The National Forum for Black Public Administrators has partnered with the
Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania to host the 2026 Student Research Poster Contest.
The contest will take place in March 2026 during FORUM 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This competition highlights research conducted by students at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. All students are encouraged to submit their work.
To be eligible, applicants must be currently enrolled at a traditional four-year college or university. Students may also apply for NFBPA scholarships or other financial awards; however, if selected, each applicant may receive only one award. All payments will be made directly to the applicant’s college or university.
Eligibility:
• College students taking 12 or more credits and still enrolled after April 2026.
• Graduate students taking 9 or more credits (students completing a thesis, dissertation, or capstone project are also eligible).
• Executive program students taking 6 or more credits.
• Graduating students in their last semester may apply if their school allows the scholarship to be applied toward summer courses.
Submissions must be limited to research conducted during your time as a student. Research that incorporates the effort of a professor or a professional researcher (e.g., think tanks) is prohibited. You may only submit one poster abstract in which you are the lead/presenter. If your name will be affiliated with multiple submissions, you can only select one project that you will serve as lead presenter.
Theme: Grounded in Greatness: Shaping Opportunity Through Public Administration
Subtopics:
• Data, Power, and Opportunity
• Fair Policy Initiatives
• Economic Growth and Opportunity
• Citizen Engagement
• Sustainable Development
• Policy Performance Analysis
Topic Areas:
- Data Tools for Effective Governance
Decision-makers increasingly rely on data to shape policy, allocate resources, and assess program performance. Possible topics include cross-agency data sharing, public dashboards, improved survey design, or methods for using data to enhance government services and accountability.
- Rethinking Community Well-Being
Community well-being goes beyond economic growth to include safety, infrastructure, services, schools, and advancement opportunities. Possible topics include integrating services to improve outcomes, using data to track well-being indicators, or involving local stakeholders in setting priorities.
- Behavioral Public Administration
Behavioral science helps governments design programs that encourage beneficial choices. Possible topics include applying behavioral insights to public health, education, financial security, or civic participation; designing low-cost, scalable solutions that achieve measurable results.
- The Power of Partnerships
Modern challenges require cooperation across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Possible topics include case studies of successful partnerships, innovative models for delivering services, or strategies for building effective coalitions to solve public challenges.
Submission Requirements:
1. Online Application — Create an account using your school-issued email and click "Submit Application."
2. Transcript(s) — Submit transcripts to postercontest@nfbpa.org. Graduate students must submit both undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
3. Headshot — Full frontal photo, JPG or PNG format, submitted at Step 1 of the online application.