Montana State University’s Office of Research and Economic Development to host second annual Research Celebration

BOZEMAN - Montana State University's Office of Research and Economic Development will host its second annual Research Celebration from 3 to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 3, at Inspiration Hall in Norm Absjornson Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

"This celebration is a great opportunity to recap MSU's research successes," said Alison Harmon, MSU's vice president for research and economic development. "And it is a chance to show the many ways our students' research connects to that as well."

The event will begin with a university-wide Three Minute Thesis competition for MSU's top graduate students. The competition format was created by the University of Queensland in Australia, in which students present their thesis - usually thousands of words - in a presentation lasting no more than 3 minutes.

Following the thesis competition, Harmon will present a research update addressing topics such as economic development, MSU's Innovation Campus, spin-off companies' benefits to the local economy, federal initiatives, the Headwaters Regional Technology and Innovation Hub and how MSU has made Gallatin County one of the most innovative counties in the nation, according to the U.S. Economic Development Administration's standards.

Montana State University is the largest research and development entity in Montana. MSU recorded $230 million in research expenditures for the 2023 financial year.

The event will conclude with a recognition of students, faculty and staff at MSU who have made a meaningful impact on research.

"We'll also be focusing on what we're doing to expand undergraduate research opportunities," Harmon said, pointing as an example to the recent hiring of a new undergraduate research director and the launch of the inaugural Undergraduate Research Fair, which was held in January. "We've created incentives for faculty to hire undergraduate researchers to assist grant work."

For more information about the second annual Research Celebration, visit the event page.