Effective Poster Presentation

Good research deserves good poster design. Here’s how to structure every section of your academic research poster They’ll teach you how to collect data. But no one teaches you how to present it. Here’s what academic research poster should include ——————————————— 𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 → 1–2 lines only. → Make it specific, bold, and readable from 3 feet away. → Add your name(s), affiliations, and contact info (email or QR code to full paper). ——————————————— 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 → 2–3 sentences on why this study matters → Use bullet points for major facts (e.g. disease burden, knowledge gap) → Optional: add one icon or small visual (e.g. world map if global) ——————————————— 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦 → Numbered list of research questions or hypotheses → Keep them short, clear, and preferably bolded ——————————————— 𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗗𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗬 → Study design (e.g. RCT, cohort, case-control) → Setting (country, site, year) → Sample population (eligibility, key demographics) → Variables (exposures, outcomes, confounders) → Data sources/tools (e.g. surveys, registries, labs) → Analysis plan (stats methods, software used) → Optional: one flowchart or timeline visual ——————————————— 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗦 → Table: Key characteristics (age, sex, baseline traits) → Graph 1: Your main outcome → bar, line, or forest plot → Text Summary: 3–4 numbered findings with clear metrics (p-values, CIs, effect sizes) → Visuals: Maps for geographical data; survival curves if time-to-event is critical → Label everything: axes, legends, and font readable from 3 feet away ——————————————— 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗨𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 → 2–3 bullet points interpreting the results → 1 bullet: main limitation → 1 bullet: key implication or recommendation ——————————————— 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 → One sentence only → No new data; just your biggest takeaway or impact summary ——————————————— 𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 & 𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪𝗟𝗘𝗗𝗚𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 → 2–3 most relevant citations → Funding sources and disclosure (if required) → Keep font tiny but readable up close ——————————————— If they have to squint, it’s not a poster; it’s a paragraph. Design it for clarity, not complexity. ♻️ Repost this to help a student, colleague, or conference team build better science communication. #AcademicPoster #ResearchDesign

Most PhD students & researchers spend days perfecting their poster content but miss simple tricks that can dramatically increase their impact at conferences. Here are 3 ridiculously easy ways to make your research poster work harder for you (even when you're not standing next to it): 1. Include your photo 📸 Add a professional headshot in the corner of your poster (Ideally the same one you use on Linkedin). This simple addition makes it easier for interested colleagues to find you later in the crowded conference hall. When someone remembers your fascinating research but not your name, they'll still recognize your face! 2. Add QR codes for supplementary resources 🤳 Link to your LinkedIn profile, supplementary data, videos, or methodological details through strategically placed QR codes. This transforms your static poster into an interactive gateway to additional resources without cluttering the visual space. 3. Create A4 mini-versions as takeaways 📌 Print scaled-down versions of your poster on regular A4 paper, adding your contact details on the back. These serve as portable reminders of your work that colleagues can reference long after the conference ends. Think of them as research business cards! Attendees can easily slip these into their goodie bags and take them home with them. These three simple additions require minimal effort but can dramatically extend your poster's reach and impact. Which of these will you implement for your next conference? Or do you have other clever poster hacks to share?

Nervous about your student poster Presentation at #ASHPMidyear? Let’s turn those nerves into confidence‼️ Presenting your research is a huge accomplishment—but it’s also your chance to stand out, and connections Here are three key tips to help you shine during your presentation: 1️⃣ Own your research. Start with a strong introduction that grabs attention and sets the stage. Highlight the “why” behind your project—why it matters and how it could impact clinical practice. Confidence in your opening sets the tone for a great discussion. 2️⃣ Anticipate the classic question: “What would you do differently next time?” This is not a trap—it’s an opportunity! Be honest, reflective, and growth-oriented. A thoughtful response demonstrates self-awareness and a commitment to improving. 3️⃣ Tell your story, not just your data. Numbers and figures are important, but your audience connects with the bigger picture. What challenges did you overcome? What inspired your work? Sharing your journey turns a good presentation into a memorable one. ✨ Bonus Tip: Bring your energy! A warm smile and an approachable demeanor can make all the difference when engaging your audience. Remember, your poster is more than a research project—it’s a conversation starter and a showcase of your potential as a future pharmacy leader. To seasoned poster presenters, what tips did I miss? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments ⤵️ -Saley 🖤 #PharmacyResidency #StudentPoster #NetworkingTips #ashp2024 #ProfessionalDevelopment

Putting together an electronic poster for a conference? Here are my 6 tips for making an engaging presentation: ✅ Fewer Slides Are Better ➡ Focus on delivering your main message effectively by providing one slide each to cover the: (1) problem investigated, (2) study objectives and research questions, (3) methodology employed, (4) main findings, and (5) key takeaways. ✅ Keep It Simple ➡ Stick to a clean and uncluttered design to ensure your message is clear and easy to understand. The audience will have less than 60 seconds to read and process the content on each slide, so make their lives easier by writing less on each slide. ✅ Practice Readability ➡ Ensure that text is large enough to be easily readable from a distance. Use a legible font and avoid overcrowding the poster with too much content. ✅ Make It Visually Appealing ➡ Use high-quality images, graphics, and colors to make your poster visually engaging and attractive. You'll want your work to stand out from the crowd. ✅ Plan For Interaction ➡ Prepare to engage with your audience during the presentation. Be ready to deliver a synopsis of your research in a 3-4 minute window, answer questions, and provide additional information about your research. ✅ Include Your Contact Information ➡ Make it easy for viewers to reach out to you with questions or feedback by including your email address or other contact details. The goal is to continue the conversation after the conference. 💡 Key Takeaway Electronic posters allow presenters to engage with their audience in more dynamic ways than traditional paper presentations. However, they tend to occur in large auditorium spaces where sometimes hundreds of conference attendees are walking around. So, presenters have to capture attendees' attention and keep it by telling a concise and coherent story. The recommendations above have helped me to more effectively organize electronic posters, and I hope that they help you as well. P.S. What did I miss? What would you recommend to others as strategies for creating electronic posters? ➖ ➖ ➖ ➖ I'm Joseph Rios, the founder of Grad Student Academy. Follow me if you enjoyed this content. I write about graduate school and professional development issues for PhD students. My mission is to unveil the hidden PhD curriculum to all, not just the privileged few. Learn the strategies I used to go from being rejected by nearly every PhD program to: ✅ obtaining a top-notch industry job ✅ landing a tenure-track faculty position ✅ becoming an award-winning researcher