Deadline for Applications:

Regular Registration:       November 30, 2008   (Registration: $100.00)

Early Registration:            October 31, 2008  (Discounted Fee: $75.00)

You must follow the steps described in items 1-4 below. Your application will not be considered complete until all of the necessary materials are received.

1.    Fill out the online registration at http://esrf.mededu.miami.edu

2.    Email the abstract as a Microsoft Word document.

•    The typed Abstract should conform to the following specifications (sample below). The entire abstract should be no longer than 350 words including title and authors.

•    Use TIMES ROMAN FONT, POINT SIZE 10 for normal text.

•    All words in the title should be in bold capital letters except                                    

      abbreviations such as Ca2+ and CsA.

      •    All abbreviations designated by code or initial letters in the title must be identified in

            the body of the abstract.

•    The PRESENTING AUTHOR’S NAME (i.e. your name) should be

      UNDERLINED.

•    Include the department and school or institution along with city, state and ZIP code after the authors’ names.

•    The abstract should consist of one, solitary paragraph, single-spaced,        

      and with the first line indented.

•    The abstract should contain a brief introduction and a summary of methodology, results, and conclusions.

3.   The Letter of Endorsement Form (direct mail and/or emailed word document) signed by either your research mentor or faculty advisor stating that the student submitting the abstract was responsible for the major portion of the work.

4.   Upon acceptance to the Forum, we will respond by email with the Letter of Acceptance, and Hotel Accommodation Form.

5.   To be eligible for a travel award, please provide a letter from your Dean or Departmental Chairperson (not your research advisor or mentor) detailing your need for financial assistance. Travel grants will be awarded based on justification of financial need only.

      Please mail the letter to:

                 Eastern-Student Research Forum

                 Miami VA Healthcare System

                 Research (151)

                 Attn:   Isabel Perez

                 1201 NW 16 Street

                 Miami, FL 33125

Space is included on the application for authors to indicate their preference for poster or oral presentation.  The final decision of whether reports are presented in a slide or poster session rests with the Co-Directors.  This decision will be guided, but not bound, by the preference of the authors.

Oral Presentation

Fifteen minutes will be allotted for each paper.  Participants MUST limit their presentation to 10-12 minutes; the remaining time is for discussion.  Oral presentation will be judged on content, audiovisual aids, and the participant's ability to handle questions. 

Poster Presentation

All poster presentations will be considered for Poster Presentation Awards, providing the first author on the abstract is the presenter. 

Poster Production

1.

Your poster cannot exceed 72 inches (w) by 48 inches (h) and include the sections as follows:

• the subject under consideration and its significance
• the means and materials used
• a summary of the results presented in sufficient detail to support the conclusions
• the significance of the results and their applicability to broader fields of knowledge
• references

2.

The title of the poster, the name of the participant and the location at which the research was performed should appear at the top of the display in a space at least 20 cm high.  CAPITALIZE THE ENTIRE TITLE.

3.

All illustrations should be professionally finished.  Hand drawn figures are strongly discouraged.

4.

Posters are to be attached to the boards with thumbtacks. NO paste, glue, staples, or nails are permitted.

5.

Judges will circulate through the poster session during a specified period of time during the Forum.  Posters will be judged on their adherence to the stated guidelines, content clarity, and the ability of the researcher to handle questions.