Everything you don´t learn in the lab
Self-presentation and networking
Topic area
Science communication, Gender and Diversity
Format
Online or in-house workshop
Workload
Online: 4 x 2.5 h-webinars plus self-paced work on our learning platform
In-house: 2 workshop days
Target group
PhD students and postdocs
In brief
Build meaningful professional connections, present yourself with confidence, and communicate what sets you and your research apart.
Make connections and build your network
Ever found yourself standing alone with a coffee at a conference, wondering how everyone else seems to know each other? Or struggled to explain what you do without either under-selling yourself or launching into a ten-minute monologue? Networking isn’t about collecting contacts or being the loudest in the room. It’s about building genuine professional relationships. And effective self-presentation doesn’t mean putting on a show: it means helping others understand your strengths, interests, and research, and how you can be useful to them. In this interactive workshop, you’ll practise navigating professional encounters, explore how stereotypes can shape first impressions, and learn to use digital tools, including AI, to pre-pare for networking situations. Through practical exercises and feedback, you’ll develop an approach that feels authentic and works for you.
In this workshop, you’ll learn to:
Make connections and build your network
- Build and maintain professional relationships, both online and offline.
- Initiate and sustain conversations at conferences, career fairs, and other professional events.
- Follow up naturally to turn initial contacts into lasting connections.
Present yourself with confidence
- Recognise how body language and first impressions shape professional encounters.
- Communicate your strengths and achievements without over-selling yourself.
- Navigate gender stereotypes and other expectations that can influence how you’re perceived.
Use digital tools strategically
- Strengthen your professional presence through platforms such as LinkedIn.
- Use AI to prepare introductions, practise conversations, and refine your pitch.
- Choose networking approaches that fit your personality and career goals.
Put it all together: your personal and research pitch
- Develop a concise, compelling pitch that introduces both you and your research.
- Practise delivering your pitch and receive constructive feedback.
- Adapt your message to different audiences and professional situations.
Workshop format and materials
Online: Four interactive 2.5-hour webinars, complemented by three weeks of self-paced learning on our platform. Participants can receive individual feedback from the trainers.
In-house: Two workshop days. Participants receive a PDF handbook for reviewing the material afterwards.
More information and next steps
Get a first impression: Check out a preview of our online workshop.
Looking for a broader programme? Combine this workshop with Presentation skills for scientists and Scientific posters: design and pitching to create our three-day programme At the conference.
Prefer a shorter format? Explore our talk Tap that network.
Further reading: Discover our articles Which type of conference delegate are you?, Don’t speak with anyone and Competition and collaboration for different perspectives on networking in science.
Already interested in learning more about the workshop content? You might be interested in our articles Which type of conference delegate are you?, Don´t speak with anyone or Competition and collaboration.