Getting the Most Out of Your Conference Experience

Conference Season is upon us!  Many of you are old pros at riding the conference circuit but for some, conference attendance can be a daunting task. Conference attendance doesn't need to be intimidating and in fact, should be something to look forward to on many levels.  You get to show off the great work you've done over the past few years, you get to meet new people, you get to learn about exciting new research in your field before it is published, and most importantly, you come back to the lab refreshed and invigorated to get back to work.  Here are some tips for getting the most out of your conference attendance.

1. Plan.  Look at the conference schedule before you leave home.  Review the abstract book.  Decide which talks, posters, career development sessions, etc. you want to attend and plan your days around them.  If not many people from your lab are attending, ask your labmates if there is a particular poster or presentation they'd like you to attend and report back on -- you could learn something new that helps everyone in your research group!
   
   
2. Show up.  Go to the events you planned to attend and be ready to ask questions, get details, and network.  If your mentor is at the meeting too, he/she will want to see you there.  You don't have to go to every session your mentor attends but there should naturally be some overlap.  Once, a postdoc in my lab went to a big meeting and no one saw him at any event the entire time (not even his poster session).  Needless to say, my mentor didn't send him to many more meetings after that!  Also -- you want to get the most out of your experience, so go to as many events as you can to learn as much as possible (but also see tip #4, below).
   
   
3. Along the same lines, Do something with your mentor (or other colleague/advisor/collaborator attending the meeting).  Face it, this person is much better connected than you are at this point and his/her colleagues will soon become your colleagues.  You might as well grab a coffee, drink, dinner, or something with your mentor because more likely than not, while you are talking to each other you're going to run into (and meet) someone who knows him/her.  This is also an opportunity for you to get to know your mentor as a real person, not just as your mentor/scientist.  Likewise for his colleagues.  You might even have fun doing this bit of networking!
   
   
4. Take some time to enjoy the city.  This is where your planning really pays off.  You don't want to get burned out at the conference so make sure you plan something to do in the city either after the conference has ended for the day or between interesting sessions.  Small conference planners usually set aside at least one afternoon or morning for recreation (and often have planned outings during these times).  At larger conferences, it's usually up to you to find some personal time to sightsee, hike, shop, or do your activity of choice.  Taking this time allows you to mentally compile of all the great science you've seen so far...and makes you more excited to get back to the conference and learn more.
   
   
5. Attend the networking events.  These could be "Meet the Expert" sessions, a reception hosted by a scientific organization or your university, or even the hotel lobby/bar.  I'm not talking about the "Grad Student Bar Crawl Night" you planned with your buddies (although, you can attend that one too), I mean the sessions where the big names in your field will be in attendance.  At smaller conferences, the poster sessions themselves are huge networking events so be sure to network and visit posters.  Set a goal of introducing yourself to one new person at each event.  Make a list of people you'd love to meet at the conference and look for them at these events.  When you see them, introduce yourself.  This gets easier and easier the more you do it.
   
   
6. Go to the Product Show.  Yes, this is where you can get that cool, free t-shirt you saw someone else wearing and where you can get your yearly supply of pens.  It's also where you get to learn about products that might really help your research.  And if you talk to the reps at the booth, you're likely to get a discount or free sample on a new product you've been dying to try.  Also, many professional organizations have booths so this is your chance to learn more about them, what they do, and how to become a member.  The product show is a great place to stop by government or private organization booths (such as the NIH or the Bill & Melinda Gate's Foundation) to learn about possible postdoc positions and/or grant opportunities.
   
   
7. Use the conference Job Board or Career Center.  If you're at the point in your grad school career where you're thinking about the next step, login to the conference job board/career center to post your information before the conference.  It's usually free for job-seekers.  You could get interviewed during the conference and have some great postdoc or other job leads by the time you head home.  

In short, don't run back to your hotel room after your poster session or oral presentation.  And don't be a fly on the wall at the events you attend.  Take the time to learn from others and meet new people.  With everything you will have learned at the conference, you'll be ready and excited to hit the ground running when you get back to the lab.