The U of T Scarborough (UTSC) Undergraduate Research and Creative Forum gives UTSC undergraduate students a chance to share their research, analysis, and creative work with an academic community.

The forum is sponsored by the UTSC Library and the Office of the Vice‑Principal, Research & Innovation. This campus wide event helps students build presentation and communication skills while gaining experience presenting their work in a formal setting.

Who can apply

All students currently enrolled in a UTSC undergraduate degree program are eligible to apply, regardless of discipline or year of study.

You must have faculty support to publicly present your work. Projects must be completed or near completion during the current academic year.

Why participate

By taking part in the forum, you can:

present your work to an academic and professional audience
develop clear and effective communication skills
gain experience sharing research and creative projects
learn about the interests and achievements of other UTSC students
receive formal recognition for your work

Presenters receive recognition on their Co‑Curricular Record. A digital copy of each project is archived in TSpace, the university's open research repository, where they can be accessed long‑term.

What you can present

The forum welcomes a wide range of projects across disciplines, including, but not limited to:

independent research papers and capstone projects
lab‑based, field‑based, experimental or theoretical research
creative writing, visual art, or digital media projects such as podcasts or StoryMaps
performance‑based or practice‑based work

Projects should be suitable for a general audience and written in clear, non‑technical language whenever possible.

Students cannot submit the same project as a previous year unless there are clear changes or significant developments.

Note that works do not need to be completed by the initial submission deadline. Students are encouraged to submit their proposal as long as their work is anticipated to be completed prior to the forum.

If you are unsure whether your project is a good fit, contact your liaison librarian for guidance.

How to apply

To apply, you must:

complete the online submission form by the stated deadline
ask your faculty supervisor or course instructor to complete a faculty support form

Only applications with completed faculty support forms will be reviewed. Forms links will be provided on this page while the submission period is open.

Selection criteria

Submissions are reviewed using the following criteria:

content: clear goals, purpose, and significance
clarity: accessible language for a non‑specialist audience
communication: the summary is well written and well organized, with no spelling or grammar errors

Submissions are reviewed by a selection committee made up of:

UTSC librarians, and
a representative from the UTSC Office of the Vice‑Principal, Research & Innovation

Committee members bring a range of disciplinary backgrounds.

The committee looks for projects that clearly explain what the work is, why it matters, and how it connects to a broader context.

Important dates

Key dates, including application deadlines and event details, are posted on this page and updated by late November. Please check back regularly for the most current information.

Drop-in information sessions (in-person tabling outside the Library):
- January 2027 10:00AM - 11:00AM
- January 2027 2:00PM - 3:00PM
Application deadline: February 24, 2026 at 12:00PM (noon)
Presenters contacted: March 2, 2026 by 5:00PM
Presenters confirm participation and attend a mandatory info session: March 3-4, 2026
Presenters info session, skill building workshops and feedback sessions: March 2026 (finalists will be contacted directly with exact dates and further information)
Final submission deadline: March 24, 2026 at 12:00PM (noon)
Forum: March 31, 2026 1-3pm, UTSC Meeting Place with remarks, live presentations and Q&A with presenters

Get help with your application

Your liaison librarian can help you:

refine your project summary
adapt your work for a general audience
prepare for presenting your research or creative work

If you have questions about the suitability of your project or the application process, contact your liaison librarian or visit one of the forum information sessions.

If you require accommodations, please advise Nina Adamo or AccessAbility Services before the submission deadline.

Frequently asked questions

Applications

What should I include in my submission summary?

Your summary should give readers a clear sense of your work and why it matters.

Depending on your project type, you may include:

the purpose or main question of the work
background or context
methods, materials, or approach
key findings, outcomes, or themes
conclusions or implications

Creative projects may focus on inspiration, meaning, influences, or process rather than results.

Summaries should be written for a general audience using clear, non‑technical language and avoid discipline‑specific jargon when possible.

Are group assignments or projects eligible?

Yes, as long as the UTSC undergraduate students are the principal investigators or primary creators. All students that contributed to the project must be listed.

Are part-time students eligible?

Yes, all students registered in a UTSC undergraduate degree program who are in the process of completing that degree are eligible to apply. Undergraduate students must be the principal investigators or primary creators. All students that contributed to the project must be listed.

Can I present work that was shown somewhere else?

Yes. You may present work that has been shared in another setting, as long as it has not been submitted to the Undergraduate Research and Creative Forum in a previous year without significant changes or advancement.

Can I submit multiple application forms for different projects?

A maximum of one (1) individual submission and one (1) group submission form is permitted.

Can I submit the same project to other UTSC or U of T prizes?

It depends on the prize.

You may not submit the same project to the Patricia and Peter Shannon Wilson Undergraduate Research Prize.

You may submit the same project to the UTSC Undergraduate Research and Creative Prize.

Review each prize's website for complete eligibility and submission requirements before applying.

Can I apply if I work at the U of T Scarborough Library?

Yes, all students registered in a UTSC undergraduate degree program who are in the process of completing that degree are eligible to apply. Undergraduate students must be the principal investigators or primary creators. All students that contributed to the project must be listed.

Is there a word limit for submission summaries?

Yes. Submission summaries must stay within the posted word limit in the form.

Summaries that exceed the limit may not be reviewed. Review the application form instructions carefully before submitting.

Who can complete the faculty support form?

Your faculty support form should be completed by your course instructor, lecturer, or faculty member who is familiar with your work and can support your presentation.

If you are unsure whether someone is eligible to serve in this role, contact your liaison librarian.

The person who knows the most about my project is my TA. Does the faculty support have to come from the instructor in charge of the course?

Yes, the faculty support form must come from either a faculty supervisor or the instructor teaching the course.

What if my project is taking place off-campus? Who can provide faculty support?

As long as you are completing your undergraduate degree at UTSC, your project does not need to take place on campus.

Your faculty support letter can come from a U of T faculty supervisor or course instructor with an appointment at any U of T campus.

Choose the faculty member who is most familiar with your work and best positioned to support your application.

Information for presenters

What happens if my project is selected?

If your project is selected, you receive an email within two weeks of the application deadline inviting you to present at the forum.

You must confirm your participation and attend a mandatory information session within the timelines identified in the email.

You will receive details about the presentation format, event schedule, and preparation support during the mandatory presenter information session.

A Quercus course, scholarly communication and presentation skills workshops and feedback sessions will also be available to student presenters in March to help hone your skills as necessary.

After you present at the forum, your participation will be recognized with a notation on your Co‑Curricular Record and your display (poster, presentation slides, etc.) will be archived in TSpace.

What do I need to submit for the Forum?

You will be expected to present your display summarizing your project to a generalist audience. Final submission deadlines are listed on this page and will also be communicated through email and a Quercus course for presenters.

You will receive additional details by email upon acceptance to the forum and during the mandatory presenter information session in March.

Please let Nina Adamo know in advance of the final submission deadline if you have any unique setup needs so that we can prepare accordingly.

How do I submit my final display?

Finalists must submit a digital version of their final display by email to Nina Adamo by the final submission deadline.

If your file is too large for email, you may:

use UTSend, or
upload the file to OneDrive and share the link

What are the presentation requirements?

On the day of the forum, faculty, staff, students, librarians, friends, and family are invited to browse all the projects in the Meeting Place.

Because attendees will move between displays, plan to provide a short presentation or talking points of no more than five minutes to visitors who approach your display. Your presentation should clearly explain your research or creative project to a general audience.

What is the best way to present if we have a group of two or more students?

If your project includes two or more students, you may choose how you want to present your work.

Use a format that best represents your project and allows everyone in your group to participate. Creativity is encouraged.

We can discuss presentation options during presentation skills workshops and feedback sessions.

Past participants

Congratulations and thank you to all students over the years for sharing your scholarly works and projects with the UTSC Community!

As of 2025-2026, all student presenter names and displays can be found in TSpace.

Students who participated prior to those dates are listed below.

If you previously presented at the forum and would like your poster or presentation slides added to the TSpace collection, contact your liaison librarian.

2024-2025

Alyssa Narine
Mason Li
Changjun Xu
Judy Lam
Sunny Tang
Jem Lopez
Noelle Gomes
Kaynaat Abrar
Esta Yee
Bhavana Akilan
Mei Timpson
Mehakpreet Saggu
Karen Quan
Kinkini Monaragala
Leanne Rambali
Kaarunya Kandeephan
Syeda Gaillani
Asses Manku, DxinLin (Jui-Hsin Lin), Mel Henderson, Hainako Watanabe and Zmmai Zhang
Jessica Yang
Kelechi Nwokeocha
Mackenzie Wilson
Jawaad Khan
Simran Suri
Aicha Belghiti
Haiqing Wang
Felipe Sarmiento Gomez
Liaba Aamir
Ananya Balaji and Pri Rajkumar
Saumya Sirohi, Anea Ishak, Constance Chen, Clarisse Chan and Samantha Nguyen
Sundas Rehman
Heba Reeyaz
Ping-Chen Lin and Angelia Guo
Amrita Rampersaud
Ping-Chen Lin
Jean Rehani
Maryam Abdulganiyu
Jeeviga Yasokaran, Jessica Hirtle-Kwan and Saira Lakhwani

2023-2024

Aarzoo Arya
Hana Abbasian
Hera Jamil
Marcellina Kristiani
Priyanka Choudhari
Rushikesh Amin
Kian Godhwani
Fawziyah Ibrahim
Yong Zhong Liang
Elim Tang
Brianna Wedderburn
Ian Gregory
Bethlehem Teshome, Punita Lalchand, Sivangi Santhikumaran, & Hou Chang
Vijay Saravanamuthu
Chad Fairservice
Leanne Rambali
Mehakpreet Saggu
Kaynaat Abrar
Farzana Jahan
Esty-Jo Asare
Janis Wong
Vareia Boxill
Lianting Wang
Sapolnach Prompiengchai
Pruthuvie Chandradhas
Edris Formuli
Jasmine Ho
Sumhithaa Sriram
Santiago Izaciga
Mei Timpson
Radhika Gupta
Jashandish Singh
Rachel Ye
Joy Kirten Tolledo
Aristeo Cheong
Tanisha Agarwal
Debjeet Dhar, Debraj Dhar, Le An Nhi (Annie) Nguyen, Mojolaoluwa Smith, Li-Chih (Austin) Yang, Felicity Winder
Abigail Russchen, Wing Sze Leung, & Vyusti Magan Shroff
Victoria Ivakitch, Makeda Muluneh, Ryan Magrath, Athena Klissouras, Yu Hei Chan

2022-2023

Research Stream

Aarushi Vardhan
Alina Farrukh
Anuijan Chandran
Bhanvi Sachdeva
Denise Ysabel Silva
Fatima Ahmad
Hana Abbasian
Maduomethaa Pathmaraj
Rubab Shafiq
Sapolnach Prompiengchai
Shabnam Tejani
Sindid Alam, Jashkumar Patel
Sophie Faessen
Uyen Hua
Yao Yan Huang

Creative Stream

Christiane Khalileyh
Elyse Blondell
Evaelle Mangle, Owen Lee, Zoe Michailidis
Shakthi Suthakaran

2021-2022

Research Stream

Adam Poulin
Anjali Chauhan
Ashmita Mazumder
Caitlin Arizala, Abigail Ralph, Omer Jamal
Devlin Grewal
Elaine Hoan
Fatima Formuli
Gabriella Patro
Katelyn Tadros
Lamia Firasta
Michelle Raitman
Nabeela Syeda
Omer Jamal, Kiran Nabi, Ranie Ahmed, Waleed Ishak
Rawan Nahle
Syed Turab Hasan
Zekai Zhao

Creative Stream

Anna Galang
Bhanvi Sachdeva
Fatima Formuli, Carrie Lau, Chris Lee
Hodman Abukar
Katrina Best
Mohammed Said
Noah Farberman
Renjie Cui

2020-2021

Ali Javeed
Anuj Mehta
Aqsa Zahid
Ashna Hudani
Erin Butler
Gloria Umogbai
Ilakkiah Chandran
Laiba Rizwan
Nafisa Mahbub
Oviya Muralidharan
Ruolin (Raymond) Wu
Saim Imran

2019-2020

Aswini Kuruparan
Apira Ragunathan
Ali Javeed
Christiana Agustin
Emma Chan
Gloria Rebello
Jesusa Paz Castillo
Judy Perpose
Kristen Wing Yan Wong
Luxshi Sivakumar
Marc Danzell Lopez
Meera Patel
Monoleena Khan
Nayaab Punjani
Sana Najafi
Srisudhakar Nowduri
Vallari Patel
Yasamin Sadeghi

Winners (2015-2022)

Winners were historically selected from among the forum finalists from 2015-2022.

In an interest to provide a more inclusive space and formally recognize the differences in research and creative practices across disciplines that can make judging a multidisciplinary event like the Undergraduate Research and Creative Forum a challenge, the decision was made not to adjudicate final student displays and presentations at the in-person forum effective 2022-2023.

A special mention and thanks to all the finalists for sharing their research with the UTSC community.

2021-2022

Research Stream Winners:

Caitlin Arizala, Abigail Ralph, Omer Jamal - Evaluating & Improving COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics For Racialized Youth In Toronto’s COVID-19 Hotspots

Creative Stream Winners (tie):

Bhanvi Sachdeva - An Ode To Her: Poetry in Qualitative Research

Hodman Abukar - Some Things You Just Can't Speak About: A Digital Art Piece

2020-2021

1st Place: Oviya Muralidharan - E-Survey of Stressors and Protective Factors in Practicing Medical Assistance in Dying

2nd Place (tie):

Gloria Umogbai - Black Don't Crack? The Amplification of Racism and Ageism on Black Aging Bodies

Ruolin Wu - The More the Better? Examining the Relation between Strategy Repertoire and Goal Attainment

3rd Place: Aqsa Zahid - Stigma Associated with Schizophrenia: The importance of diagnostic label vs. negative symptom presentation

2019-2020

1st Place: Nayaab Punjani - Bioengineered SMaRT Human Neural Stem Cells for Scar Degradation and Functional Recovery in a Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Model

2nd Place: Srisudhakar Nowduri - Bacteria are Picky Homeowners

3rd Place: Ali Javeed - The Virtuous Side of the Escalator: Political Orientation and the Moralization of Public Social Norms

2018-2019

1st Place: Nazia Mohsin - Phonetic Symbolism in Urdu

2nd Place: Shenhab Zaig - Mechanisms of opioid-induced respiratory depression and analgesia in zebrafish

3rd Place: Dilakshan Srikanthan - Elucidating the Efficacy of Intrathecal Delivery of CAR-T immunotherapy in preclinical models of Medulloblastoma

2017-2018

1st Place: Janessa Tam & Hoi Tai Lau- Processing Digraphic Text (Cantonese-English) in Social Media Settings

2nd Place: Community Forestry Approach to Climate Change Adaptation: Example from the Dry Zone of Myanmar

3rd Place: Social Support and Illness Perception: How Social Support is associated with perceived Symptom Burden in Patients on Maintenance Dialysis

2016-2017

1st Place: Tasneem Ezzy - Factors Involved in Replication-Mediated Instability of Disease Associated Repeats

2nd Place: Dilakshan Srikanthan, Sumaya Dano, Luke Ajay David, Nimra Javaid, and Amanda Yee - Effects of cohabiting offspring on fitness of female western black widow spiders

3rd Place (3 way tie): Ayesha Tasneem - Morphological development of basket cells in the murine cerebellar cortex; Steven Chang - Total and Methylmercury in Created Wetlands of Rouge Valley National Urban Park; Maegan Evelyn Sweeney - Structural modulation of tris porphyrin molecules for electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide

2015-2016

1st Prize: Srivathsan Morkonda Gnanasekaran - Migration of Moonlets in Saturn's Rings

2nd Prize: Tania Mahendiran - Investigating Interactions between Mood & Global & Local scene processing

3rd Prize: Kevin Ng - Urban Hydrology of the Mimico Creek Watershed

UTSC Undergraduate Research & Creative Forum

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