The Ohio State University marked a milestone in graduate and postdoctoral scholarship on March 6, as the Edward F. Hayes Advanced Research Forum celebrated its 40th anniversary at the Ohio Union. The daylong event highlighted the breadth, depth and impact of research conducted across the university while recognizing student scholars with one of the largest single‑day award programs dedicated to graduate research on campus.
Held throughout the Ohio Union, the forum brought together graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty, staff and community members for oral and poster presentations spanning nearly every academic discipline at the university. Research areas represented ranged from the arts and humanities to engineering, health sciences, business, education, agriculture, mathematical and physical sciences, and social and behavioral sciences, underscoring the interdisciplinary reach of Ohio State’s research enterprise.
The Hayes Forum, organized for and by graduate students, has grown over four decades into a central platform for showcasing emerging scholarship. The 2026 program featured parallel sessions of oral and poster presentations running throughout the morning, followed by deliberations by volunteer judges drawn from faculty, staff and the broader academic community.
A defining feature of the forum is its emphasis on recognition and professional development. This year’s event awarded nearly $17,000 in cash prizes to top‑judged presentations across academic areas, making the Hayes Forum one of the most substantial sources of competitive research recognition for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars at Ohio State. Awards were presented during an afternoon ceremony and luncheon in the Ohio Union Performance Hall.
Award categories included first‑, second‑ and third‑place honors for oral presentations, as well as multiple levels of recognition for poster presentations. In addition to monetary awards, honorees received campus‑wide recognition that supports their long‑term academic and professional trajectories. Postdoctoral awards were supported through the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, further reinforcing the forum’s inclusive scope.
The success of the 40th Hayes Forum reflected extensive collaboration across the university. The event was co‑sponsored by the Council of Graduate Students, the Graduate School, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and the Enterprise for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge. Organizational and operational support was provided by Student Life, Ohio Union staff and numerous campus partners who assisted with logistics, planning and day‑of execution.
Additional support came from faculty and staff volunteers who served as judges, mentors and advisors, reinforcing the forum’s role as a shared institutional investment in graduate education. The Ohio Union served as a central hub for the event, offering flexible spaces that allowed multiple disciplines to convene simultaneously while maintaining a cohesive campus‑wide experience.
As the Hayes Forum enters its fifth decade, the anniversary event underscored the university’s sustained commitment to advancing graduate and postdoctoral research. By elevating student scholarship, fostering interdisciplinary exchange and providing tangible recognition, the forum continues to play a vital role in Ohio State’s academic mission.
To see a list winners from the 2026 Hayes Forum visit the Council of Graduate Students Website.