research poster acknowledgements example

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Acknowledgements

Characteristics of acknowledgements.

• Lists names of scientists who contributed to the research but did not provide substantial contribution that would justify authorship.  
• Lists the funding sources (e.g., grant number, U.S. Government Agency) that made the research possible.
• Lists names of research centers, institutions and organizations where research was conducted.  

One of the hallmarks of good science is to be open about the research and provide as much information as possible.   This is also true when acknowledging the funding source for the research and names of scientists who contributed to the research.   The Acknowledgements section typically appears last in a poster ( Figs. 2 and 9 ) and is where an author will list the people who contributed to the research, but did not provide substantial contribution to the work that they should appear as a co-author on the poster.   The Acknowledgments is also the section of the poster where the authors list the financial support for their research.   These can include grants, contracts, fellowships or scholarships.   The name of funding agencies who provided support for the research should be listed in this section.   For example, an author may write:   “Financial support was provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation, grant number EAR-012345”.      

Scientific Posters: A Learner's Guide Copyright © 2020 by Ella Weaver; Kylienne A. Shaul; Henry Griffy; and Brian H. Lower is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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poster guide

Designing effective conference posters, justin l. matthews, ph.d. (he/him/his), department of psychology, california state university, monterey bay.

Research is meant to leave the lab. Without dissemination, research never really happened. There are a few different pathways research can take when leaving the lab. In most cases, the first step is through some sort of presentation, either a talk or a poster given at an academic conference, in your field of study. The second and more permanent way is through publication as a paper in an academic journal or as a chapter in an academic book.

The focus here will be on the academic conference as a venue and the poster presentation as the medium. If you have ever been to an academic conference you know they are unique gatherings that attract a bunch of socially-awkward academics that want to tell you all about their most recent findings. Faculty usually go to mingle with their colleagues, relax, and travel to a location that is more exciting than their hometown. Students attend conferences for many of the same reasons, but also to network, build their CV, gain experience, and grumble to anyone who will listen about their experiences in their undergraduate/graduate program.

**If you are prepping for a conference talk check out Dr. Jessica Calarco’s page here .

Conferences

Do you remember the last conference you attended? If you do, the poster session was most likely held in a large, hot, crowded room where you and your fellow presenters stood side by side while others strolled down your very own “lane of new knowledge” quickly looking right and left trying to find a topic that somewhat interested them. You were probably also nervous and hungry, I mean why not add insult to injury. You need to remember all of these environmental details when you are designing your poster. Your poster needs to be eye catching, clear, concise, and aesthetically pleasing. You are in a competition for attention, and putting yourself in the shoes of your viewer will help you design a poster people will want to stop and talk to you about.

Great Posters

Great posters are well organized and visually appealing; they show, but don’t necessarily always tell the viewer, information. Remember, it’s a poster… a giant canvas on which you can put pictures, figures, and graphs to tell your story, so utilize these elements to your benefit.  Great posters are interesting to a diverse audience. I know you think everyone should be interested in your work (I mean why wouldn’t they be, you are solving the world’s problems, aren’t you?), but sometimes people need a little coaxing when it comes to convincing them they should be interested in your research/findings. You should make it a point to create a poster that is easy for just about anyone to understand in under five minutes. Your poster should also be a positive reflection of you, your work, and your affiliated lab, university, or institution.

It might sound like an easy task, creating a great poster, but once you get into the nitty gritty of designing a research poster, you might succumb to a handful of bad habits that naturally occur when telling someone about your life’s work. I call these bad habits the “sad six”. Horrible posters are…

• unorganized.
• cluttered; remember, you want your viewer to ENJOY their experience, so make your poster easy to navigate.
• extremely confusing to those outside your field of study (I’ll talk later about knowing your audience).
• filled with superfluous text. Remember that in addition to your wonderful poster hanging on the board in that hot, crowded room, that you yourself are also there to TELL the viewer about your work. Don’t fill your poster with so much text that you become redundant. Most people would prefer to sit back, relax and listen to you tell them about your work while they look at nice pictures, than to read thousands of words, in too small of a font, while potentially tired and/or inebriated.
• picture-less, posters without pictures suck , they’re boring, and usually lead to people walking right past you and on to the nicer posters.
• embarrassing to your colleagues, your school, and your lab.

Where to Start?

OK, so you’re sitting in front of your computer ready to be creative. Where do you start? First, let’s talk software. Most people know if they are a Mac person or a PC person, it doesn’t matter which platform you prefer to use, both offer great software for getting the job done. The majority of students I come in contact with use Microsoft PowerPoint to design their research posters. This is a great program that is available on both Mac and PC platforms. It will allow you to manipulate text, photos, graphs, and figures as needed to create a visually appealing research poster. Another great piece of software is Apple’s Keynote presentation program. Similar to PowerPoint, this software package too is great if you are a Mac addict at heart. Both programs allow you to incorporate all of my tips and tricks when creating a poster. There is also a third option: Google Slides . Google Slides works just as well as the other two, it is FREE, and it is software platform neutral! So, let’s start talking shop…

Software Specifics

I prefer to use PowerPoint , Keynote , or Google Slides and simply create one GIANT slide. You can do this in the settings of the program and customize your slide size to match your printer’s capabilities as well as your conference’s guidelines. In my field (Psychology) our poster boards are usually shared by two presenters who each get a space that is about 4 feet wide by 4 feet tall. This size is nice since it is usually compatible with large format printers (or plotters) that universities typically have for poster printing. I would start with the following dimensions:  36 inches high X 48 inches wide (adjust as needed).

After setting the slide size, you might want to configure your program to use either the RGB or CMYK color palate. If your poster will be photo heavy and color accuracy is critical to telling your story, you might want to read up on using “ printer profiles ” to maximize the probability that your poster will print with accurate color. Most large format printers are CMYK printers meaning they print by mixing four colors: Cyan (blue), Magenta (red), Yellow (yellow, duh), and Key (black, not duh). You can download specific printer profiles and install them on your computer so that when the time comes to print to a specific printer your computer will know how to exactly tell the printer how to mix colors for maximum color accuracy.

In addition to becoming familiar with color printer profiles, you might also want to become familiar with the procedures for exporting your final poster to Adobe PDF . Adobe PDF is a file type that is somewhat universal, meaning most computers can read the file, and the file is really good at preserving formatting information, fonts, and colors so if someone else, like your dearly beloved department administrative assistant (you should bring them chocolate and gifts, by the way), is printing your poster, their computer will most likely transmit your file to the printer in a way so it prints EXACTLY how it looked on your screen when you designed it. So, become familiar with exporting your final product to PDF and always remember to save, save, save throughout the entire design process.

Okay, Let’s begin by talking about the overall layout or “flow” of your soon-to-be awesome, award-winning research poster. I like to think of a poster as a large canvas where you will tell a story. Now, in most of the Western world, we read from left to right , top to bottom, and this script or “ schema ” is very strong, hello we’ve been doing it most all of our life. I would venture to guess that this would be a great way to lay out a poster so it has a familiar feeling to the reader when they’re progressing through the information. If you are presenting your work in a language that uses a different writing system, you would want to adjust your poster layout to align with that system.

Typically, I start at the top left of the canvas and work my way down to the bottom right in a columnar format. I like to include three to four distinct columns in my posters and traverse, from the top of each column to the bottom of each column, while moving left to right across the entire canvas. This progression has a very natural feeling for the reader. It also serves another important function; as they read, viewers can move their body from left to right across the poster, making way for others to follow them without overcrowding the viewing area in front of your poster. If, by chance, you were to use one large column that spanned the entire width of the canvas, a person would need to visually scan, from left to right, multiple times as they encountered each line break. Also, extremely long lines of text are not very efficient, about 40 to 60 characters per line of text is a good rough estimate to make reading a pleasure.

Let’s take a quick moment to talk about fonts. Fonts are an important piece of the poster puzzle. Fonts have a lot of attributes that are customizable and customizing the correct way can dramatically improve your viewer’s experience; do it the wrong way and you’ll tend to make people upset fairly quickly. Fonts can be customized with regard to style, color, size, and emphasis. Discussing each of these characteristics one by one will help you choose the best font attributes for your poster.

Fonts can be divided into two major styles: serif and sans serif . Serif fonts have little “wings” or “extensions” from the edges of the letters that add a little bit of style or grace to each character. Sans-serif fonts are just as their Latin/French root suggests, “without serif”, they do not have the little wings or extensions on the corners of the letters. Many people find sans-serif fonts to be cleaner looking than serif fonts, and typographers (yes, they exist) will tell you that these two different font types are optimized for use in different situations. Use a serif style when your font is relatively small, like when used within a block of text; use a sans-serif font when your font is rather large, like in a title or heading. Take home message: Small fonts are easier to read with serifs, large fonts are easier to read sans-serif.

Also, with regard to style, choose a standard font that compliments your poster, avoid using fonts that are cute, whimsical or fancy. Any font can also be customized by changing its color. With color you always want to remember two things: what is the background color the font will rest on and what is the font color. These two colors should contrast each other well so that the words that the font is conveying are easy to read. Avoid the following horrible combinations: yellow font on a white background, blue font on a red background, and red font on a blue background. Stick to dark colors on light backgrounds and light colors on dark backgrounds, as contrast is your friend. Also, be mindful that not everyone experiences color as you might, and if you are not careful this can be problematic for those of us who are colorblind .

Font size can help draw your viewer’s eyes to specific parts of your poster with ease. Use font size to convey importance and guide the reader’s eyes. The following are great recommendations for size guides: title = 96pts, author/institution line = 48pts, section headings = 36pts, and finally something around 24pts for the body text. Do not regularly use any font that is smaller than 24pts (except for acknowledgements and/or references, as discussed later). The last part of the font you can customize is emphasis. You can emphasize a word or sentence by using a bolded or italicized version of your font. Try to avoid underlined text in a poster, it tends to crowd your precious white space.

Next, let us discuss the individual elements that will come together to create a great conference poster. Now, you might be tempted to follow in the “manuscript” footsteps and begin your poster with an abstract summarizing your research findings. I would encourage you to nix the abstract entirely. If you think about it, your research poster is a short, to the point, explanation of your research project… do you really need a short, to the point explanation, of your short, to the point poster? No. If the conference organizers require you to include one, minimize the space it takes up. I would consider including the following sections in any research poster presentation: a title and author line, some background, your research question(s), a description of your methodology, a summary of your results, a discussion about your findings, a small list of references, and a place to acknowledge those who helped you along the way, I’m sure there were a few. Let’s talk about each of these sections one by one.

The title is a very important piece of information that viewers will use to decide whether or not they will talk to you about your work, therefore, word it carefully. Since it is the selling point, a title should be somewhat catchy but also simple and concise: “You Don’t Want People to Walk up to Your Poster and Stand There for a Few Minutes Trying to Read Your Title While They Decide Whether They Should Stay and Read the Rest of Your Poster or Go and Get Another Drink or Maybe Go to the Next Poster that Has a Shorter Title, or the Bathroom, Oh Wow this is Taking Forever. Ugh.” See, that was painful, don’t be the person with the long title that takes too long to read. I loathe them and so should you (the titles not the people). Sometimes, people use a colon to break their title into two pieces, first a piece to intrigue the reader, and a second piece to really tell the reader what the research is about. I don’t mind the colon, but remember, if you choose to use it, check to make sure you are not lengthening your title unnecessarily.

All posters need a bit of background or introduction to acclimate the reader to the topic at hand. This section will probably be the first section of your poster and it should be designed to bring the reader up to speed. Now, remember that you most likely will be standing next to your poster, so create this section with that in mind. You will be there to guide the reader, so bulleted sentences that drive home the main ideas are ideal. Resist the temptation to write an entire paragraph for this section. Tell the reader any influential work that led you to your research topic. This is also a great place for a photo or figure to show the reader that your work is interesting and worth their time. When using photos, go for broke on the resolution. When you print your poster it will probably be a lot larger than it looks on your screen and you don’t want the photos on your poster to be pixelated or looking like they were taken with a cell phone camera from the 90’s ( did cell phones even have cameras back then? ).

Research Question

Presumably, you are at this conference, presenting your research because you set out to answer a specific research question , and you now have some sort of answer that you (or more likely, your advisor) thinks merits a poster presentation. Here is the place to tell the reader your question(s). State them in everyday, simple language that will help anyone relate to the issue. Remember, if you are at a conference that attracts a variety of people, even if they are all in your specific field of study, break it down for them and appeal to simplicity. You might want to emphasize your research questions by italicizing or bolding them, so they stand out.

The next section that is typically included is the method section: The part where you tell your audience HOW you got your data. That’s method not methods. Refrain from getting lost in the details. This is not a manuscript, and no one in their right mind will attempt to replicate your work by remembering what they read while standing in front of your poster (possibly slightly inebriated). Remember, you can always send them the paper at a later date (if you ever finish writing it). Again, pictures and diagrams are your friends. It is much more pleasant to quickly look over a flow chart describing a series of events than it is to read about those events unfolding in sentence form, that’s booooooring. Also, I hate to belabor this point, but you will be STANDING right there, so if a visitor has a question about a reagent dilution, an eye-tracker calibration routine, the stability of your carbon dating isotope, or which library in Calcutta you found your ancient manuscript, you will be there to tell them all about, in great, probably hugely boring, detail. They might regret ever asking.

After the method, you usually progress directly into the results section. The results section typically contains statistics so that people will actually believe what you’re saying. Unfortunately, many people will not always be familiar with the statistics you used, don’t hold that against them, not everyone can be as savvy as you. Use graphs and figures here to tell your story. Displaying data graphically has become way easier over the last few decades and there really is no excuse to not have a few nice graphs or figures that show your fabulous results. This is also a nice place to use bulleted phrases that tell your reader that widget group A was different from widget group B on some measure or constellation of measures. Keep it simple, and resist the temptation to explain “why” in this section, that is what the discussion is for.

The discussion, ahhhh, the final section that tells everyone how important your research results are and what they all mean. You might want to restate your research question(s) or hypotheses here, then state whether or not they were supported or not supported. Remember, don’t use the word “prove”. Ever. I mean it. Again, use simple everyday language to tell the viewer why your results are interesting by placing the findings in a broader context. This might require you to actually think about how your results fit into that bigger picture everyone is always yammering on about. Trust me, this exercise will be good for you, because that one curmudgeon professor (you know the one) will inevitably ask you the question anyway, so you might as well be prepared. Also, tell the viewer what is next? What are you going to work on now that this stage of your project is complete, well not complete, but you know what I mean…. ongoing…. for what seems like forever, or until you graduate. A word of caution… have a discussion with your research mentor about just how many of your “future plan” details you want to share. Don’t get scooped .

References & Acknowledgements

Now we get to the two sections that tell your reader where you got a lot of your information, because I know you just didn’t know all of it already. These sections also tells them who helped you along the way. We’re finally at the references and the acknowledgements. For the references section follow your field’s standard citation format. I prefer to use a slightly smaller font for the references since most people don’t read posters for the references. Of course, they have to be there, but you might as well minimize them as much as possible. One way to minimize them and prevent them breaking the flow of your poster is to use superscripts in text to reference certain bodies of work. Superscripts are those little numbers that sit slightly above a line of text like in math where the 2 sits when it’s squaring something. Use consecutive numbers in text to refer to a numbered list in the reference section, this saves a lot of room on the poster, no more (Hernandez, Bryant, & Longassnamenoonecaresabout, 2015) repeated multiple times, just once in the reference list. Full stop .

In the acknowledgements section, you should list the names of people who helped with the project. Resist the temptation to use a person’s title (e.g. Dr. or Professor) just use their name, and if a person is an author, you don’t have to thank them in this section, their name on the author line is recognition enough. You can also add grants or funding agencies that gave you all that cash here too (you know from all those funded grants you have).

Contact Information

Obviously, you will be there to guide your viewer through your poster as they are standing in front of it, but what about when they are back at their lab and they actually want to share, with you, an epiphany they just had? You’re going to need to provide some contact information. Be sure to include your full name, your email address, your website address (if you have one) and maybe even a miniature handout of your poster or a business card with your information on it.

Oh, and one thing about email addresses… it’s best to keep it professional and use your institution sponsored email address, not the email you use when selling your stuff on Craigslist, you know the one… I think it’s [email protected] . Yeah, don’t use that one. In other words, make it easy for them to contact you as well as respect you.

Did you shower this morning? I know that is a weird question but, believe me you’ll at least want to shower prior to presenting your research at the poster session. You might even want to put on some deodorant… yes you, put it on. As mentioned previously, poster session rooms are notorious for being hot, loud, uncomfortable places, and you’ll want to feel and look your best. Some of the people you see might be interested in hiring you in the future or, if you’re planning on going to grad school, maybe even serving as your graduate advisor (ahhh, ignorance is bliss).

While presenting your research remember to stand up straight and look interested. If you’re not interested, trust me, your audience will share your disposition. Smell nice. Again, this means take a shower and wear clean clothes. If you are unfamiliar with the conference you are presenting at, ask a colleague about the conference’s sartorial history. Is this conference a dressy casual type of event or can you wear sandals and jeans? Believe me, conferences vary with regard to fashion. If it’s a super relaxed conference you might look out of place in business attire. If the conference has a somewhat highbrow fashion history, you’ll look out of place in jeans and a t-shirt. Do your homework… ask someone who has been before (if you don’t know a soul that has attended your specific conference, do a Google image search using the conference name… photos from previous years will probably come up and give you an idea of the clothing norms).

When you are talking to your audience, do just that, talk TO them, not TO the poster. No matter how much you talk to your poster it will not talk back, trust me, I’ve tried. Don’t chew gum, wear sunglasses, play around on your phone, or look at notes. You know this research front and back, act like it. Have the following statements prepared and committed to memory prior to stepping out on stage: a one sentence summary of your project (for those in a huge rush), a one minute summary of your project (for those who care a little bit more), and a full bodied five minute spiel for those who are super interested (yes, they exist). Those three preparations will satisfy almost any person you end up dragging, kicking and screaming over to your poster. Candy also works as a quick bribe.

Tips & Tricks

Now that we’ve gone through all the major sections of the poster, and I’ve reminded you to shower, let’s go over my dozen tips and tricks that will make your poster that much better and maybe even win an award (maybe a monetary one, that would be nice). Here they are in no particular order:

• Keep your word count low (< 600 total words).
• Use blank space ! Freely ignore your advisor’s mandate to fill every square inch of your poster with crap. Your reader needs some “breathing room” while looking at your poster, remember blank space is their friend as well as yours (sorry Taylor Swift , not you).
• Stay away from ALL CAPS, use sentence case , it’s easier to read.
• Keep line spacing (or leading ) at exactly 1.0 (this ensures that any superscripts or subscripts will be protected from line intrusion).
• Visit your university or institution’s communications page. Here you can usually find high quality versions of your institution’s logo or branding. Here is my institution’s logo page as a reference.
• Don’t settle for logos or branding you find through a Google image search, most of the time the resolution is too low for printing on a large poster.
• Use Bold or italics for emphasis, don’t underline .
• Use sentence lists or bullets, not paragraphs.
• Choose your background color carefully. Remember to watch out for transparency issues that might arise with certain photos or figures, sometimes they require that the background be white, put a white box behind your problem figure if it’s needed.
• Label all your figures, photos, and graphs. Make sure they stand on their own, and they don’t require one to dig into the text to find out why they are on your poster.
• Avoid acronyms and industry jargon when you can. Remember to keep it simple.
• Make sure that your poster is readable from 6 feet away and that your reader can go from beginning to end in 5 minutes or less.
• Visit edwardtufte.com for some ideas on how to keep your graphs simple.

Hello & Thank You

Last but not least, I’d like to tell you about a phenomenon known in the Cognitive Sciences as the serial position effect . This phenomenon basically states that in any chunk of time where you are learning about something, listening to someone speak, or reading about something new, you’ll remember things in the beginning and end of the session better than you will anything buried in the middle. Take advantage of this, make a good first impression, introduce yourself and your research clearly and effectively, and remember to smile and thank your viewer at the end. That way, probabilistically speaking, they will remember all the good things about you and your research, and not the part when you stumbled through that tricky question in the middle. Oh, and a little practice never hurt anyone, force your friends to listen to your presentation, then buy them dinner and possibly a few drinks, they deserve it, trust me.

Would you like a poster template to get you started? click here

Wondering where to print your poster try spoonflower to print your poster on fabric., take a look at my post on effective poster design over at wiley exchanges …..

Thirsty for more poster design awesomeness?
 Start clickin’…

…for links to videos → New York University …for helpful poster samples → University of Texas …for guides and tutorials → Kathryn Everson …for great info and nice templates → Colin Purrington …for a bunch of handy links → UC San Francisco …for 10 simple rules → Erren & Bourne (2007) PLoS

Good Luck, we’re all counting on you!


(yes, that was an Airplane! reference)

Want me to conduct a workshop at your institution? email me for details

Link to this page: bit.ly/ConferencePosterHelp

Questions or Comments? Send me an email or leave a comment below

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University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Research Posters

• Elements of a poster

WHAT MAKES A GREAT POSTER?

• Step by step
• Visualizations & images
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• Oral Presentations
• 2024 Undergraduate Research Symposium This link opens in a new window
• Colin Purrington - Designing conference posters
• The poster sessions pool - Flickr
• F1000Research Open access repository for posters and slide presentations in biology and medicine.
• Better Posters - A Blog Academic conference posters are often ugly, with tiny text, confusing layouts, and dubious colour schemes. Better Posters is about making posters informative and beautiful.
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• Next: Step by step >>
• Last Updated: May 13, 2024 2:05 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.illinois.edu/poster

How to Make a Science Research Poster: Content

• Example Posters and Critiques

The Basic Format of a Poster

Posters have the same basic components as a manuscript (i.e. introduction, methods, results, conclusions, references, acknowledgements). They don't need to have an abstract because the whole poster can be though of as a visual abstract.  It's a summary of your project that uses a combination of text and graphics. Not including an abstract will free up space that can be used for other content.  

There is not one correct way to organize a poster but typically the sections are chunked and the poster is organized in columns. Below is a common format. The results will be the major component and there are typically 1 to 5 results sections depending on the project.

The benefit of this format is that it has logical flow. Posters are often read in the following direction.

Example Posters

Content: the Title

• 1-2 lines that describes the problem being studied
• Mention the organism/model system being studied in the title
• Mention the technique if its important to the study
• Commonly only first word is capitalized

Content: the Introduction or Background

• One or two short paragraphs or bulleted points
• States the research question and why it is important
• The objectives of your research or the hypotheses being tested
• Mentions model system being used
• Cites related studies (2-3 references that would be listed in the References section)

Content: the Methods and Materials

• Briefly describe the experimental methods and materials used
• Only write about methods that were used to get the results
• Use schematics when possible to go along with brief amounts of text

Content: the Results

• This is the heart of the poster and usually gets the most space
• Choose your key results and organize each as a separate box or piece of paper
• Give each box a descriptive title of the main finding, not just “Results”, so that the reader is immediately primed for the information you are trying to convey
• Make sure all graphs, tables, charts etc. are well-labeled
• Use graphics as much as possible with just enough text that a person can understand it – make every word count!

Content: the conclusions

• Just a few bullet points describing major conclusions and future directions
• If the conclusions can be well represented by a schematic, you can include one along with your bullet points
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• Next: Design >>
• Last Updated: Aug 16, 2022 9:44 AM
• URL: https://guides.library.cmu.edu/scienceposters

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Research Posters: Getting Started

• Getting Started

Welcome to the guide to Research Posters!

In this guide, you will find tips, tools, and inspiration to help you start an academic research poster. You will also be provided with a step-by-step guide to creating an eye-catching layout. Lied Library offers technology consultations to get you started with creating your poster, design help, and printing.

For further consultation, follow this link to make an appointment with a specialist: Lied Technology Consultations

Table of Contents

On the Plan tab

• Resources on writing your poster's text
• Finding images and graphics

On the Create tab

• Step-by-step instructions for creating a poster in most programs
• Printing information
• Design elements, colors, and fonts

On the Discover tab

• Free, one-time payment, and subscription software programs for creating a poster
• Tutorial video
• Links to inspiration and samples of research posters

Design Help

Printing Help

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About Research Posters

Posters are widely used in the academic community, and most conferences include poster presentations in their program.  Research posters summarize information or research concisely and attractively to share information and generate discussion. 

The poster is a combination of a brief text mixed with tables, graphs, and images. At a conference, the researcher stands by the poster display while other participants can come and view the presentation and interact with the author.

"What is a research poster?" (2018, February 16).  How to create a research poster: Poster basics.  Retrieved from  https://guides.nyu.edu/c.php?g=276826&p=1846154

Elements of a Research Poster

Posters may include the following elements. Depending on your specific discipline and the purpose for your poster, some elements may be adjusted or removed completely.

• Title  - A descriptive title should define the topic and grab the attention of the audience.
• Creator - Include your name and affiliation.
• Introduction - Summarize the purpose of the research, methods used, results, and conclusion.
• Methods - This section explains how research data was gathered, and what instruments were used.
• Results - For a research poster, results will usually be presented using charts, graphs, and other visualizations.
• Discussion - Discuss conclusions and lessons learned from the research process, as well as future research potential within the topic area. Interesting conclusions should be shown in a prominent location.
• Acknowledgements - It may be necessary to acknowledge organizations which contributed to the research process. Some examples of acknowledgements may include: grant funding, special permissions, and technical assistance.
• References - Use the correct style guide to credit sources which were cited.
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• Last Updated: Aug 10, 2023 9:18 AM
• URL: https://guides.library.unlv.edu/researchposters
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• Text us at 541-526-7655
• In person: The Information Desk is on the main (2nd) floor of the Valley Library.
• Chat with a librarian (below)

Title:  states the question/problem that you are addressing, sometimes in question form

• Use bold typeface.
• Capitalize important words of title, but do not use ALL CAPS.
• Title should be short, meaningful, and eye-catching (no longer than two lines).
• Avoid jargon or acronyms.
• Author(s) should be listed right under the title (Font size:  60 ).

Font size:  70 - 80  for the title

Introduction:  introduces your topic and briefly explains why your research is significant

• Place your topic within context of published literature.
• Clearly state your hypothesis.
• Include just what is highly relevant. Minimize background information and definitions.

Wordcount:  200    Font size: Headings: about  44 ; Main text about  32

Materials/Methodology : tells readers what your research strategy was and how you actually carried it out

• Briefly describe your research methods and any equipment or software you may have used.
• You may also add figures, tables, flow charts, photographs, or drawings that describe your design.

Wordcount:  200    Font size: Headings about  44 ; Main text about  32  Captions about  28

Results:  what did you find out?

• Briefly discuss your data analysis.
• You may add supporting charts, images, tables, quotations etc.
• Use captions that describe the graphics.

Wordcount: 200       Font size: Headings 44; Main text 32 ; Captions 28

Conclusions:  This is where you summarize your hypothesis and results.

• Focus on the main takeaway points
• Was your hypothesis supported?
• What is the significance of your findings?
• Future research?

Wordcount:  300        Font size: Headings:  44 ; Main text  32

Works Cited

• Cite only the most pertinent articles.
• Select a documentation format (APA, MLA, Chicago etc) and be consistent.

Font size:  24

Acknowledgments  This section is optional but it is nice to acknowledge people who have provided assistance or funding for your project.

• Thank individuals who made contributions to your project.
• Thank research subjects.
• Acknowledge funding sources.

Font size:  24-28

Not all students will have a Standard Research experience.  

There are many approaches to making Poster Presentations. 

If you have a job shadowing or other alternative experiences use the same sizing and wordcount recommendations from above, but use these sections:

General lab overview

The project(s) you focused on 

Results (if you have them)

How your work ties back to general lab overview

Acknowledgments

• << Previous: Logistics
• Next: Design >>
• Last Updated: Oct 19, 2022 1:34 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.oregonstate.edu/researchposters

Contact Info

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Phone: 541-737-3331

Services for Persons with Disabilities

In the Valley Library

• Oregon State University Press
• Special Collections and Archives Research Center
• Undergrad Research & Writing Studio
• Graduate Student Commons
• Tutoring Services
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Digital Projects

• Oregon Explorer
• Oregon Digital
• ScholarsArchive@OSU
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• Marilyn Potts Guin Library  
• Cascades Campus Library
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How to Create a Research Poster

• Poster Basics
• Design Tips
• Logos & Images

What is a Research Poster?

Posters are widely used in the academic community, and most conferences include poster presentations in their program.  Research posters summarize information or research concisely and attractively to help publicize it and generate discussion. 

The poster is usually a mixture of a brief text mixed with tables, graphs, pictures, and other presentation formats. At a conference, the researcher stands by the poster display while other participants can come and view the presentation and interact with the author.

What Makes a Good Poster?

• Important information should be readable from about 10 feet away
• Title is short and draws interest
• Word count of about 300 to 800 words
• Text is clear and to the point
• Use of bullets, numbering, and headlines make it easy to read
• Effective use of graphics, color and fonts
• Consistent and clean layout
• Includes acknowledgments, your name and institutional affiliation

A Sample of a Well Designed Poster

View this poster example in a web browser .  

Image credit: Poster Session Tips by [email protected], via Penn State

Where do I begin?

Answer these three questions:.

• What is the most important/interesting/astounding finding from my research project?
• How can I visually share my research with conference attendees? Should I use charts, graphs, photos, images?
• What kind of information can I convey during my talk that will complement my poster?

What software can I use to make a poster?

A popular, easy-to-use option. It is part of Microsoft Office package and is available on the library computers in rooms LC337 and LC336. ( Advice for creating a poster with PowerPoint ).

Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign

Feature-rich professional software that is good for posters including lots of high-resolution images, but they are more complex and expensive.  NYU Faculty, Staff, and Students can access and download the Adobe Creative Suite .

Open Source Alternatives 

• OpenOffice is the free alternative to MS Office (Impress is its PowerPoint alternative).
• Inkscape and Gimp are alternatives to Adobe products.
• For charts and diagrams try Gliffy or Lovely Charts .
• A complete list of free graphics software .

A Sample of a Poorly Designed Poster

View this bad poster example in a browser.

Image Credit: Critique by Better Posters

• Next: Design Tips >>
• Last Updated: Jul 11, 2023 5:09 PM
• URL: https://guides.nyu.edu/posters

Academia Bees

How to Write Acknowledgement for Research Paper (5 Samples)

July 12, 2023

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By Mohsin Khurshid

Writing acknowledgements is an essential part of crafting a comprehensive research paper. It allows you to express gratitude and recognize the contributions of individuals and institutions who have supported your work. In this article, we will delve into the art of writing acknowledgement for research papers, providing you with valuable insights, practical tips, and five sample acknowledgements to guide you in acknowledging the people and resources that have played a significant role in your research journey.

Table of Contents

• 1 Understanding the Role of Acknowledgements in Research Papers
• 2 Key Elements of an Effective Acknowledgement
• 3 10 Tips for Writing an Acknowledgement for a Research Paper
• 4.1 Sample 1: Acknowledgement for Collaborative Research:
• 4.2 Sample 2: Acknowledgement for Funding Support:
• 4.3 Sample 3: Acknowledgement for Mentorship and Guidance:
• 4.4 Sample 4: Acknowledgement for Institutional Support:
• 4.5 Sample 5: Acknowledgement for Peer Reviewers:
• 6 Conclusion

Understanding the Role of Acknowledgements in Research Papers

Acknowledgements serve as a platform to express appreciation and recognize the collective effort that goes into the completion of a research paper. They provide an opportunity to acknowledge the guidance, support, and assistance received throughout the research process. By including acknowledgements, you can demonstrate your gratitude and give credit to those who have contributed to your success.

Key Elements of an Effective Acknowledgement

Crafting an effective acknowledgement involves considering various elements to ensure its sincerity and clarity. It is crucial to mention specific individuals, institutions, and their contributions, while keeping the acknowledgement concise and relevant. By adhering to ethical considerations and cultural norms, you can create an acknowledgement that reflects your gratitude and professionalism.

10 Tips for Writing an Acknowledgement for a Research Paper

• Be sincere and genuine : Write your acknowledgements with heartfelt gratitude, expressing sincere appreciation for the support and contributions received during your research.
• Identify specific individuals and institutions: Mention the names of people who have played a significant role in your research, such as mentors, advisors, collaborators, and funding agencies. Also, acknowledge the contributions of institutions that provided resources or facilities.
• Be concise and focused: Keep your acknowledgements concise and to the point. Focus on the key individuals and organizations that have made a substantial impact on your research.
• Use a formal tone: Maintain a professional and formal tone throughout your acknowledgements. Remember that this section is a formal acknowledgment of support, not a casual conversation.
• Follow ethical considerations: Ensure that you acknowledge individuals and organizations according to ethical guidelines and norms. Respect the privacy and confidentiality of individuals who may prefer not to be mentioned.
• Include personal touches: If appropriate, you can include personal anecdotes or specific instances where individuals or organizations made a significant impact on your research.
• Tailor acknowledgements to your research context: Consider the nature of your research and tailor your acknowledgements accordingly. For example, if you conducted interdisciplinary research, acknowledge experts from different fields who provided valuable insights.
• Proofread and edit: Like any other section of your research paper, proofread and edit your acknowledgements for grammar, spelling, and clarity. Ensure that the acknowledgements are well-written and free of errors.
• Seek feedback if needed: If you’re uncertain about whom to acknowledge or how to express your gratitude, seek feedback from your mentors, advisors, or colleagues. They can provide valuable guidance and suggestions.
• Show appreciation beyond formal requirements: While it’s important to acknowledge the required individuals and institutions, also consider extending your appreciation to others who may have supported you indirectly, such as family, friends, or colleagues who provided emotional support during your research journey.

Remember, acknowledgements are an opportunity to express your gratitude and recognize the contributions of those who have helped you along the way. Take the time to craft a thoughtful and sincere acknowledgement section that reflects the support and collaborative spirit of your research endeavor.

5 Samples for Acknowledgment in Research Paper

Explore these 5 carefully crafted acknowledgment samples to effectively express gratitude in your research paper.

Sample 1: Acknowledgement for Collaborative Research:

In this sample, we showcase an acknowledgement that acknowledges the collaborative efforts of research collaborators and team members. It highlights the importance of recognizing the joint contributions made towards the research project.

“I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the members of the research team, [Collaborators’ Names], for their invaluable contributions and collaborative spirit throughout this research project. Our collective efforts and synergistic teamwork have significantly enhanced the quality and depth of this study. Each member’s unique expertise and perspectives have brought forth diverse insights, resulting in a more comprehensive and well-rounded analysis.

I am grateful for the dedication, commitment, and professionalism demonstrated by each team member. The constructive discussions, intellectual debates, and shared enthusiasm have fostered an enriching research environment that has truly pushed the boundaries of our collective knowledge. This research project stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and the collective pursuit of knowledge.”

Sample 2: Acknowledgement for Funding Support:

This sample acknowledgement focuses on acknowledging the financial support received for the research. It emphasizes the significance of recognizing funding agencies or organizations that have provided the necessary resources for the research to take place.

“I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the funding agencies and organizations that have provided financial support for this research. Their generous contributions have made it possible to conduct this study and have significantly contributed to its successful completion. The financial support has allowed for the procurement of necessary research materials, access to specialized equipment, and the opportunity to engage in valuable research experiences.

I would like to express my appreciation to [Name of Funding Agency/Organization 1] for their generous grant, which has played a crucial role in supporting this research project. Their belief in the significance of this study and their commitment to advancing knowledge in this field have been instrumental in its realization.

Furthermore, I would like to acknowledge the support received from [Name of Funding Agency/Organization 2]. Their funding has been vital in facilitating data collection, analysis, and the dissemination of research findings. Their investment in this project has not only provided financial resources but has also validated the importance and potential impact of this research.”

Sample 3: Acknowledgement for Mentorship and Guidance:

Here, we present a sample acknowledgement that expresses gratitude towards mentors and advisors who have provided guidance and support throughout the research journey. It underscores the critical role of mentorship in academic and research endeavors.

“I am deeply grateful to my mentor, [Mentor’s Name], for their exceptional guidance and unwavering support throughout this research endeavor. Their expertise, insightful feedback, and continuous encouragement have been invaluable in shaping the direction and outcomes of this study. Their unwavering commitment to my academic growth and professional development has been truly inspiring.

I am indebted to [Mentor’s Name] for their generous allocation of time and resources, their willingness to share their wealth of knowledge, and their unwavering dedication to pushing me to new heights. Their mentorship has not only enriched the quality of this research but has also had a profound impact on my personal and intellectual growth. I am truly fortunate to have had the privilege of working under their guidance.”

Sample 4: Acknowledgement for Institutional Support:

In this sample, we illustrate an acknowledgement that acknowledges the support and resources provided by institutions. It emphasizes the institutional backing that has facilitated the research process and contributed to its success.

“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the faculty members and academic advisors who have provided guidance, feedback, and support throughout my academic journey. Their expertise, wisdom, and dedication to teaching and mentoring have been instrumental in shaping my research skills and scholarly pursuits.

I am grateful to [Name of Faculty Member/Advisor 1] for their unwavering support and invaluable insights. Their expertise and guidance have been critical in refining the research design, analyzing data, and interpreting findings. Their constructive feedback and intellectual discussions have truly enriched this study.

I would also like to acknowledge the contributions of [Name of Faculty Member/Advisor 2]. Their mentorship and encouragement have played a pivotal role in the development of my research abilities and have inspired me to reach for new heights. Their belief in my potential has been a constant source of motivation throughout this research journey.”

Sample 5: Acknowledgement for Peer Reviewers:

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the anonymous peer reviewers who have dedicated their time and expertise to provide valuable feedback and constructive criticism on this research paper. Their rigorous evaluation, insightful comments, and suggestions for improvement have immensely contributed to the quality and credibility of this work.

The meticulous review process conducted by the peer reviewers has helped shape and refine the content, methodology, and interpretation of this study. Their expertise in the field and their commitment to upholding scholarly standards have been crucial in ensuring the accuracy, validity, and relevance of the research findings.

I am sincerely grateful for the time and effort invested by each reviewer in thoroughly assessing this paper. Their detailed comments and recommendations have not only helped enhance the clarity and coherence of the manuscript but have also encouraged further reflection and refinement of the research.

The contributions of the peer reviewers are invaluable in the advancement of scientific knowledge and the improvement of academic publications. Their commitment to maintaining the rigor and integrity of the research process plays a pivotal role in fostering academic excellence and promoting the dissemination of high-quality research outcomes.”

When writing an acknowledgement in a research paper, begin by expressing gratitude to individuals, institutions, or organizations who have contributed to the research. Provide a sincere and concise acknowledgement, mentioning their specific contributions and the impact they made on the study.

While specific examples may vary depending on the research context, an acknowledgement section in a journal article typically acknowledges the contributions of individuals, funding sources, or institutions involved in the research process. It expresses gratitude for their support, guidance, or resources.

The purpose of the acknowledgement section in a research paper is to recognize and express gratitude to individuals or entities who have supported the research. It acknowledges their contributions, whether through funding, mentorship, technical assistance, data provision, or other forms of support.

When writing acknowledgements for a publication , start by identifying the key individuals or entities that have contributed to the research. Express gratitude for their support, mentioning specific contributions and the value they added to the study. Keep the acknowledgements concise and focused on the research context.

The acknowledgement section of a research paper should include acknowledgements for individuals or entities that have contributed to the research process. This may include mentors, advisors, funding agencies, research collaborators, or others who have provided valuable support, guidance, or resources.

While including an acknowledgement section in a research paper is not mandatory, it is a common practice in academic publishing. It provides an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of individuals or entities who have supported the research.

When writing an acknowledgements section for a literature review, acknowledge individuals or sources that have influenced and contributed to your understanding of the topic. Express gratitude for their insights, guidance, or resources that have shaped your literature review.

The terms “acknowledgement” and “acknowledgment” are both correct and interchangeable. The choice of spelling (with or without the “e”) may depend on regional or personal preferences.

To acknowledge a source in a research paper, use proper citation and referencing techniques according to the specific citation style guidelines. Include in-text citations and a corresponding entry in the reference list or bibliography to give credit to the original source.

Yes, you can acknowledge individuals who provided personal support in the acknowledgement section, such as family, friends, or loved ones. Recognize their emotional support, encouragement, or understanding during the research process.

Writing acknowledgements for a research paper allows you to express gratitude and acknowledge the invaluable contributions of individuals and institutions who have supported your work. By following the tips and utilizing the sample acknowledgements provided in this article, you can effectively and sincerely express your appreciation. Remember, acknowledgements are an opportunity to show your gratitude and give credit where it is due.

Acknowledgement for Paper Publication (10 Samples)

Acknowledgement for internship report: 10 samples and tips, leave a comment cancel reply.

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Research Posters

What are research posters, what should a research poster look like, what software can i use to make one, where can i print my poster.

• Themes, Colors, and Emphasis
• Text Formatting
• Writing Style
• Hyperlinks and URLs
• Including Images
• Actual Examples
• How to Present Posters

Acknowledgements

This guide is based off of Librarian Professor Ashley Orehek Rossi's presentation at the 2024 Student Scholar Showcase Workshop series .

Research posters provide general (or detailed) overviews about research either you are currently working on or already completed. Think of them like "mini research papers" or a summarized version of your research -- You want to discuss your research project in a short, concise narrative (with pictures!).

• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Google Slides
• Microsoft Publisher

PowerPoint is versatile! You have the freedom to place objects wherever you want on a page. It will also help you line up and space content evenly. PowerPoint is a very popular software to make posters in.

How do I adjust the slide size to my poster size?

For example, let's say you need a poster that is 36 inches by 48 inches. In the menu ribbon: 

Design > Slide Size > Custom Slide Size. Change the  Slides sized for:  to  Custom . Enter the dimensions as 36 inches wide by 48 inches high. Click  OK .

Just like PowerPoint, Google Slides is versatile and you have the freedom to place objects wherever on a page.

File > Page Setup > Custom. Change the Page Setup  to  Custom . Enter the dimensions as 36 inches wide by 48 inches high. Click Apply .

Publisher is a graphic design app from Microsoft. It allows users to create various types of documents using templates provided, downloaded templates, or starting from a blank canvas. Like PowerPoint, you can place objects anywhere you want on a page.

PRO:  What makes it preferred than Microsoft Word is that page layout is emphasized, so you don't need to fret about adjusting alignments or line spacing -- You have the freedom to place objects wherever you need to on the document.

CON: It is only available on desktop or laptop computers - You cannot access it from Microsoft 365 online.

How do I resize my Publisher page?

Page Design > Page Setup > Change Width and Height values and/or units.

Canva is like an online version of Microsoft Publisher. It allows user to make designs for both online content and printed materials. Media types include, but not limited to, videos, social media posts, documents, and websites. You can also invite others to collaborate on projects, just like Google Docs.

Canva offers two plans for account holders: Free and Pro.

Information from Canva.com (Accessed 25 Oct 2023). 

The WKU Print Center (ground floor DSU) can print posters for you for a fee. You can also check with your academic major department if they have a poster printer available. 

Stores like Staples and Office Depot / OfficeMax  offer poster printing services. 

• Next: Themes, Colors, and Emphasis >>
• Last Updated: Apr 11, 2024 3:15 PM
• URL: https://libguides.wku.edu/posters

Creating Effective Posters

• Poster Design
• Creating Posters
• Elements of a Research Poster
• Poster Templates
• Citation Styles
• Presenting Your Poster
• Poster Examples

What is a Research Poster?

"A large-format poster is a document that can communicate your research at a conference, and is composed of a:

• introduction to your research question
• an overview of your methods/novel approach
• your results
• an insightful discussion of your conclusion
• previously published articles that are important to your research  
• an acknowledgement of the assistance and support you received from others"

 Credit: Colin Purrinton ,  Swarthmore College

The Periodic Table of Poster Elements

Example layout of a poster

I: Introduction and Research Question

Your introduction sets the stage for the project and serves to give the reader an overview! It should peak their interest.  Best practices include:

• Put your topic within context of published literature
• Provide a description and justification of your experimental approach
• Hint at why your subject is ideal for such research
• Give a clear hypothesis
• Minimize the background information and definitions - include just what is relevant!
• Don't repeat your abstract

Approximate word count:  200 words  

Font size for your introduction:   

Headings: about 44 pt

Main text:  about 32 pt

II: Methods

Here, describe your experimental equipment and the research methods you used.  In addition to the text, you might want to add:

• Figures or tables to help describe the design
• Flow charts to describe the experimental procedures
• Pictures or labeled drawings of the organism or the equipment used

Approximate word count: 200 words

Font size for your methods or research question section:  

Captions for your figures:  about 28 pt

III: Results and Findings

This section analyzes your data and explains if your experiment worked out, or if you were not doing an experiment, what your research findings were. Things to include are:

• Data analysis
• Supporting charts, figures, images, or tables
• Supporting information for your argument
• Legends or pictures that can stand on their own and help the viewer with an understanding

Approximate word count: 200 words.

Font size:  

Captions:  about 28 pt

V: Conclusions and Future Research

This is where you will sum up your poster and remind readers of your hypothesis and the results of your research. A few things to include:

• Focus on the take home message
• Was your hypothesis supported? 
• Why the results are conclusive & interesting
• Relevance of your findings to other published work

Approximate word count: 300 words 

VI: Acknowledgments and References

This is the part where you will credit those who helped you produce this research. Key things to include are:

• Those who funded your research
• Sources that you used during your research
• Credit for those who provided supervision and mentorship
• Credit for any figures used in your poster
• Links to a full report, if necessary 

The text on this section will vary with the number of credits necessary, but will generally stay under 100 words. 

Your poster can be customized to what your research looks like! Not all posters have each section - it depends upon what you are communicating. Some posters will have more or less text, some will have more figures and photographs than others, some will have sections detailing specific parts of their research not included in this template. 

Remember - people will be viewing your poster from multiple feet away! Include only the most important points about your research. 

Credit: University of California, San Diego Libraries. 

Poster Creating Tips

How to make a better academic poster

• << Previous: Creating Posters
• Next: Poster Templates >>
• Last Updated: May 13, 2024 2:47 PM
• URL: https://libguides.lib.cwu.edu/creatingposters

Thesis Acknowledgements Examples

5 Examples For Your Inspiration

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Reviewers: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | May 2024

The acknowledgements section of your thesis or dissertation is an opportunity to say thanks to all the people who helped you along your research journey. In this post, we’ll share five thesis acknowledgement examples to provide you with some inspiration.

Overview: Acknowledgements Examples

• The acknowledgements 101
• Example:  Formal and professional
• Example:  Warm and personal
• Example:  Challenge-centric
• Example:  Institution-centric
• Example:  Reflective and philosophical
• FREE Acknowledgements template

Acknowledgements 101: The Basics

The acknowledgements section in your thesis or dissertation is where you express gratitude to those who helped bring your project to fruition. This section is typically brief (a page or less) and less formal, but it’s crucial to thank the right individuals in the right order .

As a rule of thumb, you’ll usually begin with academic support : your supervisors, advisors, and faculty members. Next, you’ll acknowledge any funding bodies or sponsors that supported your research. You’ll then follow this with your intellectual contributors , such as colleagues and peers. Lastly, you’ll typically thank your personal support network , including family, friends, and even pets who offered emotional support during your studies.

As you can probably see, this order moves from the most formal acknowledgements to the least . Typically, your supervisor is mentioned first, due to their significant role in guiding and potentially evaluating your work. However, while this structure is recommended, it’s essential to adapt it based on any specific guidelines from your university. So, be sure to always check (and adhere to) any requirements or norms specific to your university.

With that groundwork laid, let’s look at a few dissertation and thesis acknowledgement examples . If you’d like more, check out our collection of dissertation examples here .

Need a helping hand?

Example #1: Formal and Professional

This acknowledgement formally expresses gratitude to academic mentors and peers, emphasising professional support and academic guidance.

I extend my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Jane Smith, for her unwavering support and insightful critiques throughout my research journey. Her deep commitment to academic excellence and meticulous attention to detail have significantly shaped this dissertation. I am equally thankful to the members of my thesis committee, Dr. John Doe and Dr. Emily White, for their constructive feedback and essential suggestions that enhanced the quality of my work.

My appreciation also goes to the faculty and staff in the Department of Biology at University College London, whose resources and assistance have been invaluable. I would also like to acknowledge my peers for their camaraderie and the stimulating discussions that inspired me throughout my academic journey. Their collective wisdom and encouragement have been a cornerstone of my research experience.

Finally, my sincere thanks to the technical staff whose expertise in managing laboratory equipment was crucial for my experiments. Their patience and readiness to assist at all times have left a profound impact on the completion of my project.

Example #2: Warm and Personal

This acknowledgement warmly credits the emotional and personal support received from family, friends and an approachable mentor during the research process.

This thesis is a reflection of the unwavering support and boundless love I received from my family and friends during this challenging academic pursuit. I owe an immense debt of gratitude to my parents, who nurtured my curiosity and supported my educational endeavours from the very beginning.

To my partner, Alex, your endless patience and understanding, especially during the most demanding phases of this research, have been my anchor. A heartfelt thank you to my supervisor, Dr. Mark Brown, whose mentorship extended beyond the academic realm into personal guidance, providing comfort and motivation during tough times.

I am also thankful for my friends, who provided both distractions when needed and encouragement when it seemed impossible to continue. The discussions and unwavering support from my peers at the university have enriched my research experience, making this journey not only possible but also enjoyable. Their presence and insights have been pivotal in navigating the complexities of my research topic.

Example #3: Inclusive of Challenges

This acknowledgement recognises the wide range of support received during unexpected personal and academic challenges, highlighting resilience and communal support.

The path to completing this dissertation has been fraught with both professional challenges and personal adversities. I am profoundly grateful for the enduring support of my supervisor, Dr. Lisa Green, whose steadfast belief in my capabilities and academic potential encouraged me to persevere even during my lowest moments. Her guidance was a beacon of light in times of doubt.

I must also express my deepest appreciation for my family, who stepped in not only with emotional reassurance, but also with critical financial support, when unexpected personal challenges arose. Their unconditional love and sacrifice have been the foundation of my resilience and success.

I am thankful, too, for the support services at the university, including the counselling centre, whose staff provided me with the tools to manage stress and maintain focus on my academic goals. Each of these individuals and institutions played a crucial role in my journey, reminding me that the pursuit of knowledge is not a solo expedition but a communal effort.

Example #4: Institution-Centric

This acknowledgement succinctly appreciates the financial, academic, and operational support provided by the university and its staff.

This dissertation would not have been possible without the generous financial support from the University of Edinburgh Scholarship Programme, which enabled me to focus fully on my research without financial burden. I am profoundly grateful to my advisor, Professor Richard Miles, for his sage advice, rigorous academic guidance, and the confidence he instilled in me. His expertise in the field of microbiology greatly enriched my work.

I would also like to thank the staff at the university library, whose assistance was indispensable. Their patience and willingness to help locate rare and essential resources facilitated a thorough and comprehensive literature review. Additionally, the administrative and technical staff, who often go unmentioned, provided necessary support that greatly enhanced my research experience. Their dedication and hard work create an environment conducive to academic success.

Lastly, my peers’ encouragement and the intellectual environment at the university have been vital in completing my research.

Example #5: Reflective and philosophical

This acknowledgement reflects on the philosophical growth and personal insights gained through the support of mentors, peers, and family, framing the dissertation as a journey of intellectual discovery.

Completing this thesis has been not only an academic challenge but also a profound journey of personal and philosophical growth.

I am immensely grateful to my mentor, Professor Sarah Johnson, for encouraging me to explore complex ideas and to challenge conventional wisdom. Her guidance helped me navigate the philosophical underpinnings of my research and deepened my analytical skills. My fellow students in the Philosophy Department provided a supportive and intellectually stimulating community. Our discussions extended beyond the classroom, offering new insights and perspectives that were crucial to my thesis.

I am also deeply thankful for my family, whose intellectual curiosity and spirited philosophical debates at home sparked my interest in philosophy from a young age. Their continuous support and belief in my academic pursuits have been instrumental in my success.

This dissertation reflects not only my work but also the collective support of everyone who has touched my life academically and personally. The journey has taught me the value of questioning and the importance of diverse perspectives in enriching our understanding of complex philosophical issues.

FREE Acknowledgements Template

To help fast-track your writing process, we’ve created a free, fully editable template . This template covers all the necessary content for a generic thesis or dissertation acknowledgements section. If you’re interested, you can download a copy here .

Psst... there’s more!

This post was based on one of our popular Research Bootcamps . If you're working on a research project, you'll definitely want to check this out ...

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Undergraduate Research & Prestigious Scholarships

Poster presentation examples, from past urcad events.

Select image to view the poster.

Mobolanle Adebesin Psychology

Eric Adjakwah Health Administration and Policy

Theophilus Aluko Mechanical Engineering

Hannah Aris Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Robin Arnold Psychology

Riley Auer Ancient Studies Zoe Wang Visual Arts

Farhan Augustine Chemistry and Biochemistry

Cara Borja Psychology

Syrena Bracey Chemistry and Biochemistry

Ann Cirincione Biological Sciences

Thomas Coard Biological Sciences

Nora Corasaniti Political Science

Joelle Cusic Chemistry and Biochemistry

Hanna Dasoo Political Science

Vineed Dayal Mechanical Engineering

Caitlin Dea Education

Logan Dean Political Science

Lynne Deckel Education

Yash Desai Biological Sciences

Nidhi Dheman Psychology

Elise Donkor Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Katlyn Easter Psychology

Chiamaka Ekwunazu Psychology

Samantha Eng Biological Sciences

Mark Fisher

Rivka Fleischman Psychology

Amelia Hallworth Biological Sciences

Oluwagbotemi Igbaroola Biological Sciences

Robyn Jasper Biological Sciences

Alicia Khan Psychology

Su Hyoung Kim Visual Arts

Matthew Kovarek Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Sekar Kulandaivel Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

Julian Loiacono Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

Joshua Massey Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

Natalie McDonald Chemistry and Biochemistry

Sean Najmi Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Colin O’Hern Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Nneka Opara Psychology

Julian Paige Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Sarah Pollock Chemistry and Biochemistry

Asma Qaiyumi Psychology

Rebekah Rashford Biological Sciences

Sierra Reeb Education

Allison Reichard Psychology

Hayley Richardson Biological Sciences

Brent Runge Chemistry and Biochemistry

Rima Sakhawala Biological Sciences

Gabrielle Salib Information Systems

Carly Sciandra Chemistry and Biochemistry

Erika Schumacher Visual Arts

Matthew Shirley Chemistry and Biochemistry

Nicole Simke Visual Arts

Sidrah Shayiq Education

Tracee Simms Psychology

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Poster Samples

Looking at samples of real student posters can help you generate ideas and define your goals. As you get started, it may be helpful to look at examples of finished posters.

Below are a number of sample posters created by UT undergraduates. There is a brief discussion of each poster highlighting its greatest strengths and areas where there is room for improvement.

• More than one type of visual aid
• Logical order for sections
• Acknowledgments

Room for improvement

• Background may be distracting, or detract from content
• Sections and images are not aligned
• Too many visual components clutter poster

• White space
• Legible text and graphics
• Reports preliminary results
• All participants listed as authors, with affiliations provided
• Lacks Citations and Acknowledgements
• Labeling of images/graphics
• Inconsistent text alignment
• Color-saturated background

• Clearly defined research questions
• Effective use of visual aids
• Clear organizational structure
• Bullets break up text
• Technical language/undefined acronyms (accessible to limited audience)
• Narrow margins within text boxes
• Too many thick borders around boxes
• Uses UT seal instead of college or university wordmark

• Clear introductory material
• Use of bullet points
• Logical flow
• Color-coding in graphics
• Lacks references section
• May not be accessible to all audiences (some technical language)
• No need for borders around sections (the blue headers are sufficient)

• Compelling visual aids
• Strategic use of color
• Clear sections
• Inconsistent fonts in body text
• Abstract section mislabeled
• Bullet points are great, but only if they’re used judiciously

• Parameters of study well defined
• Clearly defined research question
• Simple color scheme
• Use of white space
• Discussion of Results
• Minor formatting misalignments
• Unauthorized use of UT seal (use wordmark instead)

• Venn diagram in discussion
• Consistent graphics
• Multiple types of visual aids
• Light text on dark background
• Color backgrounds should be avoided, especially dark ones
• Unlabeled, non-credited photos

• Easy to read
• Use of shapes, figures, and bullets to break up text
• Compelling title (and title font size)
• Clean overall visual impression
• Many sections without a clear flow between them
• Lacks acknowledgements

• Use of images/graphics
• Clear title
• Accessible but professional tone
• Length/density of text blocks
• Tiny photo citations
• Connections between images and descriptive text
• Vertical boxes unnecessary

• Compelling title
• Font sizes throughout (hierarchy of text)
• Simple graphics
• Lacks clear Background section
• Relationship of Findings and Conclusion to Research questions

• Use of visual aids
• Uneven column width
• Center-justfied body text
• Lacks “Methods” section

• Use of bullets
• Too many different font styles (serif and sans serif, bold and normal)
• Concise interpretation of graphics

• Accessible visual structure
• Clear, simple graphics
• Fonts and font sizes
• Analysis of graphic data
• Discussion of significance
• Lacks author’s affiliation and contact information

• Balance among visuals, text and white space
• Data presented in visual format (SmartArt)
• Accesible to many audiences (simple enough for general audience, but enough methodological detail for experts)
• Some more editing needed
• When targeting an expert audience (as in the methodology section), should also report statistics ( r, p, t, F, etc.)

• Large, clear title
• Creative adaptation of sections
• Use of lists (rather than paragraphs)
• Accessible to diverse audience
• Connection between visuals (sheet music) and content

• Strategic use of color for section headers
• Labeling and citation of images
• Accessible to a broad audience
• Wide margins around poster edges
• Slightly text-heavy
• Data referenced (“Methodology”) but not discussed

What is my next step?

Begin working on the content for your poster at Create Your Message .