Feb. 27, 2025 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
EPI Research Day 2025
Join us for another year of excellent research in the University of Florida Reitz Union Grand Ballroom! Start the day off with breakfast before the event unfolds. With over 150 posters and two keynote talks from renowned researchers, our event will cover the latest infectious disease research. Come for the research and stay for the fun — photo wall pictures, raffle prizes, and merch from exhibit booths.
Schedule of Events
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM: Breakfast & Registration
9:50 AM – 10:00 AM: Welcome & Introductions
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: “Emerging vector-borne and neglected tropical disease risk in the Americas”
- Keynote speaker: Sarah Gunter, Ph.D.
11:00 AM – 11:15 AM: Refreshment Break
11:15 AM – 1:00 PM: Poster Session
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch & Raffle Prizes
2:10 PM – 3:10 PM: “Vaccines in an Era of Global Boiling and Rising Anti-Science”
- Keynote speaker: Peter J. Hotez, M.D., Ph.D.
3:10 PM – 3:20 PM: Competition Winners Announcement
3:20 PM – 3:30 PM: Closing Remarks
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Poster Removal
Keynote Speakers
"Vaccines in an Era of Global Boiling and Rising Anti-Science"
Peter J. Hotez, M.D., Ph.D.
Peter J. Hotez, M.D., Ph.D., is Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine where he is also the Co-director of the Texas Children’s Center for Vaccine Development (CVD) and Texas Children’s Hospital Endowed Chair of Tropical Pediatrics. Dr. Hotez is an internationally-recognized physician-scientist in neglected tropical diseases and vaccine development.
"Emerging vector-borne and neglected tropical disease risk in the Americas"
Sarah Gunter, Ph.D.
Sarah Gunter, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at the Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital in the National School of Tropical Medicine, where she serves as the director of the Laboratory of Infectious Disease Epidemiology. Her research centers on investigating the emergence of vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases and the development of innovative new tools to control transmission.
Abstract Submission
Undergraduate students, graduate students, post-docs, and faculty are strongly encouraged to submit research abstracts with a pathogenic or infectious disease focus to the EPI Research Day 2025. While posters with new, original data are preferred, posters submitted at national meetings within the past 18 months are acceptable for presentation.
Submissions from other universities and local, county, or state health departments are also welcome. All abstracts submitted before the deadline will be included in the EPI Research Day 2025 Book of Abstracts. Furthermore, all abstracts received from University of Florida investigators and scholars are eligible to enter an applicable research day poster contest.
A maximum of 180 abstracts are eligible for participation in the poster session. If we accept 180 abstracts before the submission deadline on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, we will close submissions for the event.
Poster Competition
The EPI invites all University of Florida investigators and scholars to submit abstracts of their ongoing research to the EPI Research Day 2025. This year, we will host an undergraduate, pre-doctoral, post-doctoral, and early-stage investigator poster competition. Each of the four competition categories will be presented with a $1,000 award for first place, a $500 award for second place, and a $250 award for third place.
Space is limited to 180 posters, so the highest impact submissions will be selected for inclusion on a first come, first served basis – submit your abstract as early as possible for thorough review and consideration. EPI senior faculty leadership will serve as judging staff and review each submission to announce finalists before the event.
Poster Size
- Poster boards are 4’ tall and 5’ wide.
- Font size should be no less than 14 pt for paragraph text and 18 pt for sub-titles. 36 pt text or larger is ideal for the poster title. Sans serif fonts are best for paragraph body texts. You want to make sure your poster can be read from a distance.
Event Resources
Location, Parking, Directions
Reitz Union Location
Visit the Reitz Union website to get directions to the building and learn more about parking. Event registrants will receive a parking code for the garage.
Building Map
Reitz Union Facility Map
View the Reitz Union facility map to get an overview of the building and see where the Grand Ballroom is located.
Transportation
Shuttle Service
EPI will offer a shuttle service from the EPI building circular driveway to the Reitz Union driveway from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Past Research Day
Event Recap
EPI Research Day 2024
Missed the last research day? Want to know what the event is like? Visit our event recap page for recordings of the keynote talks, event highlight articles and more.