Research is vital and at DMU students are vital to research.

Contributions from students are vital in helping move campus research forward. The Mentored Student Research Program is an excellent opportunity for students to highlight their research findings. We’re excited to offer both oral and poster presentations and all summer research students are invited to participate. Students may present on any topic or experience related to research.

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Agenda

The agenda will be updated as additional details become available.

Keynote Speaker

Ralitsa Akins, MD, PhD
Provost, Des Moines University

Dr. Ralitsa Akins holds an MD degree from the Medical University in Varna, Bulgaria, where she also served as a staff surgeon and assistant professor in family medicine. In the United States she built her career as an educator and administrator. She earned her PhD in educational administration from Texas A&M University. Later, she joined the faculty, progressing through the ranks to Professor, and served as the associate director of the Advanced Teaching and Assessment in Clinical Simulation at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, as the associate dean for academic affairs at SUNY Upstate clinical campus in Binghamton, and most recently was with Washington State University as the Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs at the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. This May, Dr. Akins joined DMU as our Provost. She is very excited to be a part of the DMU family and dedicated to fostering the growth of future health care professionals.  

Relevant to the content of this CME activity, Dr. Akins indicated she has no financial relationships with commercial interest companies to disclose.

Abstract Guidelines

Submit your abstract. CLOSED
View an abstract example. 

Research abstracts must be submitted under one of the following categories:

• Anatomy/Paleontology
• Biomedical Science
• Clinical 
• Education
• Movement Science
• Public Health

All abstracts will be published in the meeting program. Please submit your abstract according to the following guidelines:

• Format: Microsoft Word format
• Font: Arial, 11 point
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides
• Spacing: Single-spaced
• Justification: Left
• Abstract body length: No more than 250 words
• Type the title first, using title casing.
• Capitalize the first letter of each word except prepositions, articles and species names. Italicize scientific names of organisms.
• List all authors, institutional affiliations and short addresses (city and state only).
• Bold the names of the author(s) presenting the work.

View an abstract example. 

Writing Tips

Consider the following questions when preparing your abstract:

• Does the abstract clearly state the aim of the project (i.e. a research question, theoretical issue, or problem)?
• Is the significance of work clearly stated?
• If relevant, are the methods, data collection, and analysis procedures well-designed and appropriate to the question addressed?
• Are the conclusions justified in relation to the data and/or analysis/description?
• Is the abstract written clearly and organized well?

Oral and Poster Presentations

Students will have the opportunity to discuss their research through oral or poster presentations. Most students do not complete an entire research project during the summer, but rather work on a portion of a larger study. When thinking about doing an oral or poster presentation, it is perfectly acceptable to focus the student’s presentation on hypotheses and methodology in the absence of conclusive results. It is ideal if you begin discussing with your student early in the summer about what they can present.

Oral Presentations

Students may apply to be selected to be included in the student keynote portion of the closing program. Four students will be chosen to give an oral presentation involving 12 minutes to speak and 3 minutes for audience questions about the research they conducted throughout the summer.

If the work is co-authored, only the PRESENTING author will submit on behalf of all co-authors. The names of all co-authors must be listed in the submission form. For work with multiple authors, the authors can decide among themselves their various roles in presenting within the 12 minute limit.

A moderator keeps track of your presentation time and may also facilitate the discussion. Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 will be used to project slides. Please make sure your presentation is compatible with this program. If you prefer to use a MAC computer you will be responsible for bringing an adaptor. Presentation and video files should be stored on USB drives.

Resources

• Preparing an Effective Oral Presentation
• https://www.kumc.edu/SAH/OTEd/jradel/Preparing_talks/TalkStrt.html
• http://www.bates.edu/ils/2011/how-do-i/software/powerpoint-presentation-tips/
• http://www.dartmouth.edu/~library/biomed/guides/powerpoint.html?mswitch-redir=classic

Poster Presentations

Students who are not doing an oral presentation must present a poster to showcase their work over the summer. The posters will be displayed during the closing program. If the work is co-authored, only the PRESENTING author will submit on behalf of all co-authors. The names of all co-authors must be listed in the submission form. 

• Materials to hang your poster will be available onsite.
• Posters are displayed throughout the day. Please do not remove your poster until the end of the day’s activities.
• Students with an odd numbered poster will present from 10:15 - 10:45 am. Students with an even numbered poster will present from 11:30 am - 12 pm. 
• Posters must be hung by 8 am and removed by 1:30 pm. If you’re able, please hang your poster as early as possible as we encourage people to view them the entire day.
• Prepare and practice a short summary speech—no more than 3 minutes—about your project. This is an excellent networking opportunity, so it is important to speak and interact professionally.
• Any remaining posters will be kept in the CME office (AC #430) until July 31, 2018.

Printing Guidelines

• Optional: Click here to choose from six DMU approved research templates.
• Posters for the program must be printed at the DMU print shop and emailed to printshop@dmu.edu.  
• Download the print shop order form.
• Posters will need to be submitted to the print shop and proofs signed by Tuesday, July 17 by 3 pm.
• The poster will not be reviewed for academic content.
• The print shop is located on the second floor of the DMU clinic. 
• For poster printing questions, please contact the DMU print shop at 515-271-1402.

Resources

• Preparing an Effective Poster Presentation
• www.ncsu.edu/project/posters

IRB or IACUC Approval

If your project involves human or animal research, you must have obtained IRB or IACUC approval, unless you are clearly presenting your work as a proposed project and make it clear that absolutely no research has yet been conducted. Posters involving such research should indicate an approval number or state that no research has been conducted. Anyone giving an oral presentation on a project involving human or animal research must have an IRB or IACUC approval. For questions, please contact the DMU Office of Research at 515-271-1445.

Dress Code

Business casual.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions regarding the Mentored Student Research Program? If your question isn’t answered, please contact DMU CME at cme@dmu.edu or 515-271-1596.

Questions

515-271-1596
cme@dmu.edu
https://cme.dmu.edu