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Lightning Talk Competition

The UMN Single Cell Symposium 2026 will feature a Lightning Talk Competition highlighting single-cell research from across the University of Minnesota. Selected presenters will deliver 5-minute talks on completed or ongoing work that emphasize experimental outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned. The goal is to share practical findings and research experiences that will benefit the broader research community.

To be considered, interested researchers will submit a 200-word-or-fewer summary describing their proposed talk. The UMGC and MSI will review submissions and select six presenters to deliver lightning talks during the symposium. The top presentation, as voted on by the audience, will receive $2,500 in UMGC-supported labor and a 4-reaction kit from 10x Genomics toward a future single-cell project.

Key Dates:

DescriptionDate
Summary submission opensWednesday, May 13 
Summary submissions dueTuesday, May 26, at 12:00 PM
Decisions communicated to researchersTuesday, May 26, end of day
Lightning TalksTuesday, June 2 

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Eligibility

The competition is open to UMN postdoctoral researchers, staff, and graduate students. Principal investigators and undergraduate students are not eligible to participate. 

Summary Submission

Researchers interested in presenting should submit a 200-word-or-fewer lightning talk summary. Strong submissions will center on real research experiences and scientific insights gained through conducting single-cell work, rather than focusing on future research directions. 

Examples of suitable topics include:

  • Experimental results and scientific outcomes
  • Workflow optimizations or protocol modifications
  • Computational or analytical approaches that improved interpretation
  • Challenges encountered and how they were addressed
  • Comparative evaluations of methods or technologies

Submit your 200-word summary about your proposed talk.

Presentation Format

Selected presenters must adhere to the following lightning talk format:

  • Five-minute presentation maximum
  • One title slide
  • Five content slides
  • No animations or embedded videos
  • No props permitted

Prize

Audience members will vote to select the winning lightning talk. The winner will receive support toward a future single-cell project, consisting of: 

  • $2,500 in UMGC-supported labor
  • 4-reaction kit from 10x Genomics (3'-GEX, 5'-GEX, Flex Apex, or Multiome)

Contact

The submission deadline is 12:00 PM on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Please contact the Lightning Talk Administrator, Shea Anderson, at [email protected], with questions about the competition.