Call for Proposals: Student Showcase

Show Off What You’re Building. Inspire the Future.

Event Date: March 26, 2026

Proposal Submission Window: CURRENTLY CLOSED. The deadline to submit proposals was January 11, 2026.

On March 26, 2026, NJIT will host AI Exploration Day- Shaping the Future: AI, Technology & Society, a full-campus event bringing together innovators from academia, industry, and government to explore the impact of artificial intelligence on every field.

Now it’s your turn to take the stage.
The Student Showcase will be a centerpiece of the day—an energetic, hands-on expo where NJIT students present how they’re using AI to create, design, research, and innovate.

Proposals will be collected and reviewed through AI Exploration Day's event app, Whova, when the submission portal opens the week of December 1st. Use the link at the top of the page to submit--you will be prompted to create a Whova account or log into an existing one. 

Both the Breakout Session and Student Showcase proposals are collected through the same application form. The form will guide you to the questions relevant to your submission and prompt you to select which opportunity you are applying for.

Why You Don’t Want to Miss This

This isn’t just another campus event—it’s a chance to put your ideas in front of people who matter.

• Industry leaders from companies such as AWS, Google, Cisco, Dell, and more will be invited to tour the Showcase.
• University leaders from across New Jersey—provosts, deans, and AI program directors—will be on campus to see how NJIT students are leading the way.
• State and local legislators will be attending to understand how AI innovation is growing in higher education.
• NJIT faculty, staff, and peers will be there to celebrate you—and to see the incredible things happening outside the classroom.
• A formal review panel will evaluate and select submissions to present in the showcase, and awards and prizes will be presented for standout projects. Details about judging and recognition will be shared soon.
   

It’s your moment to show off your talent, creativity, and technical skills to an audience that can open doors.

What You’ll Do

Selected students and teams will host digital poster lighting rounds during the Showcase—a high-energy, science-fair-meets-tech-expo experience. 

The showcase will take place from 1:00pm-3:00pm. You’ll share your project through a digital poster, demo, or prototype giving quick 3-minute overviews as visitors stop by your station. Think of it as your personal launch booth.

Projects can be things you have worked on as part of your classes or things you have worked on outside of NJIT. These might include:

• Research, design, or data projects using AI tools or methods
• Apps, products, or prototypes you’ve built
• Startups or entrepreneurial ideas using AI
• Personal or hobby projects that creatively apply AI
• Analyses critiquing AI, highlighting its risks, or considering AI’s social or ethical implications

Proposal Guidelines- Start Preparing Now!

The deadline to submit has been extended to January 11, 2026. Use the link at the top of the page to submit--you will be prompted to create a Whova account or log into an existing one.  You will be asked to include the following information:

• Presenter name(s), major(s), and contact info (individual or max of 3 students per team)
• Presenter(s) bio and headshot(s) (bio limited to 75 words max)
• Project Title (keep it concise and engaging for the program- 20 words max )
• Short Project Description (for the public program, 75 words max)
• Detailed Project Abstract (for the review committee- 200 words max. Describe your project, how it connects to AI, what inspired the project [course work or otherwise] what makes it innovative or meaningful, and what attendees will gain by visiting your station.)

You don’t need a polished research paper—just a great idea and enthusiasm to share it.

Participants will be confirmed by the end of January and receive guidance on setup, presentation tips, and event logistics. Accepted participants will receive a digital poster template and presentation tips to help them prepare their displays.

Who Can Participate

All current NJIT undergraduate and graduate students are eligible.
Projects can be individual or team-based and can originate from:

• Coursework or research
• Clubs or independent projects
• Personal or entrepreneurial ventures
• Critical questions, cautions, or ethical safeguards for AI

Questions?

Email exploreai@njit.edu.