The submission deadline for the Office of Undergraduate Research’s spring EXPO is April 10. It is the 13th edition of the O.U.R program, which was created to recognize research funding programs and establish future careers.
The undergrad research program is open to students across the country and is open to all majors to network with peers, staff and future employers.
The 2026 EXPO will be held April 30-May 1 on the Lamar University campus.
“It’s like the Oscars for us, academically.” OUR director Cristian Bahrim said.
Last year the EXPO drew 250 submissions and awarded 25 undergraduate grants.
Bahrim said each day typically starts with a guest speaker. This year’s EXPO will start with Greg Morrison from the University of Houston. The following day will feature Laura Domin from the University of Central Florida.
Accepted participants will present on a variety of topics during the event.
“We anticipate at least 100 presenters,” Bahrim said. “Maybe 75% will be from Lamar, and 25% from outside. We expect to have students from a variety of schools in Texas including Rice University, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Texas at Dallas, Texas A&M and UT-Austin.”
This year’s event will include a section where submissions are created by using AI, Bahrim said. The competition focuses on using existing AI tools and research.
Bahrim said he encourages all students to submit to the EXPO and to visit the event and see presentations from students. “This is going to be a good motivation of why undergrad is worth the effort,” he said. “Because, of course, for everyone, when you engage it is more than class instruction.
“You guys, are the most important things that exist around us.”
For more information and to submit a proposal, visit lamar.edu/undergraduate-research/conferences/expo.