CSU Research Competition

Participate in the CSU Research Competition 

Each spring, SFSU invites undergraduate and graduate students to participate in the campus round of the California State University (CSU) Student Research Competition. This annual system-wide competition recognizes outstanding scholarly and creative achievements from students across all 23 CSU campuses.

Students selected as SFSU campus winners advance to represent the University at the CSU statewide competition, where they present their work to juried panels, compete for awards, and engage with peers from across disciplines. Participants deliver a brief oral presentation of their research or creative activity and submit a written summary evaluated for clarity, methodology, results and overall contribution to their field. Projects from all disciplines are welcome. 

Categories 

Entries may fall under one of several broad disciplinary categories, including but not limited to:  

Behavioral & Social Sciences Engineering & Computer Science 
Biological & Agricultural Sciences Health, Nutrition & Clinical Sciences 
Business, Economics & Hospitality Humanities & Letters 
Creative Arts & Design Physical & Mathematical Sciences 
EducationInterdisciplinary Studies 

Who may participate

  • Current CSU undergraduate and graduate students from any discipline 
  • Alumni who graduated within the past academic year 
  • Students whose research aligns with their academic or career goals 
  • Individuals or small teams (counted as a single entry) 

Written summary requirements 

 Students submit a short-written summary as part of their application. Requirements typically include:

  • Student name(s) and project title 
  • One-page narrative describing purpose, methods, results and significance 
  • Up to three pages of appendices (e.g., bibliography, charts, images) 
  • IRB or IACUC approval when human or animal subjects are involved 
  • Evidence that the summary supports — but does not script — the oral presentation 
  • Oral presentation format 

At both the SFSU campus competition and the CSU statewide competition: 

  • Students give a timed oral presentation (approximately 10 minutes) 
  • Presenters then respond to questions from a jury 
  • Visual aids (e.g., slides) may be used 
  • Creative Arts & Design entries may include audio/visual examples with contextual explanation 
Participate!

Join this year's CSU Research Competition

Registration for the CSU Research Competition opens early Spring semester.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Projects involving human or animal subjects must receive the appropriate approval or exemption before participating.

No. You may present work in progress. Clearly explain your goals, methods, preliminary results, and expected significance.

Yes, small teams may present together and are counted as a single entry.

Judges assess clarity of purpose, appropriateness of methods, interpretation of results, value of the work, organization, presentation skills and ability to answer questions. 

Campus winners advance to the CSU system-wide competition and may receive funding to support travel. System-wide winners may also receive monetary awards. 

Competition Prep Tips

You will have 10 minutes to present your project. Do not read your written summary. Instead, memorize your presentation to the best of your ability. You may use a PowerPoint or a similar software and note cards to aid in your presentation at the campus-level competition, but you will not be able to use cards at the CSU-wide competition. At the end of 10 minutes, judges will have five minutes to ask questions about your work. 

  • Speak to a general audience. Explain any terms someone outside your field may not know. Avoid jargon when possible and clearly communicate your ideas. 
  • Don’t read from your slides. Keep slide text minimal and speak directly to the audience. 
  • Practice your timing. Rehearse several times to stay within the 10-minute limit. 
  • Prepare for questions. Think about what judges might ask. 
  • Know your audience. SFSU judges come from many disciplines. CSU judges will be from your general field but may not know your specific specialty. 
  • Organize your presentation clearly. On your first slide, include your name, class standing (undergraduate/graduate), field of study, and project title. Then cover: 
    • Your topic or project focus 
    • Background information and how your project fits into your field 
    • Your objectives or research questions 
    • Your methods or artistic medium(s) 
    • Your key findings or results (summarize if there are many) 
    • Why your results or creative work matter and how they can be applied in your field 
  • Keep your slides simple. Use clear, readable text and avoid overcrowding. 
  • Use visuals whenever possible. Pictures, graphs, and charts often communicate ideas better than text alone. 

If you are presenting creative work (e.g., dance, poetry), include images or video and explain: 

  • Your topic and purpose 
  • Historical or artistic context 
  • Your medium(s) 
  • Why your work is important in your discipline 

You will be judged on the following criteria at both the SFSU and CSU system-wide competition: 

  • Clarity of purpose of research or creative activity 
  • Appropriateness of methodology 
  • Interpretation of results 
  • Value of the research or creative activity 
  • Ability of the presenter to articulate the research or creative activity 
  • Organization of the material presented 
  • Presenter’s ability to handle questions from the jury and general audience 

Please note: You will be judged on both the written and presentation components of your project.