Communication

The ability to effectively communicate your research to a variety of audiences is an essential professional skill. From building healthy writing habits to preparing for conferences to dissertation writing retreats, OPD helps students and postdocs improve their writing and presenting skills through a variety of programs offered throughout the year.

Elroy

I see myself as a successful researcher, but if I didn't develop complementary skills—if I couldn't lead, present, or write—I wouldn't have the tools to effectively communicate what I'm researching. I have attended many OPD workshops and have benefited greatly. I have also encouraged graduate students in our lab, department and across campus to consider both their professional and academic development; these two things go hand-in-hand to ensure success in securing the right job and excelling in your career. 

Elroy Aguiar (Former Senior Postdoctoral Research Associate, Kinesiology)

Upcoming Events

28

Spring Shut Up & Write Tuesdays

- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace

Writing alongside others is a best practice for academic writing! This weekly drop-in provides time and space to write while caffeinated - come late or leave early. We'll make the coffee; you do the writing. One pre-registration for the "Spring Series" is required; attend one week or attend them all!

Pre-registration for "Shut Up & Write" is required.
30

A Topic is Not a Question: How to Design a Research Question

- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace

Determining a field or concentration for your research may be easy enough, but how do you transform a topic of interest into a specific and compelling research question? In this interactive workshop/work session we will discuss the qualities of successful research questions and why the advice to “just keep narrowing it down” can do more harm than good.

Pre-registration for “A Topic is Not a Question” is required.
4

Spring Shut Up & Write Tuesdays

- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace

Writing alongside others is a best practice for academic writing! This weekly drop-in provides time and space to write while caffeinated - come late or leave early. We'll make the coffee; you do the writing. One pre-registration for the "Spring Series" is required; attend one week or attend them all!

Pre-registration for "Shut Up & Write" is required.
5

Creating Effective Figures

- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace

Creating the right figure takes time and effort, but there are some tricks to get you there faster. Are you using the right format? Are you considering the audience? What tools are available and best suited for your data? Come take this opportunity to discuss the answers to these questions and work with your data to produce amazing figures for your presentations and publications. 

Pre-registration for “Creating Effective Figures” is required.
More Events
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Additional Resources

Graduate students and post doctoral students may access many other support systems to improve their communication skills.

  • The UMass Amherst Writing Center offers face-to-face and online consultations to help graduate students and postdocs clarify ideas, reorganize text, set writing goals and build productive writing practices.

  • The Public Engagement Project organizes events to help researchers contribute to social change, inform public policy, and enrich public debate.

  • The UMass Amherst science community challenges researchers to make their work accessible to a wide range of audiences through the Life Science Café and That’s Life [Science] blog.

Questions?

Contact us for more information on OPD’s communication workshops and assistance.

Dissertation retreat participants