The ACM Student Research Competition (SRC)
The ACM Student Research Competition (SRC) offers a unique forum for undergraduate and graduate students to present their original research before a panel of judges and attendees at well-known ACM-sponsored and co-sponsored conferences.
Recognizing the value of student participation at conferences, ACM started the program in 2003, but it is much more than just a travel funding program. The ACM SRC provides participants a chance to meet other students and to get direct feedback on their work from experts. This year's competitions took place at 21 participating ACM SIG conferences, sponsored by SIGACCESS, SIGAPP, SIGARCH, SIGBED, SIGCHI, SIGCOMM, SIGCSE, SIGDA,SIGDOC, SIGGRAPH, SIGHPC, SIGMETRICS, SIGMICRO, SIGMOBILE, SIGOPS, SIGPLAN, SIGSOFT and SIGSPATIAL as well as TAPIA which included more than 323 student participants. The SRC program is administered by Nanette Hernandez of the ACM, Douglas Baldwin of SUNY Geneseo and Adrienne Decker of University at Buffalo.
[Learn More about SRC]
About SRC Awards
There are many tangible and intangible rewards of participating in one of ACM’s Student Research Competitions - Awards, Prestige, Visibility, and Experience
About the SRC Grand Finalists
First place undergraduate and graduate (Masters or PhD program) student winners from the SRCs held during the year advance to the SRC Grand Finals. A different panel of judges evaluates these winners against each other via the web. Three undergraduates and three graduates will be chosen as the SRC Grand Finals winners.
Participate in an SRC Contest
Gain many tangible and intangible rewards from participating in an SRC Contest, from cash prizes to opportunities to meet with researchers and make connections in your field. Presenting before panels of experts and competing with your peers, you'll hone your communications and presentation skills. [Also read the information For Student Participants.]
About the SRC Winners
Evaluated on their knowledge of their research area, contribution of the research, and the quality of the oral and visual presentation before a panel of judges. Three winners are chosen in each category, undergraduate and graduate (Masters or PhD program), receiving $500, $300, and $200, respectively.
About SRC Competitions
Submit your work and advance to the SRC Grand Finals -- from Poster Sessions, in-person presentation Semi-finals, and compete with your first-place peers in the final round. You will be evaluated on your knowledge of your research area, contribution of your research, and the quality of your oral and visual presentation by panels of experts in each field of research.
Why you should host an SRC at your SIG Conference
Increase visibility for your Conference and add a venue for young researchers to sharpen their communication, visual, organizational, and presentation skills, meet with researchers in their field of interest and make important connections.
How Sharing My Ideas Helped Me
“Participating in the ACM SRC was an unparalleled opportunity to highlight my ongoing research. through a poster presentation and a talk. One of the most valuable aspects of the ACM SRC was the opportunity to receive constructive feedback from seasoned experts and fellow researchers. Interacting with professionals from a broad spectrum of fields expanded my network in meaningful ways. Additionally, learning about my peers’ projects offered fresh perspectives. The ACM SRC stands out as a pivotal moment in my academic journey, significantly contributing to my personal and professional growth. It provided a platform for young researchers to be recognized. and encouraged.”
Zhewen Pan, University of Wisconsin-Madison
SIGMICRO 2023