Health Disparities Student Paper & Poster Contest

ABOUT

Are you a BIPOC or LGBTQI+ student working on an academic project on any aspect of health disparities for a class this semester? Then we formally invite you to submit that paper to the National LGBT Cancer Network’s Health Disparities Student Paper & Poster Contest. A panel of LGBTQ health professionals/students will review the submissions and both winners and runners up in each category will get a cash award, spotlighted at a special event and major bragging rights! Are there any rules on length or type? Only whatever your class professor gave you.

This contest is sponsored by Cancer Leaders Like Us, a program building the next generation of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ health leaders in the cancer world. This contest recognizes outstanding undergraduate and graduate students studying public health issues affecting historically marginalized communities and supports BIPOC and LGBTQI+ students to explore cancer disparities as well as a potential career in this field. (Because we like it here and we need more people like us!)

Are you a BIPOC or LGBTQI+ student interested in this field but not doing a paper on it this semester? Still sign up for mentorship opportunities or to be a peer judge! Complete this form and we’ll be in touch.

We will select one undergraduate winner and one graduate winner who will receive a cash prize, a featured special on the Cancer Leaders Like Us webpage, and inclusion of their paper or poster in the National LGBT Cancer Network’s online Resource Library, which is accessed by public health professionals across the country. We will also select runner-ups who will receive special recognition.

Submission Instructions

Submissions are now open for Spring 2024!
Deadline: Midnight EST on Friday, May 31st, 2024
Send submissions to: Info@cancer-network.org

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I submit to the Health Disparities Student Paper & Poster Contest?
The LGBT Cancer Network encourages students who are currently studying a wide variety of health fields to submit completed work on directed research papers, capstone papers, etc.

Literature Reviews: Undergraduate and graduate students may submit literature reviews related to a course (class, capstone, fieldwork, master’s class, master’s project etc.)
Policy Brief: Undergraduate and graduate students may submit a policy brief. Policy briefs are a key tool to present research and recommendations to a non-specialized audience. They serve as a vehicle for providing evidence-based policy advice to help readers make informed decisions. A strong policy brief distills research findings in plain language and draws clear links to policy initiatives.
Posters: Undergraduate students and graduate students involved in research may present research related to a course (capstone, fieldwork, master’s thesis, master’s project, etc.) Competitors may present their posters individually or with co-authors in video format (please see submission instructions and guidelines below)
Personal Essays: We welcome submissions of personal essays (1000 to 1500 words in length) that tell a story of your identities’ impact on your career decision. Stories might focus on your experience navigating your academic journey thus far, stories might also reflect on challenges that you have overcome in your academic journey, etc.

How do I submit a poster?

Participants will record themselves along with a single slide using Zoom and send the video submission to info@cancer-network.org. Video submissions should be no longer than 4 minutes. The presentation should contain an overview of the project and/or research that you conducted, methods, findings, discussion, and recommendations for future research or implantation. The poster may have additional authors to the students where additional authorship is warranted. For example, if they have received support from a supervisor. However, the bulk of the work should have been led and completed by the student. If additional authors are included, you must include a breakdown of the work done by each listed author in the cover letter, so it is clear how the additional authors have contributed or supported the work.

How do I submit a participant profile?

The participant can be completed on a phone, tablet or computer. To take the survey, scan the QR code or visit https://bit.ly/3S3OJgk!