NETWORKING

How do you 'network'?

My networking strategy is to attend presentations that really speak to my interests. I will go up to presenters once the panel is over and introduce myself and tell them why I like their work. I usually have a business card and ask them for theirs. Then, follow up! The other strategy is to attend workshops or sessions that are more interactive and will give you a chance to talk to others in the room. Force yourself to break away from your friend group and attend sessions solo. It’s scary but worth it to get to meet new people! (Dr. Janine Morris, Writing)

I always find that asking questions at panels or approaching speakers after their presentation is the best way to begin networking. You may want to follow up with people who demonstrated an interest in your work by asking questions or making comments during your presentation after your panel session is over. Contacts you make in panel presentations can then be pursued further during events like coffee hours or lunch breaks. Shared areas of research or common educational backgrounds can often provide a good platform for introduction at such events. (Dr. David Kilroy, History)

I say ‘Hello’. (Dr. Ben Mulvey, Philosophy)

Be a good listener and give some gentle feedback after after the presentation. Don’t force it or be a creep about it. If you think it was cool, or perhaps found a blind spot, say so. (Dr. Ransford Edwards, Political Science)

Social media, through conferences, in person events, gallery hoping...etc. (Prof. Kandy Lopez, Art + Design)

I don’t. At least not in the typical sense. I try and be myself and if given the opportunity chat with colleagues about their interests and research I am happy to – but unless something comes out of it on its own (i.e. someone offers to collaborate) I am not a huge fan of passing out business cards/ trying to force anything. (Dr. G. Nelson Bass III, Political Science)

During conferences, I try to reach out to people that are in the same field as me, providing my business card or contact information after my presentations and those I attend. If there are informal social gatherings, I try to connect with people I don’t know, as well, asking them about their education/research area. (Dr. Yvette Fuentes, Modern Languages)

Attend sessions of interest and seek out other researchers who are either known to you or who you wish to know.  If unable to make contact during the conference, email those to whom you would like to make a connection. (Dr. Marlisa Santos, Literature & Film)

In life sciences, poster sessions are the major networking opportunity. You can meet authors of posters at their poster at a designated time. Usually other of their collaborators will pass by or you can ask for introductions. Many conferences organize special social opportunities for people interested in specific topics. (Dr. J. Matt Hoch, Life Sciences)

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The panel itself is a built-in networking opportunity with your other panelists based on your mutual interests. For any presentation you attend that was particularly compelling to you, feel free to ask a question during the Q&A or briefly speak with a presenter after their panel. If you make any contacts at the conference – whether other presenters, attendees, or your fellow panelists – sending them a short email afterwards or connecting with them on social media, as the case may be, would help to build on these conversations. (Dr. Yair Solan, Literature & Film)

Most conferences allow built-in opportunities to network, and everyone is wearing nametags. Therefore, it's much less awkward just to approach different people and introduce yourself than it would be in many social situations. I usually try to approach people for whom I found their presentations compelling and have something to say about it, though sometimes just talking to whoever is nearby can lead to some meaningful conversations as well. (Dr. Jeremy Weissman, Philosophy)

Networking often depends on many factors, from how comfortable you are talking to stranger to who else you know at a conference. I am not as confident approaching strangers at a conference, so before I go I try to reach out to anyone I might want to meet. For example, you might email someone to see if they would get a coffee with you during a break one day. You can also talk to people at the end of their presentations. Another important element of this is following up afterwards—email all the people you met. Many conferences are somewhat specialized, so you will end up seeing some of the same scholars presenting year after year, so in the future you can remind them of how you met and ask if they want to talk more. (Dr. Katy Doll, History)

Best way to network is to go to other panel sessions as an audience member where you can offer support and feedback to other presenters. (Dr. Amanda Furiasse, Religious Studies)

Smile, briefly introduce my research background, and ask people for their research interest. Overall, I am not good at “networking.” I have the natural response to hide away from people but I try to suppress that urge and get out of my comfort zone. (Dr. Teng Li, History & Legal Studies)