On tips and tricks for Ph.D. students meeting a visiting faculty member (or don't forget to ask for a coffee).
Many universities have speaker series - they are ways that they bring in new ideas, introduce outside faculty to their community & expose PhD students to their broader community.
Often speakers are asked to meet with PhD students. These meetings can be tough for students - because they move quickly & they often (bc there are many students) don't have much time for questions.
I recall being clueless in these meetings & being intimidated by speakers - resulting in my missing opportunities to learn - & once coffee with my advisor's advisor.
It's tricky bc there is no script for what to ask in these meetings.
So how to make the best use of the opportunity? To meet a speaker?
Based on giving talks at dozens of schools over the past ten years, here are a few tips to maximize value from your time with a speaker.
First, do your background work.
I am always surprised a room full of students turns up & half have no idea what I study.
Typically, you are told a speaker will show up a few days in advance.
Take 30 or so minutes to look up their public profile, their google scholar, and look at recent papers.
You want to be in the half of students in the know.
Second, prepare your introduction.
Usually, you have about two minutes to tell a speaker who you are and what you do.
If you are prepared, this is no problem. It's great bc the speaker will remember you.
If you are not prepared, you might fumble the moment AND the speaker likely won't remember you.
You want to be remembered.
(An aside: this is also a great chance to prepare for how you will introduce yourself at conferences).
Third, include a research sound bite.
Your intro is an icebreaker.
Usually, a speaker will follow up by asking what you study.
Be able to talk coherently about at least a few things with confidence.
You want a speaker to leave & tell people that students at your uni are articulate and studying interesting things.
Fourth, have three questions prepared.
Once, I sat with two students for an hour.
I was mid-career & most of the PhD students deemed me not worth their time.
They asked three questions - how did you pick your topic? How did you manage your advisor? What was it like to move after graduation?
They used them to drill into tougher questions.
Bc they were prepared, we had a fantastic hour!
I still say hi to them.
Finally, be positive.
Only twice in 50 or so talks, have I had a student say bad things about their uni.
I still remember the moment, the discomfort I felt & the expressions of the other students in the room.
I will never hire those students. Yes, I still remember them.
You want to leave a good impression.
You want the speaker to accept your invitation to a coffee at the next conference :)
So prepare, be positive & have some fun!
Best of luck!
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