Are you interested in supporting this years 2026 Undergraduate Research Symposium on May 15, 2026? We encourage individuals from across the UW to participate– from student to faculty and alumni– to our further surrounding universities, families, and friends.
Sign-Up
Available Opportunities
To see times and dates, head over to the Volunteer Sign-Up Portal!
Support the event days before! (May, 15, 2026)
Sign-up for Material Preparation if you would like to support the event days before! Volunteering in this role will give you the opportunity to support us in preparing materials—session boxes, name tags, and more—to make the event a success. This role does not require continuous standing and seating is available.
Day-before opportunities (May 14, 2026)
Sign-up for Check-in and Set-up if you are looking for opportunities on May 14, 2026, the day before!
- Check-in: In this role you will support students in the check-in process by providing them their name tags, lanyards, and answering general questions about the event. This role does not require continuous standing and seating is available.
- Set-up: Join the Office of Undergraduate Research team in setting up essential spaces the day-before. This role requires standing, moving, and an ability to lift up to 10 lbs. Through this role, you will be placing easels, foam boards, key signage, moving tables and chairs to create presentation spaces for the big day.
Day-of opportunities (May 15, 2026)
Sign-up for Check-in, Set-up, Tear Down, Information Desk, and Session Assistants (General/Poster, Oral, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts and Design) to explore and join in on the day-of celebration!
- Check-in: In this role you will support students in the check-in process by providing them their name tags, lanyards, and answering general questions about the event. This role does not require continuous standing and seating is available.
- Set-up: Join the Office of Undergraduate Research team in setting up essential spaces the morning-of. This role requires standing, moving, and an ability to lift up to 10 lbs. Through this role, you will be placing easels, foam boards, key signage, moving tables and chairs to create presentation spaces for the big day.
- Tear Down: Join the Office of Undergraduate Research in the culmination of the event day, supporting taking down of materials across campus for storage. This role requires standing, moving, and an ability to lift up to 10 lbs. Through this role, you will be gathering easels, foam boards, key signage, moving tables and chairs.
- Information Desk:Support students, mentors, friends, and families as they navigate the event. In this role you will be placed at an information desk located in one of our presentation buildings, with resources to support students, friends, and families in wayfinding.
- Poster and General Session Assistant: Support presenters throughout poster sessions in Mary Gates Hall and MolES-NanoES. From helping transition between sessions and supporting students as they set-up, this role will be asked to regularly interact with student presenters, support them throughout their session, and support wayfinding. This role requires standing for up-to 1 hour, and an ability to navigate pathways.
- Oral Session Assistant (training required):Support oral presentations through one of four sessions! Oral sessions take place in the classrooms and meeting rooms of Mary Gates Hall, and require a dedicated volunteer who is comfortable with technology, making announcements to groups, and who is well-organized. From getting presentations pulled up on a desktop computer, supporting a Faculty moderator, to ensuring time limits are communicated, this role will be asked to provide support through a 1.5 hour session.
- Performing Arts Session Assistant: Support presenters throughout the performing arts session. From helping students to set-up for their session time, to supporting wayfinding for guests interested in attending. This role requires standing and sitting, with an ability to navigate pathways.
- Visual Arts and Design Session Assistant: Support presenters throughout the visual arts and design session. From helping students to set-up for their session time, to supporting wayfinding for guests interested in attending. This role requires standing and sitting, with an ability to navigate pathways.