UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State faculty, emeriti, staff, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students are invited to volunteer as judges for the 2026 Undergraduate Exhibition on Research, Inquiry, and Creative Activity, scheduled for April 20-22.
Volunteer judges evaluate posters, presentations and performances across all academic disciplines. For many undergraduates, the exhibition marks their first opportunity to showcase their work and engage in scholarly discussion in a formal setting.
Judges may specify preferred academic areas for evaluation. Students submit work in one of five broad categories: arts and humanities, including visual arts; engineering; health and life sciences; physical sciences; and social and behavioral sciences.
The exhibition includes both virtual and in-person components. Judges assigned to virtual evaluation may complete their assessments at any time during the April 20-22 window through the Symposium platform. Those assigned to in-person judging must be present at Alumni Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center on April 20 during one or both sessions, 10-11:30 a.m. and noon-1:30 p.m.
Judges are asked to assess up to five projects and are expected to review judging materials and scoring criteria beforehand. Cash prizes are awarded to top entries in each category.
Judge registration is open at urfm.psu.edu under “Information for Judges.” Assignments will be distributed by April 19. Judges must create or sign into a Symposium account to register; those who have judged in previous years may use existing credentials.
Questions about alternative media formats for individual entries may be directed to undergrad@psu.edu.
The Undergraduate Exhibition is organized by Penn State Undergraduate Education.