Each spring, the Undergraduate Symposium is made possible by many supporters from across the UW-Madison community. Volunteers, moderators, and– new in 2026– awards judges have an essential role in the success of this important opportunity for undergraduate students.
Volunteering in any of these roles is a great way to support undergraduate research, scholarship, and creativity, to learn about undergraduate work across the disciplines, and to meet and build connections with others from across campus.
Time slots for each volunteer opportunity are one to two hours in length. Please consider signing up, and help us spread the word to others who may be interested. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Volunteer
Volunteers help ensure the symposium is welcoming, organized, and an all-around success for presenters and visitors alike.
Volunteer Roles
- Registration: Welcome and check in presenters and distribute symposium materials.
- General Event Support: Assist with set up and clean up, support smooth session transitions, and help presenters put up and take down their posters and displays.
- Presenter Engagement: Visit posters and displays to ensure all participants have an opportunity to present their projects to at least one person they do not know.
Who Can Volunteer?
Any members of the campus community, including faculty staff, students, alumni, and retirees, can volunteer at the symposium.
Please sign up to volunteer by Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
Sign Up to Volunteer
Moderate a Presentation Session
Moderators facilitate presentation breakout rooms, ensuring sessions run smoothly and providing important support to undergraduates sharing their work.
Moderator Responsibilities
- Facilitate assigned presentation session(s).
- Assist students with projecting their slides and visual aids.
- Keep presenters to time.
- Lead question and answer periods after each student’s presentation.
Who Can Be a Moderator?
Moderators can be graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, academic staff, or undergraduate students in peer mentoring roles or their final year of study at UW.
Please sign up to be a moderator by Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Judge for the Undergraduate Symposium Awards
Brand new in 2026, the Undergraduate Symposium Awards will recognize outstanding undergraduate posters, presentations, performances, and displays that exemplify clear, effective, and engaging communication of project information for a general audience. Awards judges will have the important role of evaluating student presentations to support final selection of awardees.
Judge Responsibilities
- Attend and evaluate undergraduate presentations assigned to you.
- Provide students with brief, encouraging verbal feedback.
Who Can Be an Awards Judge?
Faculty, postdoctoral scholars, academic staff, and graduate students from all disciplines can serve as awards judges.
Please sign up to be an awards judge by Wednesday, April 1, 2026.