How to thrive at conferences

Conferences can feel like a marathon for the mind and an endurance test for your social battery. But for a PhD student, they offer opportunities to network, showcase research and absorb the latest developments in the field. With preparation, a touch of boldness and the strategies below, you will return with new ideas and a renewed sense of purpose in your work. Drawing on insights from students, postdocs and organisers, here’s how to thrive at your next conference.

Choose conferences that fit your goals

‘Speak to your supervisor and others in the lab,’ recommends Grace MacDonald, a postdoctoral scientist at Imperial College London, UK. ‘They will normally say if they found it worthwhile or what they felt was not quite suitable about a conference.’

For early-career researchers, local conferences can be a more affordable way to gain experience, while smaller, subject-specific meetings are ideal for networking. ‘The community aspect is much stronger at smaller conferences,’ explains Yuandi Li, programme manager at the Royal Society of Chemistry. ‘You’re around more of the people actually working in your area, and that’s probably a better way of building your profile early in your career.’

Larger, interdisciplinary meetings, such as the American Chemical Society or Cold Spring Harbour conferences, can be useful for scientific breadth – and offer plenty of tote bags to collect. They feature talks from prominent leaders in the field, and often have workshops in symposia on emerging topics and advanced techniques. ‘Above all, conferences that leave you buzzing with new ideas, contacts and collaborations are my top choices,’ says Shradda Vadodaria, a PhD student at Imperial College London.

Prep like a pro

Preparation is key to making the most of your time. ‘Look up relevant literature from the speakers of interest and their most recent research endeavours on their group websites or social media,’ suggests Vadodaria. ‘Scan abstracts and make a schedule of the posters and speakers you want to approach.’

Larger conferences can be tricky to navigate, so take the first day to explore the venue and familiarise yourself with the locations of each session. ‘The key here is to identify which talks you want and know where you need to be,’ advises David Carling, group head at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, UK. ‘These conferences can be spread out over miles, so it’s good to know what the layout is.’

Don’t try to do it all

Conference burnout is real. Between the early starts, packed schedules and inevitable coffee crashes, it is easy to feel like a zombie by day two. Both students and organisers agree that selectivity is essential. ‘You don’t have to attend every session,’ Li advises. ‘If I’m not getting as much from a particular part of the meeting, I’ll just go back to my hotel room, answer some emails or give myself a break.’

Conferences are often held in exciting locations, and exploring the city can be a great way to unwind. ‘Enjoy the venue as well as the conference,’ MacDonald suggests. ‘It may be that you’re rarely in those locations, so it’s good to explore.’

Network authentically

Networking can be intimidating, but approaching it with authenticity helps. ‘Networking is inherently awkward,’ Vadodaria admits. ‘But speakers and professors are, in most cases, equally excited to inspire the younger generation.’

If you’re targeting a particular researcher, reading about their work can help break the ice. ‘How you’re approaching them depends on what you’re approaching them for,’ says Carling. ‘You might need to flatter them a bit with their own work and then bring in your own work.’

Li emphasises that everyone is there for the same reason. ‘You can always talk about the science and poster sessions, in particular, act as great anchors for conversations.’ They also allow you to ask questions you couldn’t ask during a talk, for instance.

If nothing else, remember you can always break the ice by chatting about the food. ‘I’ve found the other frustrated tea drinkers or people hungry with not enough food at other conferences,’ says MacDonald. ‘It is a very human and simple connection.’

Follow up to build relationships

Networking doesn’t end when the conference does. ‘Always follow up via email or social media if you’re seeking a tangible collaboration,’ advises Vadodaria. A simple follow up message can cement a new connection and keep the conversation going long after the event. Li recalls how one researcher secured a collaboration with a Nobel laureate. ‘They said they were happy to host him, and literally all he’d done was drop them an email. Academics, by and large, are very forthcoming,’ says Li.

And don’t forget to send a LinkedIn request. You are not stalking, just demonstrating professional persistence.