How To: Professional Academic Poster

Here is your guide to designing and preparing a professional academic poster.

On this page:

Please submit your materials as soon as possible, and make sure you know the correct size and format (organization's requirements may vary). Please fill out our Research Poster Request Form to begin.

Poster Content

• Title: Be concise (up to 10 words); the title should be creative and reflective of the study.
• Introduction: Include an overview, justification of study, background, aims and objectives.
• Methods: Describe the methodology/theory used.
• Results: Shown in text, graphs, tables, photos or a combination.
• Conclusion: Strongest section of the poster; some readers may only look at this section. Use bullet points and bold font for emphasis.
• Implications: Separate section or included in conclusion
• References: Include if space allows; otherwise, bring them on a separate sheet of paper.
• Acknowledgments and/or funding sources: If applicable.

Practical Tips

• Use theUB research poster template.
  • Use the print templates, not the display template.
    
  • If a different size is required than what is available here, you may adjust the template as needed, but do not stretch or modify the master brand mark or crest within the template.

  Creative Tips

  • Keep it simple.
  • Be concise; include only the most important information.
  • Use bullet points.
  • Charts, photos and graphics are ideal. Keep them as clear as possible, and ensure they are relevant and given a title.
  • Color serves to highlight certain areas, but use it sparingly. Use the colors in the UB research poster template.
  • Use an easy to read font such as Arial or Georgia. These are also UB's brand fonts.

  Presentation Tips

  • Stand to the side of the poster and be prepared to answer questions and queries.
  • Take an interest in other posters near you.
  • Materials needed when presenting your posters: push pins, container to transport poster, poster board.

  Resources

  Here are a few resources to get you started:

  • Poster Presentations - Designing Effective Posters (via UB Libraries)
  • Keely, B. (2002). Planning and creating effective scientific posters. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 34(4), 182-185.
  • McCann, S,. Sramac, R., & Rudy, S. (1991). The poster exhibit: Guidelines for planning, development, and presentation. Dermatology Nursing, 11(5), 373-379.
  • How to Present an Academic Research Poster (YouTube) - iSchool at Syracuse University
  Please note

  We are maintaining an up-to-date database of faculty presentations and publications. We gather the data from your annual reports. It is important to cite accurate information.