Research Events - Research

The College of Graduate Studies and Research invites you to participate in 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. Registration closes February 6, 2026. 

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.

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.

Come learn more about URFP, an opportunity for undergraduates to earn $2,000 as they work on their research projects with an NMU faculty mentor. The application is open now and closes Monday, March 9th, 2026. Applications consist of demographic information, an unofficial transcript, a personal essay, a research statement, and a faculty letter of support. Info sessions will be held in TSB 2702, on :

Monday, January 19th, 11a-12p
Friday, January 23rd, 9-10a
Tuesday, February 3rd, 10-11a
Thursday, February 5th, 1-2p
Wednesday, February 25th, 9-10a

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.