SU WiSE • Annual Event

Norma Slepecky Symposium

Annual keynote lecture and Graduate & Undergraduate Research Prize awards.

October 23, 2026Syracuse UniversityNow accepting nominations

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: Friday, October 23, 2026

Venue: Drumlins Country Club, 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.

2026 Keynote Speaker

Dr. Lola Eniola-Adefeso

Dean of the College of Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago • President, AIMBE

Dr. Eniola-Adefeso is a distinguished chemical and biomedical engineer with more than 25 years of experience, a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and a passionate advocate for diversity in engineering. She directs the Cell Adhesion and Drug Delivery Lab and has published more than 70 peer-reviewed articles. Her journey as a woman leader in biomedical engineering offers powerful inspiration for students and researchers alike.

RSVP for the event

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. Women undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to apply.

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. New for 2026 as part of the expanded regional symposium. Women graduate students are strongly encouraged to apply.

Nomination deadline: Wednesday, September 23, 2026, by 11:59 PM.

Please review the full guidelines before submitting a nomination.

Submit a nomination View full guidelines

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