Conference Agenda
2026 URC Schedule
subject to change
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
URC 2026 Submission period opens
Thursday, March 5, 2026
11:59 pm: URC 2026 Submission period closes
Monday, April 13, 2026
9:00 am: Submit the PDF of your poster file to the OUR to have your poster printed through OUR
Thursday, April 16, 2026
11:59 pm: URC 2026 Submission of presentation materials must be uploaded into the Symposium system
Monday, April 20, 2026
9:00 am: URC 2026 virtual presentations are accessible to the community in the Symposium system
Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Popp Martin Student Union
8:30 AM – 3 PM (*tentative schedule)
8:30 AM: URC 2026 Registration opens outside of the 340 Ballroom
9:15 – 10 AM: Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address in the 340 Ballroom
Trumpet Fanfare
Dr. Erik Jon Byker, URC Chair
Tatyana Torres, President of the SDG Club
Dr. Deb Thomas, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, Division of Research
Dr. Lance Barton, Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR)
Mikayla King, URC Student Leader Intern
Natalia Mejia, Keynote Speaker, UNC Charlotte Alum
*Thank you to OUR, the GREET Center, and Honors College for Sponsoring the Keynote
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM: Concurrent Presentation Session A
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Concurrent Presentation Session B
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM: Concurrent Presentation Session C
Creative Arts and Poster Research Presentation Sessions in the 340 Ballroom
Oral Presentation and Panel Sessions in the 200 Level Rooms
Interdisciplinary 1 – Room 261
Interdisciplinary 2 – Room 262
Interdisciplinary 3 – Room 267
Applied Sciences and STEM 1 – Room 265
Applied Sciences and STEM 2 – Room 266
Applied Sciences and STEM 3 – Room 267
2 – 3 PM: Closing Ceremony in the 340 Ballroom**
Dr. Erik Jon Byker, URC Chair
Shaina Bothra, URC Student Leader Intern
Natalia Mejia, Keynote Alum Speaker with Closing Reflections
Dr. Sarah Powell, Associate Director of OUR
Recognitions
**At the conclusion of the Ceremony, further instructions about group pictures may be provided. Thank you to the University Communications Office for providing photography for the URC 2026.
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Dessert reception to follow on the Third Floor of the Popp Martin Student Union
Thank you, again, to all the faculty members, staff, and graduate students who support the URC, mentor students in research, and provide feedback during the conference. Thank you to the URC Organizing Committee and the URC Student Leadership team for all your help with the conference organization.