FAQs
What are the eligibility requirements to apply to NCRC 2026?
Applicants must be enrolled as an undergraduate (freshman through senior) in a college or university at the time of the conference.
What are the application deadlines?
Applications for the priority cycle will be due on December 9th, 2025, and regular cycle applications will be due on December 16th, 2025. A $10 late fee will be enforced for applications submitted after December 16th; applications will not be accepted after December 24th.
Will the conference be virtual or in-person?
NCRC 2026 will be held entirely in person on Harvard University’s campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. All attendees, including presenters and non-presenters, are expected to attend in person. The conference will feature poster sessions, oral presentations, keynote lectures, and panel discussions throughout the weekend.
What are the fees involved in attending NCRC 2026?
The application fee is $25, payable upon submission of this form. If accepted, all participants—both presenters and non-presenters—will be required to complete their registration with a $200 conference registration fee.
If the registration fee presents a financial hardship, you may begin the fee waiver request process by emailing vp@hcura.org. Please note that while registration fees may be eligible for a waiver, the application fee is not.
We also encourage prospective attendees to explore conference travel grants or academic funding opportunities offered by their home institutions, as such resources are often available to support participation in academic conferences.
Must I have conducted previous research in order to attend NCRC?
No! All undergraduates, regardless of whether or not they have conducted previous research, may apply to NCRC. If you wish to apply to NCRC without a research project, you may indicate that in the application form, and you will not be required to submit an abstract. If accepted, you will not present in the poster fair. That being said, the majority of participants in the past have conducted research previously, but it is certainly not a prerequisite to attending NCRC, and many students who have attended without presenting a poster have found the experience still to be immensely worthwhile.
Am I required to present a poster?
No! We are welcoming non-presenters, as we understand that there have been significant barriers to conducting research. While most participants welcome the opportunity to present their research and receive feedback on their research (each poster presenter receives feedback from a Harvard-affiliated faculty member, graduate student, or postdoctoral fellow), you are not required to. If you do not wish to present a poster, please apply as a "non-presenter" in your application.
Can I apply as an oral presenter if I apply as a "non-presenter"?
No, all oral presenter must also present poster and must submit an abstract in their application.
Can I apply if I don’t go to college in the US?
Yes; we are accepting students from international universities!
With how many projects can we apply to NCRC 2026?
Applicants may only apply once to NCRC 2025 with one research project.
What academic disciplines does NCRC cater to? Can I apply if I am conducting research in the humanities or in an interdisciplinary field?
Absolutely yes! NCRC prides itself on being a multidisciplinary research conference—we believe that one of the most compelling learning experiences results when students from myriad academic fields come together to share their interests and work. Our speakers and programming will come from a variety of research fields.
Is there financial aid available?
As an undergraduate student–run, non-profit conference, we are unfortunately unable to provide financial support for travel or accommodation costs. We are only able to offer financial assistance toward registration fees. As noted in the “What are the fees involved in attending NCRC 2026?” section above, please contact vp@hcura.org if you wish to initiate a fee waiver process.
We do, however, make every effort to arrange discounted rates with nearby hotels, and this information will be shared with accepted attendees as soon as it becomes available.
What are oral presenters?
At NCRC 2026, our oral sessions will feature selected presenters who share their research with a broad audience of peers and judges. There is no separate application for oral presentation consideration; applicants may indicate their interest directly on the main application form. Selected oral presenters will be notified upon acceptance. Please note that the oral presentation selection process is highly competitive and more selective than the poster session.
When should I expect to hear back regarding application decisions?
We anticipate releasing application decisions for priority and regular cycle applications by December 21, 2025.
Can I apply as a group project?
Yes! Groups that have contributed to a single research project should submit one singular application and indicate in the abstract that it is a group effort. Upon acceptance, we will ask that each participant submit a registration form and pay the registration fee independently.
Contact Us
Please direct your questions, comments, and concerns accordingly.
NCRC application confirmation/payments: vp@hcura.org
NCRC programming/events: programming@hcura.org
Other concerns: president@hcura.org