Getting the Most Out of A Professional Meeting

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Getting the Most Out of A Professional Meeting

• Gail P. Taylor
• University of Texas at San Antonio
• Aug 2006

02/25/2009
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Acknowledgements

• Survival Skills and Ethics Program, University of
  Pittsburgh
• Beth A. Fischer Michael J. Zigmond
• http//www.survival.pitt.edu/library/documents.as
  p

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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

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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

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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!)

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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

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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

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Dress

• Comfortable Shoes!
• Presentations Suit
• Otherwise, academic uniform

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Preparing for Personal Questions

• Develop and practice
• 10 second, 1 min, 2 min description of research
• Be prepared to answer
• What do you do?
• Whats 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)

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Once Youre There

• Have small briefcase or tote bag
• Carry binder, small spiral, and program
• Have friend/mentor (support introductions)
• Dress professionallywith comfortable shoes
• Carry on luggage if possible
• Breaks and meals- meeting is focus. A few
  outings okay, but focus on conference activities

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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

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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
• Dont interrupt speaker
• Be brief and to the point
• If you think that you will, sit near microphone

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Posters

• Can ask questions.
• Can request walk through
• Can ask about programs/postdocs

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Women and Minorities

• Take yourself seriously be assertive
• Dont expect/let your mentor take over

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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

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Overall

• Go there to explore your future and expand your
  network!