Each author will share one side of a poster board, and each author will have a usable area measuring 34” (86.36 cm) wide x 44″ (111.76 cm) high. This is a portrait/vertical format. Poster materials may not extend outside the assigned half-board.

• Authors should bring their posters with them to ASHG 2023 or use poster printing services, outlined below. There will be no virtual poster presentations.
• Prepare your poster on laminated poster paper, fabric, or cardboard, allowing for space to mount it on the poster board with push pins.
• Bring a smaller version of your poster on 8½” x 11″ size paper as well as a copy of the poster on a USB thumb drive to be printed onsite in case your poster does not arrive with your checked luggage. Many airlines require that poster tubes be checked rather than brought as carry-on luggage. Please check with your airline prior to traveling.
• Poster Printing via FedEx (2 options below): 
  • Submitting files onsite should only be done in the case of emergencies (lost or damaged) since a quick turnaround time will not be guaranteed.
  • Walter E. Washington Convention Center – Click here to place your order.
    • Select the following when placing your order:
      • Lamination: None or Matte.
      • Paper Type: Glossy.
      • Orientation: Vertical.
      • Size: 24in x 36in.
      • Mounting: None.
      • “In-store pickup” then search via the city/zip and select Washington DC Conv Ctr.
      • Store contact info: 202-451-2698 or email at Usa2953@fedex.com. 
      • Posters can be picked up from the FedEx Office located in the Grand Lobby, to the right when entering from the Mount Vernon Place entrance.
      • Store hours:
        • Monday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
        • Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
        • Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
        • Thursday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
        • Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
        • Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
        • Sunday: Closed.
    • Deadline to submit to guarantee a 48- to 72-hour turnaround time: October 20.
    • Located in the Grand Lobby, to the right, when entering from the Mount Vernon Place entrance.
  • Marriott Marquis Washington, DC Hotel – Click here to place your order.
    • Deadline to submit to guarantee a 48- to 72-hour turnaround time: October 13.
    • Located on the Mezzanine Level.

• Make your poster inviting and visually appealing. Use your poster to highlight your project. Try not to fill it with too many details. Pictures/figures are always preferred to text, especially to catch the attention of those walking by skimming posters. Present only the key results and use smaller subheadings with the key takeaways. QR codes can be a great way to link your audience to a preprint or other details left off the poster.  
• Check your font sizes for readability. If you aren’t sure about the readability of your font size, print out a document with text printed in various font sizes. Tape it to the wall and stand back 5-6 feet to see what’s readable—this should be your minimum font size for headers/results. Font sizes visible at 2-3 feet can be used for other text. 

• Be welcoming and engage your audience! Stand to the side of your poster so people can see it as they walk by, be enthusiastic when you are speaking with anyone who stops by. Smile and make eye contact. Be yourself and genuine.  
• Prepare and practice your 1-minute overview of your poster. Think about your poster as the conversation starter. Remember, there are a lot of posters and a short window of time for the poster session. A 1-minute overview will provide enough details about your project and still provide them with ample time to ask questions. A typical 1-miniute overview should include the research question/topic, what you found, and why it is important. Tell a story!  
• Know your audience! Don’t be afraid to ask the person visiting your poster if they are familiar with particular concepts so that you know the level of information to talk about 
• Acknowledge those waiting to speak to you. If you see others waiting to talk to you while you are speaking to others, acknowledge them with a smile or nod so they know you see them.  
• Welcome the feedback you get. Be prepared for discussion and try not to be defensive in the face of criticism. It’s also ok to say you do not know the answer to a question. 

• Authors must place posters on the assigned poster board on Thursday, November 2, when the Poster Hall opens at 9:30 am.
• Poster boards will be pre-numbered, and floor plans will be available onsite to help you find your poster board. The number (found in your confirmation email sent in mid-August) indicates the board you are to use for displaying your poster.
• Authors must be present at their boards for the duration of their scheduled presentation time.
  • Please find your scheduled poster time in your abstract confirmation email sent in mid-August or in the online planner.
• Posters should remain on the assigned poster board for all three days, and authors must remove posters between 4:15 and 4:30 pm on Saturday, November 4.
• Remember to bring your own pushpins (in your checked luggage). A very limited number of pushpins will be available at the meeting.

Thursday
9:30 am: All authors place posters on the assigned poster board. Access to the Exhibit & Poster Hall will not be allowed prior to this.
9:30 am-5:00 pm: Posters available for general viewing.
3:00-5:00 pm: Poster Session I (authors present at posters)*

Friday
10:00 am-5:00 pm: Posters available for general viewing
3:00-5:00 pm: Poster Session II (authors present at posters)*

Saturday
10:00 am-4:30 pm: Posters available for general viewing
2:15-4:15 pm: Poster Session III (authors present at posters)*
4:15-4:30 pm: All authors remove posters from boards. Posters not removed will be discarded.
4:30 pm: Exhibit & Poster Hall closed. For safety reasons, you will not have access to the poster area when it is closed.

Content Requirements

• ASHG requires disclosure of gene names and sharing of research data so that findings can be replicated and other investigators with similar data can test findings against their own. Authors who do not provide gene names will be subject to sanctions as determined by the Program Committee.
• When presenting data and health information (including photos), all presenters must have informed consent compliant with human subjects and applicable HIPAA regulation.
• If the abstract has been previously published, authors must indicate on their poster the date and publication.

Designing Effective & Accessible Posters

• We do not have a required poster presentation template; however, one recommended format is the APA modern format.
• Identify 2-3 principal messages you must convey. Choose a title that captures your main point.
• Prepare a heading at the top of your poster indicating the abstract title, authors, and affiliations.
• Lettering should be at least 1″ (2.54 cm) high and readable from distances of at least 3′ (90 cm). Sans-serif fonts are recommended.
• Select a high-contrast color scheme. Simple use of color can add emphasis, but authors should ensure everything can be understood without color in cases of color-blindness.
• Summarize current research in graphic form whenever possible; use charts, tables, graphs, pictures, etc., and minimize the amount of text.
  • Provide information in smaller type below the heading. Details of methodology should be brief and should be placed at the end of the legend. Keep visuals simple and clear.
• Provide a QR code or a short url that links to your full paper. Be sure to provide alt text for any images.
• Arrange materials in columns and use ‘white space’ to help direct readers logically through your poster.
  • Be wary of overcrowding the poster.
• Posters should be self-explanatory but not comprehensive. You will supplement and elaborate during your conversations with other attendees.

Questions & Accessibility Requests

If you have programmatic questions or require accessibility accommodations (such as needing a tall chair/stool), please contact meetings@ashg.org so we can make arrangements.

Photo Policy

Attendees may take photos of posters if the poster author agrees. Authors who do not want their posters to be photographed will have to indicate as such on their posters, using the image supplied by ASHG. This image should be placed at the top right corner of the poster at a minimum size of 3” (7.62 cm) x 3” (7.62 cm). Please refer to all meeting policies.