If you’re interested in pursuing a career beyond academia, one of the key skills you will need is to tell people who are not necessarily well-versed in your field of study about your research and scholarship. In fact, based on conversations with SGS alumni who have successfully transitioned into a career in for-profits and industry, non-profits or the government, this is one of the most crucial competencies that will determine your success.
To help you practice communicating your research and scholarship, Smart Careers Beyond Academia offers the programs below.
Research Café
Research Café brings together the entire graduate student community of Rutgers University-New Brunswick/Piscataway campus to strengthen scholarly literacy and interdisciplinary research communication by providing a platform for budding researchers to connect, share their in-progress research or scholarship, and benefit from peer feedback in a friendly and low-stakes setting.
Research Café is a monthly, one-hour event to occur at rotating locations across the Rutgers New Brunswick/Piscataway campus (a Zoom option will be available, too). Each event will feature the following:
- Presentations (10-12 min. each) from two graduate students from across disciplinary areas ranging from engineering and biology to history and anthropology.
- A Q&A dialogue with peers and attendees.
- Conversational time over refreshments and snacks.
For more information: https://grad.rutgers.edu/research-cafe
3MT
The 3MT competition will teach you how to communicate effectively to specialists and non-specialists alike, preparing you to present your research at scholarly conferences and to take part in both academic and professional job markets.
The competition also promotes the value of doctoral research to a wider community and strengthens scholarly engagement and collaboration across the disciplines.
For more information: https://grad.rutgers.edu/professional-development/three-minute-thesis