Graduate Studies


The Graduate Research and Professional Conference will be held on Friday, April 3, 2026.
  • Wide shot of conference room filled with presentation posters
     
  • Two students presenting on stage
    The conference will be held in the University Union.
  • Female student speaking to a group in a conference room
    Proposal submissions due date TBD.
  • Student presenting her information to a faculty member
    Students who submit an abstract agree to present if accepted.
  • Students listening intently to a spokesperson
    All accepted abstracts will be posted on the Graduate Studies website in March.

Graduate Research and Professional Conference

The WIU School of Graduate Studies will host the 12th annual university-wide Graduate Research and Professional Conference on April 3, 2026. All WIU graduate students interested in participating are encouraged to submit a proposal for a presentation or performance online by the published deadline.  

Previous Conference Materials
2026 Conference Award Winners
Podium Presentations

1st  Place - Sara BenBella, Theatre, “Shakespeare and the Supernatural: Magic and Transformation through Puppetry.”

2nd  Place - Angelica Strack, Physics “Physical and Optical Properties of Europium (Eu3+) and Neodymium (Nd3+) Co-Doped Bismuth Boro-Tellurite Glasses.”

3rd  Place -Kiara Hunte, Mathematics “Optimal Control Strategies for a Cancer System Treated with Chemoimmunotherapy.”

Virtual Presentations

1st  place - Evan Murray, Alternate Teacher Licensure, “Adding Smart Functionality to Garage Door Openers.”

2nd  Place - Jiliane Johnson, Alternative Teacher Licensure, “Reconstruction of a Bald Eagle Nest.”

2nd  Place - Zoie Wall, Chemistry, “Efficiency of Solar Power Cells for Charging Mobile Devices.”

Performance Presentation

1 st  Place - Michael McNamara, Theatre, “The Gallery Players presents ‘Mixed Media: An Improvised Play’.”

Poster Presentations

1st  Place - Jayla Carle Psychology, “Credibility Perceptions of Child Sexual Abuse Victims: Individual Differences.”

2nd  Place - Rachael Adebiyi, Public Health, “Exploring the Influence of Healthcare Providers on HPV Vaccine Acceptance Among Women of Reproductive Age Group in Nigeria.”

3rd  Place - Olivia Salrin, Biology, “Grass Carp Trophic Ecology in Two Large Rivers: Impact on Resource Competition with Other Invasive Carps in the Absence of Aquatic Vegetation.”