By Lauren Williams/ ASAS Communications
I’m sure you’ve heard it all by now, how to present a paper/ poster and how to do it effectively. But here is a quick cheat-sheet on presentations as you pack your bags for JAM!
1.Be prepared. Make sure that you have all your materials ready to go and your poster has been checked by just about everyone in your department.
- Practice, practice, practice! The concept of practice makes perfect could not be more relevant.
- Go over your presentation with your advisor, roommates and even your fellow graduate students. They will be able to give you pointers about how to improve. Also, they might notice little quirks you have, like saying umm or twirling your hair, and can help correct those before you present.
- Practice hard words. If you are presenting on gene expression analysis of longissimus and semitendinous muscle, you should be confident in pronouncing these words and able to say them confidently.Remember to check out the poster layout requirements in the JAM program.
2.Don’t stay out late the night before! This is Undergraduate Basics 101. Make sure you know what time you have to set up and be on time.
- In the JAM program, oral sessions begin at 9:30am on Monday and Tuesday, 10:30am on Wednesday and 8:30am on Thursday.
- The open poster sessions will be from 7:30 to 9:30 am, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the Convention Center, North Hall A-B. Posters must be ready to go 30 minutes in advance. That means you have to get your poster mounted by 7:00am!
3. Dress to impress
- You have worked hard on your research and you want people to take you seriously. Therefore, put on a suit! You never know when a job scout might be watching your presentation to see how you carry yourself.
4. Confidence
- Feel confident in yourself (this may sound cheesy but confidence goes along way). The more interest you can convey about your topic, the more people you will be able to reach.
- Don’t be afraid to throw a smile in every once in a while.
5. Bring water because you will probably be doing a large amount of speaking, and you don’t want to lose your voice.
Good luck on your presentation!