Networking In Research

A brilliant student sent 127 emails to potential PhD supervisors last year. 94 replied with some version of "Thanks for your interest, but I have no funding." This year he sent only 41. 7 of them invited him for interviews/applications. How did I help him find them? Here's what I asked him to check if they had: • Fresh grant money (personal website announcements) • Active recruitment posts (he spotted on Twitter at 11pm) • A student who just graduated (creating a probable opening) The System He Followed : 1: The Research Deep Dive Open Google Scholar and search the exact research keywords. But here's the twist — filter for papers published in the last 6 months only. Why? Fresh papers = active research area = probable funding. Found an interesting paper? Check: • Who's the last author (usually the PI) • Do they have recent grants listed in their website • Are there multiple recent papers (momentum) 2: The Social Media Stalk Schedule Twitter/LinkedIn hunting sessions. Search strings that worked: "fully funded PhD" + [your field] "new grant" + "recruiting" + [your topic] "PhD position available" + [dream university] Set up alerts. Follow the academics. Watch their posts. One professor tweeted about getting a grant at 10:47pm. I emailed at 11:15pm. First to respond = first considered. 3: The Strategic Outreach My old email: "I'm interested in your research..." My new email: "Your May 2024 paper on [specific topic] aligns with my work on [specific method] where I [specific achievement]..." The difference? Specificity shows you did the work. 4: The Follow-Through Create a spreadsheet with 7 columns: • Professor name • Recent paper/grant • Email sent date • Response • Funding status • Match score (1-10) • Next action This isn't networking. This is project management. But here's what really matters: Stop seeing rejection as failure. Each "no funding" email teaches you something: • Which fields are oversaturated • Which countries have better funding • Which months professors recruit • Which keywords attract attention After a while, you will often predict who'd say yes before hitting send. The professor who eventually became his supervisor? He found her through a co-author's co-author's new grant announcement. Three degrees of separation. One perfectly timed email. She later told him: "You were the only applicant who mentioned my new NSF grant and explained how your skills fit the project's requirements." He wasn't smarter than the other applicants. He was just more strategic. Your Turn: Stop sending hope-based emails. Start sending evidence-based ones. Here's your homework for this week: 1. Pick 5 professors in your field 2. Find their most recent paper (last 3 months) 3. Check their lab website for "Funding" or "News" 4. Search their name + "grant" on Google 5. Look up their recent PhD graduates on LinkedIn Send them the email! If you have received response, let me know down in the comments!

Not attending conferences in the right way could be costing you your career! Here's a step-by-step guide 👇 Pre-Conference Preparation: a. Research the Conference: Understand the theme, topics, and speakers. Familiarize yourself with the schedule and any special events. b. Set Goals: Define what you want to achieve at the conference, whether it's networking, learning about specific research, or exploring career opportunities. c. Prepare Questions: Have thoughtful questions ready for speakers, presenters, and fellow attendees. Networking Strategies: a.Create business cards (which may be a surprise for the Indian Life Science community) or a virtual equivalent. Include your contact information, academic affiliation, and areas of interest. For academic conferences, consider printing a postcard-sized version of your poster with your details on it and hand it over to people you are conversing with while inviting them to visit your poster. b. Social Media Presence: Follow the conference on social media, use official hashtags, and connect with attendees before the event. c. Attend Networking Events: Participate in pre-conference mixers, workshops, or networking sessions to meet fellow students and professionals. Conference Day: a. Arrive Early: Be punctual to make the most of registration, networking, and any early sessions. b. Dress Professionally: Wear appropriate attire; you may meet potential employers or collaborators. c. Take Notes: Bring a notebook or use digital tools to jot down key points from presentations, discussions, and conversations. d. Engage Actively: Ask questions during Q&A sessions, participate in discussions, and share your thoughts. Poster Sessions and Exhibits: a. Review Posters in Advance: Identify posters or exhibits of interest and plan your visit. b. Engage with Presenters: Approach poster presenters or exhibitors, ask questions, and discuss their work. Attend Relevant Sessions: a. Plan Your Schedule: Choose sessions aligned with your interests and career goals. b. Diversify Topics: Attend sessions outside your immediate focus to broaden your knowledge. Post-Conference Follow-Up: a. Connect on Social Media: Follow up with contacts on LinkedIn or other professional networks. b. Send Thank-You Emails: Express gratitude to speakers, presenters, and anyone you networked with. c. Reflect on Learnings: Take time to reflect on what you learned and how it aligns with your academic and career goals. Apply Knowledge: a. Incorporate Insights: Use new knowledge and insights gained from the conference in your studies and research. b. Share with Peers: Discuss your experiences with classmates, share your interesting findings. This is how you should attend a conference! Feel free to add to the list or share any specific tips or strategies that have helped you maximize your networking experience at events. #conference2024 #networkingtips #linkedintopvoices #jobseekers #jobsearchstrategies

I didn’t know a single person working in research, policy, or international relations. No network. No referrals. Just late-night Google searches, LinkedIn deep dives, and a lot of awkward messages sent into the void. But somehow… ✅ I landed research roles my field ✅ Won a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship to study in the UK ✅ Attended global conferences hosted by Harvard and UNDP I didn’t crack networking. I built it, slowly, quietly, without pretending to be someone I’m not. And here’s are some things I wish someone had told me earlier: 1. Show up before you feel ‘ready’. I started posting when I had no big wins to share, just thoughts, reflections, questions. That built more trust than polished highlight reels ever could. 2. Network like a researcher, not a job-seeker. Before messaging anyone, I’d read what they wrote, watch what they said, and think about what I could learn, not what I could get. 3. Create proof of interest, not just intent. Instead of saying “I’m interested in xyz” I wrote about it. Posted about it. Took up projects around it. That way, when I reached out to people, they already knew I meant it. 4. Don’t just meet people, map them. I kept a check of people I admired: what they worked on, where they moved, what fellowships they did. Not to copy but to learn the terrain. 5. Add value, quietly. I’ve shared links. Introduced people. Given feedback on essays. Never expected anything in return. And months later that generosity came back in surprising ways. 💬 What’s a networking tip you swear by or one you’re still figuring out? LinkedIn Guide to Creating LinkedIn News India #LinkedInNewsIndia #Networking #research

Introverts, do you cringe at the thought of "networking"? You're not alone. I've had my moments too. But here's the secret: networking doesn't have to be a forced conversation at a loud conference.  Think of it as building connections, not conquering crowds. It's about finding people who share your interests, exchanging ideas, and creating a network of support.  Here are some examples from networking opportunities: ➡ SHARED INTERESTS Jessica Hoffman, CISSP - As tech professors, we enjoy seeing people learn and grow. Jessica is convinced we met before! Mary K. - Our interests in Tech and STEM led us to meet at a Tech summit then again at a Tech networking event. Brittany Jacobs - loved hearing Brittany's story as a Co-Founder of Jersey Shore Women in Tech. We also learned we both enjoy making realistic art over abstract art. ➡ EXCHANGING IDEAS Bobbie Carlton - I learned how to be a better speaker from Bobbie's talk at the Women in Tech Summit and learned about her journey in a one-on-one conversation. Tyler Powell - Tyler asked great questions about product management, and I shared tips on how to get started in the field. Kelsey Spencer - I shared ideas for networking events before Kelsey's internship begins. Jackée Clement, MD - We discussed the cognitive flexibility inherent in pivoting career paths. Nadia Clifford- We shared ideas to visually represent our multidimensional career paths as technology leaders. ➡ CREATING A NETWORK OF SUPPORT Char Mattox and Nefertete Williams, MPH - Attended #WITS24 together to support each other. Muffy Ashley Torres - We learned Sylvia Watts McKinney positively impacted both of our careers. Tatiana Carett, PT, MPH, MBA - We had a serendipitous meeting as fellow Consulting leaders with shared experiences and network connections. Tokunbo Quaye - We're fellow Tech leaders with lots of commonalities and are ecstatic to continue our conversation. Amber Robinson - Our initial conversation covered consulting and wildlife. After, Amber kindly shared positive feedback she heard in a virtual room I wasn't in. ➡ WHAT HAPPENS NEXT Networking is not a one-shot deal. It's about making new friends and building relationships. The above examples provide a basis to keep the conversation going by offering value and learning from each other. The rest will follow organically. What are your networking tips for introverts? #Networking #Introverts #CareerGrowth

Attending a conference? To increase the ROI from your time, effort, and money - it's important to 1) prepare ahead of time, 2) craft a game plan, 3) stay engaged during the event, and 4) take proactive steps afterward to maximize professional growth and connections. Below and attached are some key tips and a roadmap of to dos to maximize results from conference attendance. ➡️ Prepare Before Your Go: - Define clear goals for attending the conference, such as networking, learning, or scouting new opportunities. - Review the event schedule and identify sessions, speakers, and networking events relevant to your objectives. - Research attendees and, if possible, reach out for pre-conference meetings or introductions. - Prepare an elevator pitch to describe yourself succinctly and bring business cards, or digital equivalents, for easy information exchange. ➡️ Be Ready to Maximize Your Experience: - To expand your network, attend both formal sessions and informal events, such as coffee breaks, dinners, or social activities. - Attend a variety of session formats to broaden your learning, from workshops to panels and lectures. - To cover more ground, consider distributing your team among parallel sessions and share notes afterward. - Throughout the event, take notes on key takeaways, interesting contacts, and actionable tips. - Use the conference app or social media to connect with other attendees and keep track of sessions and people you meet. ➡️ Network Effectively: - Approach new contacts genuinely and avoid overly sales-focused conversations. - Refer to name tags for personalized introductions and ask follow-up questions to foster meaningful dialogue. - Be a giver: offer assistance to others and share insights from sessions to start conversations. - Be ready to end conversations politely and move on as needed. ➡️ Post-Conference Actions: - As soon as possible after the event, review and organize your notes on sessions and contacts. - Summarize and share insights, key takeaways, and resources with your team or network to extend conference value. - Follow up with new contacts via LinkedIn ASAP, and later via email to continue professional relationships. - Take time to reflect on your original goals for attending and whether attending the conference helped you achieve them, then plan for improvements at future events. - Rest and recharge as needed: balance intense participation with self-care. When approached intentionally and actively, attending a conference is a valuable opportunity for professional development and networking. With solid preparation, engaged participation, and strategic follow-up, anyone can turn a single event into long-term benefits and connections! Please share other tips in the comments. Thx! #businessdevelopment #marketing

LinkedIn isn’t just a digital resume. If you’re a researcher and not using it, you’re missing out. Most researchers think LinkedIn is only for: ❌ Job seekers ❌ Corporate professionals ❌ Recruiters and sales people But here’s what we uncovered in my LinkedIn for Researchers training for SMU College of Graduate Research Studies @ SMU PhD ✅ Your most valuable connections often come from outside your discipline ✅ LinkedIn is about contributing value, not just self-promotion ✅ Shared interests (or non work stuff!) can lead to genuine networking One participant shared how he connected over cricket, not work— and that got him a hearty response on LinkedIn. That’s the power of authentic networking. Here’s what NOT to do: ❌ Only networking in academic bubbles ❌ Using overly technical terms in your headline (If your job title confuses people outside your field, they’ll scroll past!) ❌ Posting only about your research in a technical or academic writing style (People connect with ideas, not just findings—share your perspectives!) If you only do ONE thing on LinkedIn today: 💬 Leave a comment on a post that caught your interest 💡 Touch base with someone and share an idea, connection or opportunity (or ask a question) 🔄 Connect with people OUTSIDE your field A huge thank you to Singapore Management University , the postgraduate research team CS Yeow Hui Xian Loh Casey Grant Janis, Li Ling Wong and the very engaged group of participants 🙏 PS check out Minghong GENG’s recent post for his takeaways(in comments) 👇 Would a non-expert understand your LinkedIn profile? Yes or No? #LinkedInForResearchers #AcademicNetworking

This is especially for the academic conference warriors! Can you believe it's that time of year again? Yep, the #AcademyOfManagement conference season is just around the corner, and I can already smell the coffee and picture the sea of name tags worn by brilliant management scholars and practitioners from across the globe. But before you jump on your plane – are you actually ready for this conference? I mean, really ready? I used to think I was prepared just because I remembered to pack my laptop and a stack of business cards. Oh, how naive I was! 😅. So, let me share my ultimate AOM conference prep checklist. Trust me, this goes way beyond remembering to pack your laptop, an extra phone charger, and your presentation slides (though that's important, too!). 1. Read the program strategically ↳ Identify key sessions, PDWs, and symposia in your research area or the ones you're interested in. Plan your schedule, but leave room for serendipitous discoveries! 2. Craft your research elevator pitch ↳ Prepare a 30-second summary of your current research focus. Keep it short, simple, and engaging - your goal is to spark curiosity and invite further discussion! 3. Update your socials and academic profiles ↳ People will look you up. So, ensure your LinkedIn, university page, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate profiles are current. 4. Prepare thoughtful questions ↳ For each session you plan to attend, prepare at least one insightful question. It's a great way to engage and be remembered. 5. Set strategic networking goals ↳ Identify potential collaborators or mentors you want to connect with. Research their work and plan your approach. It helps if you can email them in advance to set up a meeting 6. Pack your digital toolkit ↳ Have relevant papers, your presentations, and a digital business card on your devices. You never know when you may need them! 7. Plan for self-care ↳ Conferences are intellectually intense, not to mention the socials. Schedule breaks, find quiet spots, and don't forget to hydrate! Bonus point: remember not to drink too much in those socials! 8. Be Authentic ↳You'll find yourself in a room filled with superstars and research idols. Some might even walk past you on the street. Always stay calm, say hello if you want to, smile, and most importantly, be yourself! Remember, you're human first and a scholar or practitioner second. Authenticity can lead to more meaningful connections than any rehearsed pitch or trying to force connections. What's your top AOM conference preparation tip? Share below and let's learn from each other! See you in Chicago! ---------- If you find this helpful, ♻️ share it to help someone. #AOM2024 #ManagementResearch #AcademicNetworking #ConferencePrep #AcademicLife #NetworkingTips #ResearchCommunity

How I built my academic brand that led to accelerated career growth (without sacrificing my research time) Here is the simple mindset shift that turned long days with low visibility into compounding opportunities and better well-being. Before 5:30am wake-ups, deep dives into journals over papers, 2 hour commuting, 8:30am-5:00pm of lectures, meetings, project delivery and papers writing. No time for impact creation or networking, and thus almost no brand growth. Focus: projects and writing papers; wellbeing: poor; personal brand growth: minimal. After Awake at 6:30am, coffee with networking & engagement, 8:30am-5:00pm of project development, knowledge exchange and idea translation, with at least a thought leadership piece weekly. Regular Q&As and training for the academic community, focused branding block, strategic reflection, and evening walks. Focus: new knowledge generation, knowledge exchange, and community support; wellbeing: high; personal brand growth: exponential. What changed - Scheduled daily community engagement session: answer questions, respond to DMs, and add value to the community. - Weekly long-form post on decarbonisation or academic career-building with one clear takeaway. - Regular community touchpoints: live Q&As, response to questions, or training. The transformation wasn't easy, but it allowed me to build a solid online presence, advance my academic career, and nurture my wellbeing while supporting my community. For context: Professor working in decarbonisation and founder of a researcher-focused community helping academics grow visibility without burnout.   #HigherEducation #Scientist #Science #PhD #Postgraduate #Professor #Research

BEYOND SMALL TALK: NETWORKING WHEN YOU'RE AN INTROVERT Let's bust a myth real quick: Being an introvert doesn't mean you're bad at networking. It means you're wired for deeper connections – and in today's quick-fix culture, that's to your advantage.    Fun fact: Research shows that introverts typically process information through a longer neural pathway, leading to deeper analysis and more meaningful interactions. Translation? While extroverts might excel at making fast connections, your brain is literally built for the kind of substantive relationships that drive real business growth.   Here are some ways to approach those “dreaded” social interactions your work likely requires.    🎯Go Deep, Not Wide  Forget the outdated metric of success where the size of your rolodex is what mattered. Focus on having one genuine conversation instead of ten shallow ones. Your natural ability to listen deeply and ask thoughtful questions is what builds real professional capital. In coaching, we call this "holding space" – and it's a rare skill in our hyperconnected world.   💡 Choose Your Arena Skip the noisy networking mixers and shine in smaller settings. Think intimate coffee chats, focused workshops, or online communities where you can contribute thoughtfully. The psychological concept of "environmental mastery" suggests that controlling your networking environment directly impacts your effectiveness and authentic presence.   🤝 Lead With Curiosity, Not Elevator Pitches Instead of relying on the old standard of "so what do you do?" conversations, get curious about others. Ask about their challenges, their wins, their insights. Research in interpersonal psychology shows that asking follow-up questions increases likability by 40% – and it's something introverts naturally excel at.   ⚡Share Your Work, Not Your Card Create content, share insights, or contribute to discussions in your field. Let your expertise do the talking. This approach leverages what organizational psychologists call "passive networking" – building relationships through value creation rather than direct outreach.   Remember: Networking isn't about becoming someone you're not. It's about leveraging who you already are.    Now I'm curious: What's your favorite way to connect that honors your introvert energy? Drop it in the comments! 👇

𝐒𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 '𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤' 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬? During our mentoring session, someone asked: "What's the least annoying, most effective way to network?" The panelists' answers surprised people. 𝟏. 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 One panelist: "When someone reaches out and it's very obvious they've read my work or looked at my website and custom-tailored a message TO ME specifically - I always reply. 99% of messages I get are generic. If I can tell you sent the same message to 100 people, I won't respond." In the AI era, this matters more than ever. Everyone can send "personalized" emails at scale now. Manual cold emails get lost in the noise. 𝟐. 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞-𝐭𝐨-𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝟓𝟎 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 Conferences aren't just keynotes - they're networking goldmines. Vendor booths, poster sessions, coffee breaks. This is where real connections happen. Can't afford registration? Offer to volunteer. Many organizers give free entry in exchange for helping at the registration desk. Medical device conferences bring together startups trying to get noticed. Scientific conferences have vendor halls full of companies looking for talent. Go there. Talk to people. Ask for coffee meetings. 𝟑. 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 Your current or former mentors, classmates, research collaborators - these warm connections are exponentially more valuable than cold outreach. Ask your mentors to introduce you to people in their networks. But be specific: Not "I want to get into neurotech" but "I'm interested in clinical trial design for brain stimulation devices." 𝟒. 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 People who successfully break into neurotech without traditional credentials got there by working harder early on. They didn't skip steps. They earned trust by delivering value first. 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: Quality over quantity, always. One thoughtful, personalized message beats 100 generic ones. One meaningful in-person conversation beats 50 LinkedIn connections. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝? 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬. 👇 𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝?