New England McNair Undergraduate Research & Creative Scholarship Conference
Three Days.
One Community of Discovery.
Explore the tentative schedule for NE-MURCS 2026, bringing scholars, mentors, educators, and graduate-school representatives together for research, connection, and new possibilities.
Thursday, November 5
Arrive, connect, and celebrate the start of NE-MURCS.
Conference Registration
Check in and get ready for the conference. Registered attendees should refer to conference communications for arrival details.
Welcome & Keynote Address
Featuring Julia Mejia, Boston City Councilor At-Large, whose community-centered leadership offers a powerful perspective on advocacy, equity, and changemaking.
Dinner & Performances
Gather with fellow scholars, educators, and guests to kick off the conference community.
Scholar Social
Student programming space at Suffolk University.
Staff Fellowship
Bostonia Public House. Please refer to conference communications for final details.
Friday, November 6
A full day of student research, skill-building, and shared learning.
Poster Setup
Presenters prepare their posters before the day's programming begins.
Breakfast
The Power of Now: The Next Generation of Changemakers
Hear from emerging leaders about their experiences, perspectives, and the work shaping their paths forward.
Concurrent Workshop #1
Choose from a selection of sessions designed to support research, graduate preparation, and scholarly communication.
Using Layers of Motive to Strengthen Academic Statements of Purpose, Presenter Dr. Abraham Peña
AI as Your Research Assistant, Presenter Dr. Shveta Parekh
Helping Scholars Succeed – empathetic approaches with rigorous expectations, Presenter Dr. Christine Shaw
Poster Presentations
Explore undergraduate research and creative scholarship across disciplines, and connect with the students behind the work.
Lunch
Concurrent Workshop #2
Building Your Scholarly Brand: Making Connections, Communicating Your Value, and Owning Your Academic Identity, Presenter Madison Cammarata, M.Ed.
Using LinkedIn to Build Your Research Presence, Presenter Dr. Cassandra Hawkins
Who Mentors the Mentors?, Presenter Dr. Rachel Plews
Concurrent Workshop #3
Building Your Scholarly Brand: Making Connections, Communicating Your Value, and Owning Your Academic Identity, Presenter Madison Cammarata, M.Ed.
Your Research, Your Relationships, Your Future: Building Mentoring Connections and Academic Networks for Graduate School and Beyond, Presenter Dr. Jenny Shanahan
Motivating the Next Generation of McNair Scholars, Presenter Dr. Deirdre Hill-Jenkins
Oral Presentations
Scholars share their research and creative work through presentations and scholarly discussion.
Day Wrap-Up
Raffle Winners Scholar Outing
Raffle winners will be announced at the Conference, with eight lucky attendees receiving tickets to experience Wicked in Boston!.
Saturday, November 7
Look ahead, build connections, and celebrate scholar achievement.
Breakfast
From Scholar to Scholar: What Comes After the Acceptance Letter?
Hear graduate students reflect on navigating the transition from undergraduate research to graduate study.
Graduate School Fair
Connect with graduate-school representatives, explore programs, and ask questions about admissions, research opportunities, and graduate study.
Awards & Recognition
Celebrate the scholars and contributions that make the NE-MURCS community special.