Research Elevator Pitch Challenge

Kayla Wolf

​What do you study?

Whether at a family reunion or conference poster session, you have probably had to explain your research at some point in your career. More likely, you have had to explain your research many, many times and to a variety of audiences. These short conversations often represent key opportunities to start a new collaboration, find a job opportunity, or share new science with the public. A little preparation can go a long way to turning these elevator pitch-style answers into conversation starters.

In our recent episode "Prep your research pitch - skill share! ", Sally and I craft a research pitch in real time and tailor it for a given audience. We challenge our listeners to do the same! 

Here's the challenge:

Step 1
Choose your audience:

1. Your family member/friend  who does not work in science.
2. A graduate student in your field.
3. A professor in your subfield.

Step 2
Write down and practice a 30 second answer to "What do you study?"

Step 3
Deliver your pitch! Call your mom, send a video to your friend, or zoom with your labmate. Ask them what they found exciting, memorable, and confusing. Don't forget to save your pitch somewhere, too. You can pull out your notes and practice before a conference, virtual or not.

Bonus
Send your pitch to Double Shelix! Email us ([email protected]) an audio file, leave us a voicemail, or send us a tweet (@doubleshelixpod) with your name and intended audience. We will be thrilled to hear from listeners and may feature your pitch in a future episode - with your permission of course!