Informal Personal Introductions Gail P. Taylor, Ph.D. UTSA MBRS-RISE/MARC U*STAR Programs 09/09/2013

Science Is Communication Many forms – Papers, talks, etc… Many forms – Papers, talks, etc… Begins with Introductions! Begins with Introductions! –New colleagues –New labmates –Scientific Conferences Involve both exchanging name AND information about your research Involve both exchanging name AND information about your research

Conference Introductions Will introduce yourself to many people Will introduce yourself to many people Very important for networking Very important for networking Need different lengths… Need different lengths…  5 second  ~1 minute  ~3 minute

If you Practice Your Introductions You Will be More Fluent!

Confidence and Introductions Everybody is nervous and unconfident at times, but mask in different ways Everybody is nervous and unconfident at times, but mask in different ways Confidence and warmth impress people and draw them to you Confidence and warmth impress people and draw them to you You don’t have to show people that you’re nervous You don’t have to show people that you’re nervous The more you do something, the more confident you feel The more you do something, the more confident you feel Intro will look more confident if you Intro will look more confident if you –Have a firm handshake –Look people in the eye –Speak fluently –PRACTICE!

Aside about Imposter Syndrome Some people may persistently disbelieve that they deserve to be in a position, level of education, etc. Some people may persistently disbelieve that they deserve to be in a position, level of education, etc. Someone has made a mistake Someone has made a mistake Everyone else is smarter Everyone else is smarter All successes are an accident or luck… All successes are an accident or luck… Women, minority, first generation college students often fall prey Women, minority, first generation college students often fall prey “Lies” in their heads…believe that they are less smart than everyone… “Lies” in their heads…believe that they are less smart than everyone…

Handshakes

Posture Important for first impressions! Important for first impressions! Always stand up for a handshake and introduction! Always stand up for a handshake and introduction!

Components of a an “Western” Handshake Eye contact Eye contact Grip Grip Position Position Shake Shake

Handshake Overview… Establish eye contact Establish eye contact Break eye contact, if needed, to extend your hand to meet theirs Break eye contact, if needed, to extend your hand to meet theirs When the web of your hand meets the web of theirs, re-establish eye contact and engage grip. When the web of your hand meets the web of theirs, re-establish eye contact and engage grip. Tiny shakes two or three times, for 1-3 seconds, breaking off cleanly and smoothly before the introduction is over. Tiny shakes two or three times, for 1-3 seconds, breaking off cleanly and smoothly before the introduction is over.

Details May break eye contact to find hand… May break eye contact to find hand… Cultural issue… Cultural issue… Make sure thumb webs contact Make sure thumb webs contact Whole hand (not the Gwenevere!) Whole hand (not the Gwenevere!) Firm, but not crushing Firm, but not crushing 2-3 shakes, straight wrist 2-3 shakes, straight wrist

The Introduction Itself Smile. Smile. Initiate Handshake/Hello, I’m Gail Taylor (Listen to theirs) Initiate Handshake/Hello, I’m Gail Taylor (Listen to theirs) End handshake End handshake I’m an undergraduate biology major at UT San Antonio. I work in Dr. Firstname Lastname’s lab on superficial explanation of research. I’m an undergraduate biology major at UT San Antonio. I work in Dr. Firstname Lastname’s lab on superficial explanation of research.

Example Hello, I’m Gail Taylor. I’m an undergraduate Biology student at UT San Antonio. I work in Dr. Martha Lundell’s laboratory on serotonin neuron differentiation in Drosophila. Hello, I’m Gail Taylor. I’m an undergraduate Biology student at UT San Antonio. I work in Dr. Martha Lundell’s laboratory on serotonin neuron differentiation in Drosophila.

Next…. Longer introduction Longer introduction Much more specific Much more specific Answer for question: “Tell me about your research…” Answer for question: “Tell me about your research…”

Longer Introduction of your Work I have worked for the last year in a half, in Dr. firstname lastname’s laboratory on neuronal development in drosophila. I’ve had several projects. My main project involves…”Put smoothed abstract title here”. Say something about why your experiment was important to the world. We hypothesized that …. We used ………. (briefly put methods, techniques used here). We found (results here). We expected/didn’t expect this because. Next I will do ___________. I have worked for the last year in a half, in Dr. firstname lastname’s laboratory on neuronal development in drosophila. I’ve had several projects. My main project involves…”Put smoothed abstract title here”. Say something about why your experiment was important to the world. We hypothesized that …. We used ………. (briefly put methods, techniques used here). We found (results here). We expected/didn’t expect this because. Next I will do ___________.