Getting the Most Out of A Professional Meeting

1. Getting the Most Out of A Professional Meeting Gail P. Taylor University of Texas at San Antonio Aug 2006 02/25/2009

2. Acknowledgements Survival Skills and Ethics Program, University of Pittsburgh Beth A. Fischer & Michael J. Zigmond http://www.survival.pitt.edu/library/documents.asp

3. What is a Professional Meeting? • Scientific Conference • Scientists gather • Share information • Formally and informally • Sponsored by a Scientific Organization/Entity • Society for Neuroscience • SACNAS • ABRCMS • Vary in size • Institutional to International • Can be overwhelming

4. Why go? • Recent developments in field • Broaden knowledge • Obtain experience • Presentations • Posters • Feedback • Network • Learn about funding/program officers • Employment opportunities/interviews/workshops • Newest equipment/tools

5. 1. What happens there? • Found in program • Lectures (renown speaker) • Symposia (same topic, leading investigators) • “Voluntary” presentations • Talk • Poster • Roundtables (discussion) • Socials events/Dinners (networking!)

6. 2. What happens there? • Exhibits • Funding agencies • Equipment manufacturers • Publishers • Placement services • Bulletin boards • Graduate schools (ABRCMS; SACNAS) • Societies • Workshops • Satellite meetings – focused sub-conference

7. Before You Attend • Prepare! • Pre-register • Make travel arrangements early • Safety, networking, convenience • Review program/abstracts (can do as group) • Plan sane but full schedule • Plan in rest/exercise • 5-10 posters per session • Attend lectures of interest • Assemble conference binder • Prepare to network (75% jobs thru network) • Make and practice poster or presentation

8. Dress • Comfortable Shoes! • Presentations – Suit • Otherwise, academic “uniform”

9. Preparing for Personal Questions • Develop and practice • 10 second, 1 min, 2 min description of research • Be prepared to answer: • What do you do? • What’s your research project? • How did you get interested in ________? • Why did you choose that (topic, technique,program, etc) • What do you plan to do after degree (short and long)

10. Once You’re There… • Have small briefcase or tote bag • Carry binder, small spiral, and program • Have friend/mentor (support; introductions) • Dress professionally…with comfortable shoes • Carry on luggage if possible • Breaks and meals- meeting is focus. A few outings okay, but focus on conference activities

11. Getting/Keeping in Contact • Keep in contact with your family • Set up appointments beforehand • Use message center to contact people • May have email kiosks • Approach people at posters • Seek out hospitality rooms

12. Notes and Questions • Taking notes • Focus • Record questions • Record potential contacts • Asking Questions • Go for it • Write them down • Try to come up with three • Don’t interrupt speaker • Be brief and to the point • If you think that you will, sit near microphone

13. Posters • Can ask questions. • Can request “walk through” • Can ask about programs/postdocs

14. Women and Minorities • Take yourself seriously; be assertive • Don’t expect/let your mentor take over

15. Caveats… • Minimize possibilities for undesired “encounters” • Stay in public • Bring a friend to meetings • Pay your own way • Make your own arrangements for local travel • Meet for coffee, lunch, breakfast • Shorter; predefined ending

16. Overall… • Go there to explore your future and expand your network!