Resources
Forms & Templates
Project/Thesis Submission Form →
Submit your project details, upload your signed advisor agreement and project proposal.
Advisor Agreement Form →
Download this form, have your faculty advisor sign it, and upload it with your submission.
SEAS Thesis Formatting Guidelines →
Official formatting requirements for Master's thesis submissions.
DATS Thesis Title Page Template →
Title page template with the three required signature lines: Faculty Advisor, DATS Projects Director, and DATS Program Director.
Past Student Projects
Past Thesis & Practicum Reports →
Browse reports from prior students to see examples of scope, format, and quality expectations.
Finding a Project
Open Faculty Project Proposals →
Spreadsheet of available faculty-proposed projects looking for student collaborators.
Data Science for Social Good (DSSG) Projects →
Socially impactful project opportunities through Penn's DSSG initiative.
DATS Focus Areas Handbook →
Course paths and campus research groups to help you identify your area of interest and potential advisors.
Data Sources
Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS) →
Internal catalog of research datasets available to Penn students.
Poster Presentation
Practicum students present a research poster at DATS Presentation Day. There is no required template — aim for a 24” × 36” landscape format (standard US conference size). Design guidelines:
- Structure: Title + authors across the top; 3–4 columns below covering motivation, approach, results, and takeaways
- Text: Keep it under ~800 words — posters are for conversation, not reading. Use bullets and short phrases
- Visuals: Lead with figures, charts, and diagrams (~60% of space). Every figure needs a caption
- Font sizes: Title ≥ 72pt · Headings ≥ 36pt · Body ≥ 24pt (nothing smaller — unreadable when printed)
- Whitespace: Leave breathing room between sections; a dense poster is harder to engage with
Canva Research Poster Templates →
Free, browser-based templates. Filter by size (set custom: 48×36 in) and export as PDF for printing.
Penn Libraries – Poster Presentations Guide →
Penn's own guide covering design, layout, and content.
LDI Poster Template – Traditional Format →
PowerPoint template from Penn's Leonard Davis Institute. Standard multi-column layout sized for conference printing.
LDI Poster Template – Quick-Glance Format →
A more visual, scannable layout — useful if your results lead with a single clear finding.
Poster Printing
Posters should be printed at CETS (located in SEAS). Contact Staci Kaplan for the budget code before placing your order.
CETS Poster Printing →
Printing instructions, file format requirements, and turnaround times. Allow at least 2–3 business days before Presentation Day.