Self-presentation of a scientist

Text by Julia Kolodiazhnaia and Svetlana Tymchenko

Editing by Olya Vvedenskaya

Together with the participants of the 2024 season workshop, we tried to answer the question "What should be in a good (self-)presentation of a scientist?". Here are the main excerpts from the workshop.

In this article, the concept of self-presentation includes not only verbal greetings and introducing yourself, but we also talking at a job interview, describing yourself in a motivational letter or in a resume. Our tips can be applied to different situations, so choose what is right for you!

Work on the content

- Think about who your target audience is. Colleagues? A professor? HR? What problem do these people want to solve with your help? 

- Focus on the purpose of the (self-)presentation. Your goal is to help people solve their problems or convince them that you are the right person to help them solve their problems in the future (for example, in a research project or academic activity), not just to make a good impression.

- Mention only relevant experiences and information. Be strategic about what you include in your presentation: ideally, your (oral) (self-)presentation will have no more than three main selling points and you will focus on developing each of them more fully. More than that is hard for the listener to keep in mind.

- Avoid general words and expressions, clichés. The more specifics and examples - the better.  For example, instead of "I am communicative", you can mention your experience in coordinating a scientific project with a large number of participants or writing social media posts for a student group, a peer network, or a research lab.

- Explain everything that is not common knowledge (special terminology, for example) - unless you are absolutely sure that your audience understands it (for example, at an interview with a professor or at a highly specialized academic conference). (Note: it is better not to overload your oral story with specialized terminology, as it is hard to listen to).

- Think about a clear structure of the story (so that your idea does not jump around or creep away).

You speech should be

- Well rehearsed, but look spontaneous. We do not advise to completely write out the text of the oral (self-)presentation and memorize it by heart (one of the organizers tried this and it ended in complete failure) - if you need to write something - write an outline, key words, or words that tend to fall out of your head.

- Try to speak without tautology, filler words, interjections, or extraneous sounds.

- Your speech should be literate. (A motivational letter in English should definitely be run through ChatGPT, Grammarly, or any other AI tool before sending).

Behavior, non-verbal communication

- Work on your confidence (posture, voice). Don't shrink, don't be afraid to take up space. A low voice is perceived more convincing than a high voice. In any case, the more you "are yourself" at the moment of (self-)presentation, the more favorable it looks for you.

- If you know that in stressful situations you tend to behave in a certain way (for example, you are tempted to make unfunny jokes) - pay attention to it.

During an online interview

- Try to look at the camera (and not at yourself) at least sometimes (more often is better). You can place a sticker with your face next to the camera or move the speaker's thumbnail closer to the camera.

- Increase the amplitude of movements (gesticulation, head nodding). This may seem unnatural and exaggerated to you, but to the person on the other side of the screen it will give the feeling of more lively and emotional communication - because non-verbal cues are harder to read in a video call.

A few tips to calm yourself down

- Visualize what the most negative outcome of the (self-)presentation would look like (You're going to get pelted with tomatoes, right?).

- Focus on bodily sensations (feel the surface you are standing on with your feet, keep your shoulders relaxed) - shift your focus away from fear.

- Talk to the interviewer and future colleagues before the interview (presentation) in an informal setting, if possible.

About Sci.STEPS

The Sci.Steps mentoring program offers invaluable benefits for networking within the scientific community. By connecting aspiring scientists with established professionals in their respective fields, this program facilitates a unique opportunity for mentees to build meaningful relationships and expand their professional network.