Poster Presentations
Size: For research presentations taking place on the USC campus, the recommended size for posters is four feet wide by three feet high. The maximum allowable size is four feet by four feet. The minimum size is two feet by three feet (oriented vertically or horizontally). If you are creating a poster to present at another conference or symposium, be sure to check with that organization regarding their sizing guidelines.
The Center for Integrative and Experiential Learning provides specific guidelines for undergraduate students who are presenting at Discover USC as part of the Graduation with Leadership Distinction program.
Printing: Posters can be printed on vinyl or paper. That decision is yours, and can be based on factors such as price, number of times the poster will be used, or conference guidelines. Students are encouraged to talk with their mentor, supervisor, and/or PI to find out if there are preferred locations or options for printing and if there are specific methods/processes for payment. Be sure to compare pricing BEFORE committing to printing.
Content: Posters should be well-organized and succinct, and your department or college may have guidance on what information is required to be on your poster. A poster detailing your involvement and results generally contains the following information:
•Abstract (ask your mentor if this should be included)
•Introduction / Background (what is the context for your work)
•Hypothesis / Research Question
•Methods (What did you do)
•Results (What did you find)
•Discussion (what do your results mean –interpret the data)
•Conclusions (What you learned)
•Future plans or next steps
•References (Works cited)
•Acknowledgements (funding source) If you are referencing support from a USC office
or college be sure to follow guidelines on the use of logos in the Communications and Marketing Brand Toolbox.
Additional details and great tips are available in the Resource box on this page. Click here to access slides from "Creating Your Research Poster" by Lauren Clark, Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research.
General Guidelines for Presenting
Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled session.
Be prepared and know your stuff! Be able to speak about the important parts of your research and the part that you played in it. Rehearse with a roommate if that is helpful. Prepare for questions and remember that you will be talking with academics from your discipline as well as others that do not have the same technical knowledge. You should be ready to talk to interested people with either background.
Dress "confident business casual" and wear comfortable shoes for most presentation events. Check in with your Faculty Mentor to confirm the dress code, especially for presentations at regional or national conferences. This is a great event to make a good impression. For further guidance on dressing for poster presentations, enjoy the following video.