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Norma Slepecky Symposium 2026

SU WiSE  •  Annual Event

Annual Keynote Lecture & Graduate/Undergraduate Research Prize Awards

October 23, 2026
Syracuse University — Venue TBD
Now accepting nominations

Norma Slepecky

Norma Slepecky

Professor Norma Slepecky was a distinguished auditory neuroanatomist at Syracuse University, remembered fondly by her colleagues, students, and the WiSE community since her passing in 2001. As a professor of bioengineering and neuroscience and a founding member of WiSE, she was a passionate researcher and advocate for undergraduate student research. She frequently mentored undergraduates seeking research experience and strongly supported efforts to increase the number of women in STEM. With her enthusiastic approval, her family, friends, and colleagues joined together to endow the Norma Slepecky Lectureship and Undergraduate Research Prize. WiSE was appointed as steward for the Slepecky Prize and is honored to annually coordinate the Slepecky ceremony and lecture, held each spring.

2026 Event

Symposium details

Date: Thursday, October 23, 2026

Time: TBD

Venue: TBD, Syracuse University

This year the Slepecky Symposium is expanding to a larger regional format, welcoming students and faculty from across the region to attend the keynote lecture and participate in the Graduate and Undergraduate Research Prize competition.

Keynote Speaker: To be announced. Check back soon or follow us on social media for updates.

Research Prizes

Call for nominations

The Slepecky Research Prize has honored undergraduate researchers at Syracuse University since 2004. This year, we are proud to expand the program to a larger regional symposium, opening the competition to both graduate and undergraduate students from across the region for the first time. Nominations may be submitted by faculty, mentors, or students who wish to self-nominate. A limited number of awards will be given. Women students are strongly encouraged to apply.

Undergraduate Prize

Open to undergraduate students whose research projects are based in the full range of applied biological and engineering sciences and the natural sciences, including audiology, bioengineering, communication sciences and disorders, neuroscience, bio-inspired technology, psychology, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, and physics. Women undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to apply.

Nomination packet includes:

  • Completed coversheet
  • Resume
  • Cover letter with research overview
  • Primary research document
  • Letter of nomination from SU faculty advisor

Graduate Prize

Open to graduate students whose research projects are based in the full range of applied biological and engineering sciences and the natural sciences, including audiology, bioengineering, communication sciences and disorders, neuroscience, bio-inspired technology, psychology, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, and physics. Women graduate students are strongly encouraged to apply.

Nomination packet includes:

  • Completed coversheet
  • Resume / CV
  • Cover letter with research overview
  • Primary research document
  • Letter of nomination from SU faculty advisor

Nomination deadline: TBD, Fall 2026.

More

Explore the Slepecky program

Award winners

View past prize recipients going back to 2004.

View winners →

Past speakers

Distinguished women scholars who have delivered the annual lecture since 2003.

View speakers →

Prize guidelines

Full submission guidelines and coversheet for 2026 nominations.

Download →

Questions about the symposium or nominations?

suwise@syr.edu