College of Graduate Studies & Research - NMU Events and Announcements

College of Graduate Studies & Research

Please join us at the 30th Annual Celebration of Student Scholarship!

The 30th Annual Celebration of Student Scholarship will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2026, all day in Jamrich Hall.

The Celebration of Student Scholarship is an annual event held on the Northern Michigan University campus to recognize the scholarly activity of undergraduate and graduate students in all disciplines. Students share their scholarly and creative work with the NMU and Marquette communities. The event is free and open to the public. Students interested in participating should speak with their faculty advisors for assistance in planning their submission.

In the past, this event was limited to research posters and 10-minute oral presentations. Last year, the event expanded to include student artwork. For the 30th anniversary, we are looking to include as many different students from across campus as possible and are opening Celebration to other formats, including film and video, readings, round tables, performances, publications, artistic displays, and more.

This event is an important opportunity for student scholars to share their work in a way that is accessible to the general public. Our mission is to improve how we communicate about academic topics and ideas while recognizing the hard work done by NMU students under the guidance of faculty. Join us to discover and celebrate student scholarship.

College of Graduate Studies & Research

The College of Graduate Studies and Research invites you to attend the first-ever Winter Research Day on February 19, 2026, an all-day event held in the 1100 Jamrich Lobby and 1100 Jamrich Lecture Hall.

View the 2026 Winter Research Day program here. 

Events Include:

• Poster Presentations: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Three Minute Presentations (3MP – Undergraduate): 10:00–11:30 a.m.
• Fellowship and Scholarship Workshop: 11:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m.
• Three Minute Thesis (3MT® – Graduate): 1:30–3:30 p.m.
• Scholarly Buzz Session: 4:00–5:00 p.m.

Prize Amounts:

• Posters: 1st $250 | Runner-up $150 | People’s Choice $75
• 3MP: 1st $450 | Runner-up $300 | People’s Choice $150
• 3MT®: 1st $750 + MAGS trip | Runner-up $450 | People’s Choice $150

How to Participate:

• You must be an active NMU student. Graduate students may enter 3MT® and Poster Presentations; undergraduates may enter 3MP and Poster Presentations. Projects must be original, but do not need to be thesis-based.
• To register, complete the Winter Research Day registration form.

Workshop:

• Three Minute Presentation Workshop - January 29, 2026, TSB 2810 Participation is not required to compete, but highly encouraged. 

What are the Poster Presentations?
Poster presentations are a way for graduate and undergraduate students in all areas to discuss their research, creative, and/or scholarly activity in a visual format that is more in-depth than what you will see at 3MP and allows for more casual discussion than an oral presentation (and less pressure for new researchers). For Winter Research Day, our poster session will be limited to 50 posters. 

What is 3MP?
Modeled after 3MT, this new undergraduate competition is open to all majors and disciplines. Students present their research, creative, or scholarly work in three minutes using one static slide, emphasizing clarity, creativity, and audience engagement. Winners receive cash prizes and campus recognition.

What is the Fellowship and Scholarship Workshop?
This workshop will provide an orientation to students interested in national fellowships or scholarships that support students studying, researching, or teaching English abroad. In this workshop, participants will examine several overseas programs; they will also participate in a short mock review of application essays. Lunch will be provided; register here. 

What is 3MT®?
Part of an international competition developed by the University of Queensland (UQ) in 2008.  3MT challenges graduate students to clearly explain their research in just three minutes using one static PowerPoint slide. The goal is to communicate complex ideas in an engaging way that is accessible to a non-specialist audience. Winners receive prizes, campus recognition, and the opportunity to advance to the regional competition.

What is the Scholarly Buzz Session?
The Scholarly Buzz Sessions at NMU are a platform for faculty and staff to quickly present their research in three slides and five minutes. The event also provides a brief overview of the Office of Sponsored Programs and the College of Graduate Studies and Research. Everyone is welcome to attend this interdisciplinary research event held at least biannually in the Fall semester and again in the Winter semester. The event is designed to allow attendees, including the presenters, to come and go as teaching and class schedules allow.

Further information:
Questions? Attend the workshop above or contact the College of Graduate Studies and Research at 906-227-2300 or graduate@nmu.edu.

College of Graduate Studies & Research

Drop in to TSB 2702 whenever it works for you:

Monday, January 19th from 11a-12p

Friday, January 23rd from 9-10a

Tuesday, February 3rd from 10-11a

Thursday, February 5th from 1-2p

Wednesday, February 25th from 9-10a

Learn more about the Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (URFP), which provides paid research experience for any undergraduate student in any major. Applications for the Program close Monday, March 9th.

Be one of the ten student researchers in our new cohort! Accepted researchers will complete their research project any time between summer '26 and summer '27, and will be paid a minimum of $2,000 as they work.

The only requirement of the program is that students must commit to completing their research as outlined in their proposal and will present at the Celebration of Student Scholarship. There are no workshops or other requirements beyond research completion and presentation.

College of Graduate Studies & Research

Elevate your academic presence with an abstract preparation workshop for college students ready to share their research with the world! In this hands-on session, you'll learn the precise formula for crafting compelling conference abstracts that grab attention and earn acceptance. 

Our experienced staff will guide you through the process—from distilling complex research into concise summaries to highlighting your unique contributions and avoiding common pitfalls that lead to rejection. Whether you're preparing for your first undergraduate research conference or aiming for prestigious disciplinary gatherings, this workshop provides the practical tools and insider knowledge to transform your ideas into conference-worthy abstracts that open doors to valuable networking and career opportunities.

College of Graduate Studies & Research

Elevate your academic presence with an abstract preparation workshop for college students ready to share their research with the world! In this hands-on session, you'll learn the precise formula for crafting compelling conference abstracts that grab attention and earn acceptance. 

Our experienced staff will guide you through the process—from distilling complex research into concise summaries to highlighting your unique contributions and avoiding common pitfalls that lead to rejection. Whether you're preparing for your first undergraduate research conference or aiming for prestigious disciplinary gatherings, this workshop provides the practical tools and insider knowledge to transform your ideas into conference-worthy abstracts that open doors to valuable networking and career opportunities.

College of Graduate Studies & Research

Thursday, February 20, 2025 | 3PM | University Center | Student Scholarship Summit is a new opportunity for students to showcase their research, scholarly activity, and creative inquiry. This is a networking and poster session. A limited number of student entries will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis for this inaugural event. Awards will be issued for First ($750), Second ($450), Third places ($150), and one (1) People's Choice ($750). All are encouraged to attend. 

College of Graduate Studies & Research

This year's Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition will be held on Thursday, February 20th, 2025. Forrest Roberts Theater. 1:00pm-3:00pm.  If you are unable to make it in person, please consider joining by Zoom! (Zoom Link will be shared when available.)

Each candidate is limited to three minutes and one static PowerPoint slide to aid in the presentation of their thesis research. Students must be actively enrolled in a graduate program and must present original research. Prizes are offered for winners!

All graduate students can sign up today on NMU's Three Minute Thesis webpage. An informational workshop will be held on February 12 to answer questions for participants at any stage of the thesis process.

College of Graduate Studies & Research

This is an informational workshop created to answer questions for people at any stage of the thesis process. 

College of Graduate Studies & Research

The Student Technology Innovation Award Recognizes students' creative use of technology and innovation in their academic disciplines. The purpose of this award is to identify and reward exemplary students who have utilized innovative technologies in their specific subject areas at NMU. 

This award program is open to all currently enrolled NMU students (undergraduate and/or graduate) or teams of students (up to 5 people). Submit application materials via email to Graduate Studies and Research (graduate@nmu.edu). Applications are due February 28th. 

For more information, please visit our website. 

College of Graduate Studies & Research

Three Minute Thesis

NMU began its annual participation in the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition in 2018 and continues to expand its programming. Each year, NMU students will compete for recognition, prizes, and a spot in the regional competition. Three Minute Thesis was developed by The University of Queensland (UQ) in 2008. "3MT cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience."

Each candidate is limited to three minutes and one static PowerPoint slide to aid in the presentation of their thesis research. Students must be actively enrolled in a graduate program and must present original research.

This year's Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition will be held on Tuesday, February 20th, 2024 in the  Northern Center Ballroom IV from 3pm-5pm.