Graduate/Academia Research Symposium

The Los Angeles Section of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE-LA) is pleased to announce the continuation of our Graduate/Academia Research Symposium, installed just a few years ago to SWE-LA’s repertoire of available awards as a focused way to support and empower women pursuing advanced degrees and careers in academia!

The Society of Women Engineers, founded in 1950, is a non-profit, educational service organization dedicated to supporting women engineers and encouraging young women to consider an engineering education. The LA Section of the Society of Women Engineers, with over 900 members, is one of the largest of the Society’s 400+ sections!

For the fourth year in a row, we are excited to recognize outstanding science and engineering research conducted by graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty members in the Greater Los Angeles area! This year’s symposium will be held on Thursday, March 19th, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. PST (virtually). Abstracts can be submitted here, with a deadline of Friday, February 20th, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

2026 Submission Deadline

  

All applications are due Friday, February 20, 2026.

application details

  • Presenter must be a graduate student, postdoctoral scholar, or faculty member at one of the eight universities supported by SWE-LA:
    • Cal Poly Pomona
    • Caltech
    • Cal State LA
    • Cal State Northridge
    • Harvey Mudd
    • Loyola Marymount
    • UCLA
    • USC
  • Presenters will share about their research via oral presentations (maximum 10 minutes).
  • SWE membership is not required to participate in the symposium, but only SWE members are eligible to receive the associated awards.
  • All genders are eligible to apply to present at the symposium and receive the associated awards, but please note that symposium is heavily weighted on the basis of advancing women in engineering.

Abstract reviews and presenter selections will be conducted by the SWE-LA Graduate/Academia Committee and approved by the SWE-LA Executive Council. Nominators and the awardee will be notified of the award decision by Sunday, March 1st, 2026.

The symposium judge will be the recipient of this year’s SWE-LA Outstanding Faculty Leadership Award!

  • 1st Place winner will receive $300 + invitation to give a talk on their research at SWE-LA’s annual Professional Development Conference (PDC) + a complimentary ticket to PDC (valued at $170+!).
  • 2nd Place winner will receive $200 + the opportunity to share their research via a poster at SWE-LA’s annual Professional Development Conference (PDC) + a complimentary ticket to PDC (valued at $170+!) + complimentary poster printing.
  • 3rd Place winner will receive $100 + the opportunity to share their research via a poster at SWE-LA’s annual Professional Development Conference (PDC) + a complimentary ticket to PDC (valued at $170+!) + complimentary poster printing.
  • February 20th, 2026 – abstract submissions due
  • March 1st, 2026 – applicants notified of abstract decisions
  • March 19th, 2026 – SWE-LA Graduate / Academia Research Symposium

Apply Now!

For any questions about exceptions or questions about the application in general, please feel free to email Jasmine (Graduate / Academia Chair) at graduateacademia.swela@gmail.com!