What Is the Highlander Research Blitz? 
The Highlander Research Blitz is a competition for graduate and undergraduate students to present their mentored research or creative inquiry to a general audience. It is hosted by the Office of Graduate Affairs (OGA) and the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (OURS).  Students have 3 minutes and 1 PowerPoint slide to convey the relevance and impact of their research to the audience.   

The information on this website applies to graduate students only.  Undergraduates should refer to OURS for information applicable to their participation in the event. 

Event Details: 
Date: March 31, 2027
Location: TBA
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.

How to Participate:  
Applications Due: February 10, 2027  (apply at red button below)
Preliminary Competition: March 17, 2027, 5:30-7:30 p.m. 

Graduate Awards: 
Prizes are awarded to graduate students. Prizes include certificates and cash awards. Cash prizes are as follows: $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place, $500 for third place, $250 for fourth place, and $250 for fifth place. 

HRB Graduate Practice Sessions (The Graduate Research Academy):

Sessions	Dates and Location
Session one	February 15, 2027  5:30-7 p.m. Whitt 116 and Zoom
Session two	February 23, 2027  5:30-7 p.m. Whitt 116 and Zoom
Session three	March 10, 2027  5:30-7 p.m. Whitt 116 and Zoom
Session four	March 25, 2027  5:30-7 p.m. Zoom

Who Can Apply?
Radford graduate or undergraduate students (main campus, RUC, RHEC, SVHEC) in good standing with the university who have faculty-mentored research or creative inquiry — at any stage — are eligible to apply.

How to Apply:
Complete the online application and submit a 3-minute audition video via the button below by February 10, 2027.

Video Tips:

• Film horizontally on a plain background
• Use a static shot (no panning or zooming)
• Include your single PowerPoint slide
• Upload to YouTube, Vimeo, or another sharable link
• Camera quality doesn’t matter—focus on clarity and communication!
• Need a quiet place to record? OURS recommends using Zoom or a campus conference room.

Selection & Final Event
From the applications received, those selected to participate will be notified by February 12, 2027.  If selected, you'll present live at the March 17, 2027 preliminary competition (this is new in 2027).  The top five from the preliminaries will present in the final event on March 31, 2027.  Judges will include professors, alums, and community members. 

Competition Rules for Graduate Students

• 3-minute max presentation
• No note cards or props (unless pre-approved by OGA due to CAS-approved accommodations. If you require accommodation of any kind, please make Paige Tan aware by February 12, 2027 at etan3@radford.edu)
• Slide must be static—no animations, sound, or video
• Speaking starts the timer (not your title slide)  

Judging

1. Clarity of Research Question: Is the research question clear, well-defined, and compelling? Can the audience immediately grasp the central focus of the study?
2. Relevance: Does the presenter effectively draw connections between the research and the audience's experiences, interests, or professional needs, keeping them actively engaged?
3. Research Impact: Does the presenter clearly and compellingly convey their research results’ significance, connecting findings to broader implications with insight and clarity?
4. Overall Presentation Skills: Is the presenter confident, poised, and engaging? Do they use strong eye contact, clear voice delivery, and effective body language to help maintain audience attention?

Need Accommodations? 
We’re committed to accessibility! Contact Paige Tan etan3@radford.edu by February 12, 2026 with any approved accommodations to discuss how they may be implemented at the events.  

Contact 
Graduate students, contact: Office of Graduate Affairs: gradaffairs@radford.edu or 540-831-5724. This website is geared to graduate students. Undergraduates, contact:  OURS: ours@radford.edu or 540-831-5537 for information about undergraduate participation in the event.