36" Height x 48" Width poster. Using UniPrint services across campus is recommended.
- Students should arrive to their assigned session 15 minutes early to set up and be prepared to speak with at least 3 reviewers, in addition to the general audience. Reviewers will interact with the students as they see fit - either allowing the students to speak fully or asking questions as the student presents their research.
- Students should plan for roughly 10 minutes of interaction for each reviewer, including questions.
- Reviewers are not required to identify themselves to presenters, and some reviewers choose not to. Students should prepare to interact with all audience members in a courteous and professional manner.
How can I participate as a reviewer?
Ohio State faculty, staff, post-doctoral associates, graduate/professional students, and Denman alumni are invited to serve as reviewers at the Denman Forum. Please email GT Prasetyo.4@osu.edu for information about reviewer expectations.