FCSI’s First Professional Development Workshop

   The first session of the professional development series, hosted by the Florida Chemical Senses Institute and led by Director Dan Wesson, focused on “Effective Presentations for Graduate Students.” Participants candidly discussed their greatest presentation fears, such as handling unexpected questions, stuttering, forgetting key points, technical malfunctions, and voice issues. They worked together to offer solutions to these challenges, helping each other better prepare for future presentations.

   A key part of the workshop was learning practical tips and tricks for managing nervousness during presentations. The session also covered an essential list of presentation dos and don’ts—such as maintaining eye contact, avoiding reading directly from slides, and being mindful of pacing and body language. Students also learned how much jargon and how many visuals, like GIFs, are allowed and should be used in their presentations.

   In addition to tackling these challenges, students learned how to pitch their research in 30 seconds or less and capture any audience’s attention. The session equipped them with valuable skills to excel in high-pressure presentations. 

   Attending the workshop were Sarah Sniffen, Ph.D. fellow; Maria Ramirez, Ph.D. fellow; Sequoia Smith, Ph.D. fellow; Amelia Bunnell, Ph.D. fellow; and Zachary, Ph.D. candidate. These are all current students or alumni of the Training Program Chemical Senses (TPCS.)