About the Competition

Show your research to NC State faculty and to engineers and leaders from M.C. Dean, one of the nation’s leading electrical and mission-critical infrastructure firms. Get feedback, make industry connections and compete for prizes.

All undergraduate and graduate students are welcome. You can present research, senior design, capstone, thesis, dissertation or independent study work, on your own or as a team. Early-stage projects are welcome too.

Research Topics

We welcome posters from all areas of engineering and technology, including:

• Grid modernization, microgrids and distributed energy resources
• Power electronics and energy storage
• Data centers and critical infrastructure
• AI, digital twins, sensing and automation
• Advanced manufacturing and supply chain
• Interdisciplinary and education-focused research

If your work aligns with the mission of the M.C. Dean Engineering Hub, we would love to see it.

Prizes

There will be two poster competitions, one for graduate students and one for undergraduates. Each awards:

• First place: $400 gift card
• Second place: $200 gift card
• Third place: $100 gift card

Posters will be judged by faculty and industry panelists on technical quality, clarity, impact and presentation.

Submission Details

• Abstract: up to 250 words covering the problem, approach and results or expected results, due Oct. 23, 2026.
• Poster: 24 by 36 inches.
• At least one presenter must attend in person. Student teams are encouraged.

Why Participate

• Get in front of industry. Present directly to engineers and leaders from M.C. Dean and other companies, a path to internships and jobs.
• Get expert feedback. Faculty and industry judges will give you input you can use in your thesis, defense or next paper.
• Build your résumé. A juried poster presentation, and possibly an award, is a line you can add right away.
• No finished results required. Early-stage work is welcome, and it is good practice for conference presentations.

Important Dates

• Open now: Registration and abstract submission
• Oct. 23: Registration and abstract deadline
• After Oct. 23: Acceptance notifications
• Nov. 6: Student Research Symposium and Poster Competition

We hope you will join us for a day of research, collaboration and innovation. Whether you are presenting your first project or your latest research, this is a chance to share your work and be part of the growing M.C. Dean Engineering Hub community.