Faculty reviewers sought for student research forum

The 45th Annual Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum (MSBRF), co-sponsored by UNMC and Creighton University, will be held March 1, 2014, and UNMC faculty members are invited to participate in the forum as faculty reviewers.

The MSBRF provides an opportunity for students from UNMC, CU and the Midwest region to prepare abstracts of their original research and to present their work to faculty and peers in a collegial, low-stress learning environment. Presentation formats include oral and poster presentations, each competing for cash awards.

The forum depends on volunteer faculty support from both UNMC and CU to review and critique abstracts prior to the forum and to judge oral and poster presentations the day of the forum. Each abstract is evaluated by three judges prior to the forum, and the actual presentations on March 1 also will be scored by three different judges.

Every effort will be made to match the subject matter of the submitted abstract with the reviewer’s area of expertise, but this is a presentation exercise — so any scientist should be able to judge any presentation.

Please complete the response form. Be as specific as possible — but not overly exclusive — when indicating areas in which you feel qualified and would like to judge.

Please return the form by Friday, Nov. 22. If no abstracts are received in your interest area, you may not be requested to assist in the judging process.

Abstract review takes place in early January. Judges for the oral and the poster presentations will be needed for both the morning and afternoon sessions of the forum on Saturday, March 1. Please do not hesitate to volunteer in more than one area.

Judging of the presentations is an integral part of the forum, and many volunteers are needed to ensure success. The coordination of the judging process is always a challenge, so if you are willing to judge on March 1, 2014, please mark your calendar now to hold that date so that conflicts can be avoided.

Faculty members from UNMC are encouraged to support MSBRF by not only volunteering to judge but also attending the student sessions on March 1.

Please encourage your students and other faculty members in your department to attend the forum as well.