The 2021 SYR application is closed. Sign up for our newsletter to learn about the 2022 competition.
In 2021, the popular “Young Scientist Seminars Competition” is becoming the “Share Your Research (SYR) Competition.” Building on the successes of the previous editions of the program and our latest course “Share Your Research: How to Give a Good Talk,” we are growing to represent scientists from all early career stages, including faculty.
This year, we will offer our virtual professional development opportunity to eight winners. SYR participants will hone their scientific presentations and record a video of their talk with the help of iBiology’s professional science communication trainers, videographers and editors. Our team will train you in storytelling, slide building, delivery, virtual recording and more, and your final video will be shared with our global audience. Beyond improving your own science communication skills, you will develop a toolkit for guiding others in sharing their research.
This is a unique opportunity for early-career scientists to improve their communication skills, become part of the iBiology community, and showcase their work on our global platform! Are you willing to take on this unique challenge? Are you prepared to share your science with our broad community? Read below for full application details.
Details
- Eight winners will receive virtual science communication training from iBiology’s team of expert science communication trainers.
- The training will take place May 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, & 28 2021. Applicants must be available 9am-12pm PT on all dates. We encourage you to block off additional time for working on your talks. This may vary based on your experience, but we estimate 2 hours per day for PhD students and postdocs, and perhaps less for faculty with more experience sharing their work.
- With coaching from iBiology staff, winners will refine their slides and their presentation, developing a talk that is accessible to a general biology audience.
- At the end of the training, winners will record their new 20-minute research talks at home, using a kit specially developed by iBiology. SYR talks will be edited by our professional team and promoted on the iBiology website as part of the Share Your Research Series.
- Applications must be received by February 15, 2021 (11:59pm PT) to be considered.
Eligibility
U.S. and international pre-doctoral graduate students (i.e. PhD candidates), post-doctoral fellows, and early career faculty (i.e. pre-tenure/pre-promotion) in any field of the biological sciences are eligible to apply. Your research story should be close to publication or have been recently published.
Application Details
Each application must include:
- A 1-minute video describing: What you study, Why it excites you or Why it is important, and What your major research question and findings are.
- The video should be accessible to a general biology audience, so imagine you are describing these details to an advanced undergraduate student.
- We don’t expect highly produced videos or perfect delivery – a phone or webcam capture of you informally telling us about your work will do just fine!
- Files must be .mov, .mv4, or .mp4 format. Max file size is 100mb.
- Learn how to prepare your video here.
- A 2-page CV or resume that highlights: research experience (including publications), scientific presentation experience and awards, and science communication, outreach or education activities.
- Submit your materials using the application survey. Application materials will NOT be accepted via email.
Selection Process
SYR winners will be chosen based on their submitted application materials by a panel of external peer evaluators and notified by April 2021.
Q&As
We hosted two Q&A sessions with SYR coach Brittany Anderton and participants from our 2017 and 2020 trainings.
- Our Q&A with Katie Thompson-Peer (SYR 2017) will help you think about how this program can help you advance your career, especially if you are early-career faculty.
- Our Q&A with Chrystelle Vilfranc and Abrar Choudhury (SYR 2020) will help you prepare a competitive application and understand how the training will make you a stronger science communicator.
Testimonials
On the fence about applying? Here’s what a few of our 2020 participants had to say about their experience:
“As a scientist switching fields, I find it very difficult to talk about my research to a general scientific audience, particularly a biology audience. This was an extremely helpful learning opportunity to focus on the key aspects of science communication tailored specifically towards my own message. Now I feel confident I can explain my research to a wide variety of fields, which is fantastic because I really want to work with all kinds of scientists in all kinds of fields! I wouldn’t be able to do this if nobody has any idea what I’m saying.“
“iBiology helped me fine tune both my strengths and weaknesses. A clear identification of both these aspects of my persona as a speaker was the biggest takeaway from this course. I totally enjoyed it!“
“I very much enjoyed the program. It always seemed to me that talking about my research on a complex biological mechanism to the public would be very tough, but with all the tips and info we get in the course, I now think that no scientific topic is tough to explain to the public.”
The Share Your Research Competition is funded by the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation and the Rita Allen Foundation. QUESTIONS? Send the program organizer, Brittany Anderton, an email: brittany@ibiology.org
