PREPARING YOURSELF
FOR A POSTER PRESENTATION
So much time is spent preparing a polished and eective poster, but this is only one half of the presentation. You
need to spend just as much time preparing yourself. Poster presentations are a chance for you to share your work
with others and to promote your accomplishments – take full advantage of the opportunity!
SHARING YOUR STORY
“Tell me about your project.” This seemingly simple question – in one form or another – is a common way
conversations begin at poster exhibitions, professional conferences, and networking events. If you’re not prepared,
this question can be challenging.
Sharing information about your work is like telling a story. A well-crafted story provides a solid introduction
highlighting the goals and intentions of your project, why the subject matter is of interest to you, and why the
work is important to others and to your field. From there, move into a concise overview of how you went about (or
are going about) your work, and finish with either a summary of your results or the next steps you plan to take to
move your project forward.
As the storyteller it’s your job to clearly explain your work in a way that paints a picture for your audience
and is appropriate for the level of technical knowledge your audience members may have. If you’re speaking
to professionals within your field at a professional conference or poster presentation, the depth of technical
information you choose to convey may be dierent than when you are sharing your work with individuals who
have limited background knowledge relating to your work. The best approach is to avoid scientific jargon and
technical terminology, presenting your work using everyday language. Those with technical knowledge and
interest in your work can ask follow-up questions if they want more detailed information.
There is no set rule as to how long your story should be, though a general guideline is to keep your story around
one minute, and no longer than two minutes. If you go longer than that you run the risk of losing the other
person’s attention.
PRACTICING YOUR PRESENTATION
As important as it is to structure and plan how you present your story, it is equally important to practice it, as
what is in your mind is often not what is actually communicated in the moment. Your story should sound natural,
not scripted; each time you present your story it may be a little dierent, and that’s OK, as long as you are sharing
key highlights and content. Avoid writing every word out and memorizing it; this will make your story sound
unnatural, rehearsed, and overworked.
You want others to engage with your work; give them ample opportunities to ask questions on aspects of your
project that most interest them. It’s impossible to anticipate all the questions you could be asked, but to become
comfortable discussing your work and answering an unpredictable barrage of questions, practice with friends,
advisors, and mentors. It’s especially helpful to practice answering questions with friends who are not familiar with
your field of study; they will be able to tell you if you’re using overly technical language and how well you’re able
to explain your work to a general audience.
OFFICE OF
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Oce of Undergraduate Research - ugradresearch.uconn.edu - our@uconn.edu
One benefit of poster presentations is that you can incorporate the graphics on your
poster into the discussion of your work. You also have the option to supplement your
poster and the sharing of your work with other media, such as audio or visual files that
you can access through a laptop or tablet. If you choose to do this, make sure your
laptop or tablet is fully charged. Rarely will you have convenient access to an outlet.
Use your poster to illustrate key concepts with your audience, but always remember to
keep your focus on the people in front of you. It can be tempting when you’re nervous
to look only at your poster, but eective presenters maintain consistent eye contact
with the people they’re speaking with. When practicing your story, have your poster
behind you and get used to incorporating the images and graphics into your story so
that this becomes natural and comfortable.
First impressions are made quickly; make sure that impression is a positive one,
presenting you as a confident, well-spoken young professional who is passionate
about the work you’re engaging in. Practice and preparation will help you accomplish
this goal.
"Be creative with
how you explain
your project. For
example, while I
was presenting my
poster I brought my
laptop with me to
play speech sound
samples to better
illustrate part of my
study."
- Julia Drouin '14
HANDOUTS & BUSINESS CARDS
Make it easy for interested people to follow up with you after the poster session. In addition to including your
contact information on your poster, you can prepare a handout summarizing your work with key findings, links to
more information, and providing your contact information. Once you finish crafting your poster, you can print out
copies of it on standard 8½ x 11 inch paper and use these as your handouts. If you choose to do this, make sure the
font is not too small or dicult to read, and that your name and contact information stands out.
Another way to provide contact information to interested parties is with business cards. As a student, you may
think business cards aren’t for you. They are! Business cards are an easy and professional way to exchange contact
information with someone you encounter at a poster presentation or conference.
You may be wondering what you would put on a business card as a student.
Keep it simple. Include your name, phone number, and email address. If
you have a website where you are showcasing your creative work or your
research, include the link! You can also include the link to your LinkedIn
profile. Make sure to edit your LinkedIn profile to get a simpler URL, and
check that your profile is up-to-date and includes information about your
research or creative projects. You can also add information about your
college or major aliation, anticipated graduation date, or a professional
headshot. See the example for ideas.
PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE
When choosing what to wear to a poster presentation, think professional. In the majority of situations, casual
attire is discouraged; even if those attending the poster session will be dressed casually, you should not be.
Presenters should try to dress equivalent to or one notch above those who will be in attendance. Remember that
you will be standing for an extended period of time; wear comfortable clothes and footwear.
General Guidelines
• What to Wear: Dress slacks or khaki pants (not cargo pants), button-up shirt, blouse, cardigan, sweater, suit
jacket, blazer, sport coat, dress shoes, knee-length skirts and dresses, heels or dress flats.
• What Not to Wear: Jeans, shorts, short skirts, sweat pants, sweatshirts, t-shirts, sneakers, flip flops. In general,
anything you would wear to hang out with your friends should not be worn to a professional event.
QUICK TIPS
Oce of Undergraduate Research - ugradresearch.uconn.edu - our@uconn.edu
JONATHAN HUSKY
Natural Resources Student, Class of 2020
University of Connecticut
444-444-444 | jonathan.husky@uconn.edu
www.jonathanhusky.com
www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanhusky20
What to Avoid
• Try not to use filler words, such as “um,”
“like,” and “you know,” as these are distracting
and make you sound less confident in the
information you’re presenting.
• Do not chew gum.
• Avoid using your cell phone or otherwise
signaling you aren't eager to engage with the
audience.
• Avoid overdramatic gestures or hand waving, as
this may scare some people o.
• Avoid perfumes or colognes; those with
fragrance sensitivities and allergies will
appreciate it.
• Do not read from notes.
What to Do
• Stand up straight, smile, and show your
excitement for being there.
• Speak to your audience, not to your poster – face
them and make eye contact. You can and should
refer to your poster, pointing out key information
that supports what you are saying, but make your
audience your focus.
• Be cognizant of volume and background noise:
speak loudly enough for your poster viewers to
hear you, but not so loudly that you disturb those
next to you.
• Speak clearly and at a conversational pace.
• Practice with others before the event so that
you’re prepared and comfortable.
"While it might not seem important, first impressions (outfit included) do matter. Here is some advice I've
put together based on my own conference experience:
Ask your peers for advice. If I had asked other people who had attended the conference before, I would
have learned that 'business casual' in this context was not the same as in any other context.
Wear layers - you never know when the AC will start blasting. Bring a formal and a not-so-formal outfit.
Make sure to bring an umbrella. And Band-Aids." - Kavita Sinha '18