Thank you to the Graduate Coordinator Network for co-sponsoring this event!
Developed in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University, Empower Your Research Pitch is an engaging, dynamic research communication contest. Alongside a comprehensive skill-development series, EYP is designed to equip participants with the strategies needed to effectively communicate complex ideas in just three minutes. All graduate students and postdocs from across disciplines are welcome to participate.
This campus-wide research communication competition is co-sponsored by the Graduate Coordinator Network and the Graduate School Office of Career and Life Design.
Cash prizes will be awarded to four competition winners.
- Overall Excellence in Research Communication – $1,000
- Outstanding Public Engagement – $1,000
- Outstanding Creativity – $1,000
- Community Choice Award for Excellence – $500
Competition Timeline:
First Round: Tuesday, March 10 - Friday, March 13
Second Round: Tuesday, March 24 - Friday, March 27
Finale: Wednesday, April 15, 5-8 p.m.
Registration is now open for the 2026 Empower Your Research Pitch communication competition. Registration for the competition closes on Thursday, March 5. We invite you to join us!
Upcoming Events
2026 Finalist Judges
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Vikki Chowney
Global Head of Influencer
Burson
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Archie Holmes
Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
University of Texas System
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MacGregor Stephenson
Chief Deputy Chief Information Officer
Texas Health and Human Services
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Matthew Watkins
Editor in Chief
Texas Tribune
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Mandy Whaley
Partner Director of Product
Azure Dev Tools at Microsoft
Hear from our 2025 Participants
UT graduate students and postdocs talk about their experience participating in the 2025 Empower Your Pitch research communication competition. They share what they learned and how it felt to participate in a cross-campus community of engaged scholars and researchers to refine their core research messages.
2025 Winners
Cell and Molecular Biology Ph.D. candidate Lisa Wang won the Outstanding Public Engagement Award with the presentation, “Does Abnormal Touch Sensitivity Lead to Social Difficulty?”
Neuroscience Ph.D. candidate Cole Maguire won the Overall Excellence in Research Communication Award with the presentation, “A Dual Threat: Reactivation of Chronic Viruses in the Wake of COVID-19.”
Piano Performance Ph.D. student Ellen Sirower won the Outstanding Creativity Award with the presentation, “Strange, Beautiful Music: Teaching Musical Interpretation of Post-Tonal Piano Repertoire.”
Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Ph.D. candidate Adwait Pradhan won the Community Choice Award for Excellence with the presentation, “Downsizing pills: can we make medicines easier to swallow?”
Competition Guidelines
Add a creative flair to your pitch
You’re invited to add a creative flair to your pitch using presentation aids, including audio/visual media, equipment, and props, in line with safety protocols.
Feel free to utilize diverse strategies in your communication—spoken word, poetry, music, rap—the stage is yours!
Timing is key
Your pitch must not exceed three minutes. The clock starts ticking once you begin speaking, interacting with your props/equipment or using any form of expression to convey your message.
Decisions are final
And finally, please note that the judge panel’s decisions in rounds 2 and 3 are final and binding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Slides
There is no limit on the number of slides that can be used. Other visual aids such as props or posters are also welcome.
Delivery method
This format encourages creativity, so forms of expression other than oration are allowed (e.g. singing, poetry, dance).
Audience
Assume a reasonably well-informed and educated audience, but non-specialists. Most judges will be current faculty and staff.
Participation for applied or creative field
All current graduate students are welcomed and encouraged, regardless of discipline.
