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SRF has welcomed Nobel Laureates and World-Renowned Scientists such as Dr. Christine Jacobs-Wagner (2023), Dr. Jeffrey W. Kelly (2024), and our very own KU alumnus Dr. Barney Graham (2025) to present the keynote lecture.
The Student Research Forum (SRF) will provide exposure to presentations from world-class researchers and promote interdisciplinary collaboration between fields, departments, professional schools and universities to foster high-quality, innovative research that will transform our present scientific understanding and ultimately improve the lives of people in the state of Kansas and throughout the world. SRF offers a platform for students to present and discuss their research in a conference setting. This provides students the rare opportunity to gain experience and develop important techniques in scientific communication in a comfortable learning environment.
Highlights of the Student Research Forum (SRF) include our A.L. Chapman distinguished keynote speaker, oral and poster presentations by students, career development panel with a mix of academic and industry professionals followed by a networking event, and a three-minute thesis challenge where students compete to share their research to a non-science audience. Presentations are judged by campus faculty, staff and volunteer community members. This unique audience assists in gauging how well scientific research is communicated, a critical element to sharing research.
What is SRF?
The Student Research Forum (SRF) is a student-led organization at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) that promotes and supports KU student research and professional development. SRF is the one of the most accessible platforms for KUMC students to learn and grow, helping guide young researchers to becoming the next generation of top scientists and medical professionals.
What happens at SRF?
Our organization hosts an annual, week-long forum that encompasses participation from students and trainees from all KUMC schools, including schools of Health Professions, Medicine, and Nursing. This campus-wide event uniquely caters to all disciplines, bringing in a diverse range of research. The forum provides a public stage for the presentation, assessment and discussion of student scientific investigations and an opportunity to recognize and award exceptional research efforts.
How does SRF help transform students into young researchers?
“SRF provides a unique and excellent opportunity for students to gain experience in scientific communication through multiple presentation formats. My participation in this platform has allowed me to develop critical skills that I will use throughout my career, and I believe SRF would benefit any student pursuing a biomedical profession.” - Riley Kemna, PhD student, Winner of 2024 SRF Paul Cheney, PhD Award
"SRF offers an invaluable opportunity to present ongoing research and engage in insightful discussions with faculty and peers. Engagement in SRF allows students to strengthen their ability to disseminate research and to constructively analyze the research of others, which are skills necessary for research careers." - Bria Bartsch, PhD Student, Winner of 2024 School of Health Professions Research Medal
How does my donation help foster research development?
As a student run organization, SRF is dependent upon generous donors who share our mission to encourage student research development and academic advancement. All donations made will go towards SRF-related events including bringing in a distinguished science professional for our A.L. Chapman keynote lecture, student/keynote speaker interactions, recognition banquet, awards ceremony, career development and networking event, free professional student headshots, and food/beverages for all student participants.
SRF hosts a professional headshot event for student participants! Name and logo included in event program booklet, website, and “Thank You Donors!” posters.
In 2024, SRF participants had their abstracts published in the Kansas Journal of Medicine, a fantastic benchmark! Name and logo included in event program booklet, website, and “Thank You Donors!” posters.
SRF hosts a Career Development Seminar that offers participants a powerful platform for networking with our panelists. Name and logo included in event program booklet, website, and “Thank You Donors!” posters.
Our 3-minute thesis competition challenges students to condense their research into a compelling 3-minute presentation for a non-scientific audience, honing essential science communication skills. Each year, SRF awards monetary prizes to the first and second place winners, along with a People’s Choice Award. A donation of this amount is recognized as SILVER LEVEL in our sponsorship section of the SRF booklet. Name and logo included in event program booklet, website, “Thank You Donors!” posters, and donors will receive an invite to our 3MT competition final round.
Award-winning scientists from across the nation deliver captivating keynote lectures, fostering invaluable connections and inspiring the next generation of researchers. A donation of this amount is recognized as GOLD LEVEL in our sponsorship section of the SRF booklet. Name and logo included in event program booklet, website, “Thank You Donors!” posters, and donors will receive an invite to our 3MT competition final round and keynote lecture.
The University of Kansas Medical Center produces scientists through its research centers and training programs. SRF furthers this mission by supporting our students and trainees in their early investigator careers. A donation of this amount is recognized as PLATINUM LEVEL in our sponsorship section of the SRF booklet. Name and logo included in event program booklet, website, “Thank You Donors!” posters. Donors will receive an invite to our 3MT competition final round and keynote lecture.