doctoral thesis poster

How to Create a Research Poster

• Poster Basics
• Design Tips
• Logos & Images

What is a Research Poster?

Posters are widely used in the academic community, and most conferences include poster presentations in their program.  Research posters summarize information or research concisely and attractively to help publicize it and generate discussion. 

The poster is usually a mixture of a brief text mixed with tables, graphs, pictures, and other presentation formats. At a conference, the researcher stands by the poster display while other participants can come and view the presentation and interact with the author.

What Makes a Good Poster?

• Important information should be readable from about 10 feet away
• Title is short and draws interest
• Word count of about 300 to 800 words
• Text is clear and to the point
• Use of bullets, numbering, and headlines make it easy to read
• Effective use of graphics, color and fonts
• Consistent and clean layout
• Includes acknowledgments, your name and institutional affiliation

A Sample of a Well Designed Poster

View this poster example in a web browser .  

Image credit: Poster Session Tips by [email protected], via Penn State

Where do I begin?

Answer these three questions:.

• What is the most important/interesting/astounding finding from my research project?
• How can I visually share my research with conference attendees? Should I use charts, graphs, photos, images?
• What kind of information can I convey during my talk that will complement my poster?

What software can I use to make a poster?

A popular, easy-to-use option. It is part of Microsoft Office package and is available on the library computers in rooms LC337 and LC336. ( Advice for creating a poster with PowerPoint ).

Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign

Feature-rich professional software that is good for posters including lots of high-resolution images, but they are more complex and expensive.  NYU Faculty, Staff, and Students can access and download the Adobe Creative Suite .

Open Source Alternatives 

• OpenOffice is the free alternative to MS Office (Impress is its PowerPoint alternative).
• Inkscape and Gimp are alternatives to Adobe products.
• For charts and diagrams try Gliffy or Lovely Charts .
• A complete list of free graphics software .

A Sample of a Poorly Designed Poster

View this bad poster example in a browser.

Image Credit: Critique by Better Posters

• Next: Design Tips >>
• Last Updated: Jul 9, 2024 5:34 PM
• URL: https://guides.nyu.edu/posters

Crafting an Excellent (PhD) Research Poster

“A research poster is a well-structured, attractive, self-explanatory and concise piece of information representing your PhD or research work.” 

A PhD student should have to do a lot of stuff during the entire tenure of their PhD. Their work includes searching the literature, writing thesis & research articles, doing lab work & fieldwork and conducting lectures. 

They also have to present their work too to get academic and research recognition. In fact, in some countries and education systems, 1 to 2 research presentations are mandatory. 

Meaning, prospective students must have to present their work besides completing other criteria. One has to wait a bit more if they fail to do this. So presenting your work has significant importance much like your PhD thesis or research article. 

Students can present their work in scientific gatherings such as seminars, symposiums or conferences. Two common ways to present the research work are either presenting it through presentation or through research posters. 

Most students prefer presenting a poster rather than facing scientists during the presentation. And of course, it’s an easy way too. You may even win prizes ( the majority of students just want to present it! They don’t even bother about prizes and positions. ) 

So the moral of the story is that if you are in a PhD or doctorate, you will probably have to present a research poster in the coming time or in the future. 

Sometimes, a bad research paper may spoil your and your supervisor’s reputation, that’s why it should be nearly perfect. In this blog post, I am gonna tell you how you can make an excellent research poster, why it’s needed and why it is important! 

I will also tell you to use which platforms for making an amazing poster. So I know the topic perhaps isn’t important for you now! But it will save your PhD, trust me. 

Stay tuned, 

What is a research poster? 

A research poster is a part of the academic curriculums in the majority of Education systems in which students can present their work. Schools conduct poster sessions for fun activities and encourage students to be more and more involved in research. 

However, universities conduct research poster presentations to establish someone’s original work. 

Put simply, it’s a platform for prospective candidates to present their research or a minute portion of their work in front of the scientific community. 

Definition: 

A research poster comprises research in summarize, concise, and attractive manner including texts, infographics, images and colors. 

What is the importance of a research poster?

As I said, there are several benefits of presenting a poster. First, you can consider it as a gate to enter the scientific fraternity. It’s not just a poster, it’s a piece of information, a valuable one and useful. 

Online platforms such as “ResearchGate” have options to add posters in your “research portfolio”, meaning, it is essential.

You can get scientific recognition as well as acknowledgment if you have done fantastic research. 

A research poster is mandatory to achieve a doctorate degree. It is one of the measures to award the degree. 

You can interact with other newbie researchers in your field and can make a community. 

You can interact and get in contact with some well-known scientists too. You even can take their help in your PhD. 

Last but not the least, you can win a prize! 

What to include in the research poster? 

Now you may wonder how you can make an outstanding but professional poster. Here are ‘must include’ things.

• Words and attractive titles. 
• Colors and shapes 
• Interactive and infographics 
• Statistics, graphs and images. 

Any research which belongs to you can be included. These technical thighs must be there too, 

• Introduction 
• Material & methods 
• Results and conclusion 
• References. 

Keep in mind that you ain’t writing a research paper , use less text and try to make it attractive. Here are examples, 

In addition, don’t forget to mention your name, your guide’s name, institutional affiliation and University on the poster. If possible include acknowledgments too. 

How to make an excellent research poster? 

• Include words around 300 to 800 (maximum). 
• A reader can read your text from a minimum of 10 feet. 
• Write to the point 
• Propose a short, self-explanatory and interest-driven title 
• Use eye-catchy colors and a professional layout. 

Research poster Template specifications: 

Here I have given two different poster template formats which are common. You can use a wider one or a longer one, that depends on you. However, how you present it matters more than the design. 

Tips for a Research Paper: 

• Use a chart or something like that to present the Material and methods section. 
• Present results in Charts and tables. 
• Include statistical analysis in results to avoid unnecessary data. 
• Use images to show the introduction and background. 

Conclusion: 

A research poster is a unique opportunity for newbie scientists that present their work. When someone gives you positive feedback or appreciates your work, you feel great. And that’s important. 

Timely presenting work will boost your confidence to do more with your PhD work, and I think perhaps it’s the main objective of conducting a presentation session. 

In addition, use Powerpoint Presentation or Keynote for preparing it, or you can make your work easy by choosing ready-to-use templates available online. 

Remember a research poster is as important as your dissertation, research paper or viva. If you have any suggestions or questions do let me know in the comment section. 

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About The Author

Dr Tushar Chauhan

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Free Research Poster Templates and Tutorials

Creating engaging research posters is an important skill for every scientist. this guide provides design tips and detailed tutorials for making posters using free templates., scientific poster templates.

Whether you are creating a research poster for the first time or have years of experience, this article reviews helpful tips on how to create effective designs. There are also links to free poster templates and videos that show you how to create effective scientific posters in PowerPoint and Adobe Illustrator.

How to Make Good Poster Content

My top recommendation for creating an engaging poster for a scientific conference is to describe your results with simple main points that allow your audience to easily follow your research with minimal effort. The sections below describe how to use main point brainstorming to create poster titles and subtitles that improve audience understanding. 

Step 1. Create Short Main Points

People don't spend much time reading the poster, so the shorter you can make the main points, the better. My favorite way to determine the main points of your research poster is to brainstorm a full list of all of your research results and then create a shorter sentences that clearly summarize the information that you want your audience to know.

The first drafts of your main points can be long sentences with jargon, but the goal is to then take these full descriptions and transform them into simple phrases that allow poster viewers to visualize the results.

My tip for creating clear main points is to reduce the number of subjects, remove descriptions, and do not use more than one or two verbs. In scientific research results, there is almost always one main point action (e.g. something increases, decreases, changes, or stays the same) involving one to three components. Below are more examples of how to do this main point simplification.

Main Point Examples:

• Brainstorm:  Identification of miRNAs Upregulated by Isl1-Lhx3 During Motor Neuron Differentiation
• Better:  miRNAs Upregulated During Motor Neuron Differentiation
• Best:  miRNAs Upregulated in Developing Motor Neurons
• Brainstorm:  miR-218 Direct Spinal Cord Target mRNAs Identified using a RISCtrap Screen
• Better:  Identification of miR-218 Target mRNAs
• Best:  Identified miR-218 Targets
• Brainstorm:  Inhibition of miR-218 Activity Suppresses Endogenous Motor Neuron Generation
• Better:  miR-218 Inhibition Suppresses Motor Neuron Generation
• Best:  miR-218 is Important for Motor Neuron Development

Step 2: Create an Effective Research Poster Title

The poster title is one of the first things your audience reads and plays an important role in helping people understand your results. In order to create an effective title, I recommend that you take your optimized list of main points and try to summarize them with one big picture phrase. This is also a great way to help you brainstorm the title for research publications, but keep in mind that the poster title should be more reader-friendly than a manuscript title and use less details.

Poster Title Example:

• Brainstorm:  miR-218 is Essential to Establish Motor Neuron Fate as a Downstream Effector of Isl1–Lhx3
• Better:  miR-218 is Essential in Determining Spinal Cord Motor Neuron Identity
• Best:  miR-218 is Essential for Spinal Cord Motor Neuron Development

The brainstorm example above was used as the title for my  first-author Nature Communications paper , but unless you are in my lab or in the exact same field of research, the term "Isl1-Lhx3" may not have much meaning for you and "downstream effector" is not a common phrase. Poster titles should use more common words that are easily understood outside of my specific field of developmental biology.

Reference: All content and data examples are from my open source first-author publication in  Nature Communications .

Step 3. Create Poster Sections that Support the Main Points

After the title and main points are created, you can use these short phrases as subtitles that categorize your poster into sections that help your audience digest the information. The examples below show how you can use the main points to create guideposts in the results and a clear conclusions section that simplify the scientific story.

Research Poster Design Tips

Good visual design is also an essential part of creating an engaging research poster. People pay closer attention to details when they are easy to understand and interesting to look at. This requires that you use design best practices for color design, images, and composition to improve audience understanding. Learn how to improve your scientific poster designs with the tips below. 

Poster Color Design

Colors can make a poster standout from the crowd and enhance audience understanding. My recommendation is to use poster colors that follow the three rules below:

• Choose a light background color does not distract from the main points, such as muted blues, reds, or greens (see example image).
• Choose colors that don't have conflicts for people with color blindness.
• Limit the total number of colors used and use bright colors draw attention to the most important points of the poster.

Learn more about scientific color design in this review article:

• Best Color Palettes for Scientific Figures and Data Visualizations

Poster Illustrations and Images

The most engaging posters also contain custom illustrations or images that show the methods and results of your research. Most people will read the title and then look for pictures that enhance their understanding of your scientific story.

Consider creating custom illustrations to explain your methods and conclusions section using Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, or Inkscape. Check out the resources below for more information on how to use scientific illustration templates and how to create your own designs.

Scientific Illustration and Image Resources

• Free Online Courses and Templates
• Animal Model and Research Illustrations
• Alternatives to BioRender
• How to Use Scientific Images

Poster Composition and Data Visualization

Good poster design also requires that you use an engaging layout and data visualizations. The goal is to make the poster easy-to-understand by using good composition techniques that reduce clutter and use graphs that make the main point clear. Below are some helpful resources that teach you how to create designs for effective scientific storytelling and figures within your poster.

Scientific Design Resources

• Scientific Figure and Graph Design Tips
• How to Make Graphical Abstracts
• Data Visualization Techniques
• Data Storytelling Tips

Create professional science figures with illustration services or use the online courses and templates to quickly learn how to make your own designs.

Interested in free design templates and training.

Explore scientific illustration templates and courses by creating a Simplified Science Publishing Log In. Whether you are new to data visualization design or have some experience, these resources will improve your ability to use both basic and advanced design tools.

Interested in reading more articles on scientific design? Learn more below:

Scientific Presentation Guide: How to Create an Engaging Research Talk

Data Storytelling Techniques: How to Tell a Great Data Story in 4 Steps

Best Science PowerPoint Templates and Slide Design Examples

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Research Posters

Creating your poster, what to include in your poster, color scheme choices, more helpful tips.

• Visualizations & images
• Illinois Logo
• Archiving - Grad Students
• More Resources
• Oral Presentations
• 2024 Undergraduate Research Symposium This link opens in a new window

You have two choices when creating a research poster:

• You can create your poster from scratch by using PowerPoint, Adobe InDesign, or a similar design program. 
• You can use one of the  University of Illinois Research Poster Templates .

Sizing your Poster

• If you are presenting for the  Undergraduate Research Symposium , resize your slide to width 48 inches by height 36 inches.
• If you are presenting at a  professional conference , your instructions should indicate the size limits of your poster. Standard U.S. conference poster size is 48" by 36". 

​ IMPORTANT: You must change the size of your slide before you start working on your poster. This will ensure that your images and text do not become pixilated when the poster is printed. See below for specific instructions. 

How to correctly size your poster in PowerPoint:

• Select the "Design" tab
• Click "Slide Size"
• Select "Page Setup"
• Under the "Slides sized for:" dropdown menu, select "Custom"
• Set the "Width" and "Height" to what is needed for your poster
• Click "OK" 

How to correctly size your poster in Adobe InDesign:

When a new document is created in Adobe InDesign, a dialogue box prompts you to enter dimensions:

• Change the dimension metric to inches from the drop down box.
• Margins are intentional space from an object to the edge of the poster, intended not to be trimmed. You can set this to 0 inches on all sides unless you have a specific plan to use margins in your design.
• Bleed shows the printer where to trim white space that occurs when printing color onto white poster paper. If you are printing your poster, include at least a 0.25 inch bleed on each side; remember not to place any content in the bleed as it will be trimmed by the printer.
• Slug is a space for the creator to leave any notes for the printer. You can set this to 0 inches unless you have notes. 

If you ever want to change your poster dimensions after starting the poster, you can do so through the Document Setup Menu .

All posters MUST have:  

• Title: Make it catchy and use at least 72 pt. font. 
• Your name and contact information.
• Institutional affiliation, see the  Illinois logo  tab above.

You many also include:

• Research question or hypothesis: Do not copy your abstract if it is included in the program. 
• Methodology: What is the research process that you used? Explain how you did your research.
• Your interview questions.
• Observations: What did you see? Why is this important?
• Findings: What did you learn? Summarize your conclusions.
• Themes: Pull out themes in the literature and list in bullet points.
• Consider a brief narrative of what you learned - what was the most interesting/surprising aspect of your project?
• Add interesting quotes from your research.
• Data: Use your data to generate charts or tables.
• Images: Include images (visit the  Visualization & Images  tab in the guide for more information). Take your own or legally use others.
• Recommendations and/or next steps for future research.
• Citations: Only list 3-5 on your poster. If you have more, put them on your handout.
• Acknowledgements: Don't forget to thank your advisor, department, or funding agency.

Using multiple font styles can really make your poster stand out and look professional. Consult this graphic to understand different font styles, what fonts work best together, and what fonts to avoid.

Sticking to a color scheme can help your poster look professional. Consistent use of color can help your viewer understand how information is organized on your poster. Not sure where to start with color?

• Pick colors from an image (including a custom one you're planning to use on your poster)
• Use Illinois branding colors

Not sure what to do with the hex code from a brand guide or color palette generator?

• Adobe InDesign

Always check that your text is accessible on background colors using WebAIM's free contrast checker.

If printing your poster, it's a good idea to do a small-scale test print of your poster before getting it printed. Colors often appear brighter and more vibrant on a screen than when printed. There still might be some variation in color depending on the color scale the printer uses, but it will be a closer match on paper than what you see on screen.

• Read Colin Purrington's suggestions for successful poster design.
• Be creative in your display, think beyond the text of your paper. You can use boxes, formatting, font, and images to break up the sections of your research poster.
• Think carefully about your title. If you would like a longer, more descriptive title, consider a subtitle. Brainstorm several titles and have a peer/colleague/friend/teacher rank them. The title needs to highlight your subject matter, but it does not need to state all your conclusions. Some good titles simply ask questions, others answer them.
• You can section your poster according to the major points about your research you want to convey. For example: title, abstract, methodology, data, results, and conclusion. Consider the flow of your poster--these should be in a logical, easy-to-read order. Remember that most people read from left to right and top to bottom.
• Qualitative data (e.g. quotes from references and/or interviews) can also be shared on your poster. Make sure you include captions, legends, annotations, citations, and footnotes, if necessary.
• Design your poster as if you were designing for a professional publication. Be consistent with your layout, color choices, fonts and sizes.
• All text of your poster should be *at least* 24 font size and an easy-to-read font style (e.g. Arial or Verdana). Anything smaller is too difficult to read.
• Remember the “KISS Principle”: Keep It Simple, Stupid! In succinct, brief, jargon-free terms, your poster must explain: 1) the scientific problem in mind (what’s the question?), 2) its significance (why should we care?), 3) how your particular experiment addresses the problem (what’s your strategy?), 4) the experiments performed (what did you actually do?), 5) the results obtained (what did you actually find?), 6) the conclusions (what do you think it all means?), and, optionally, 7) caveats (any reservations?) and/or 8) future prospects (where do you go from here?).
• What is the number one mistake made in poster presentations? Too much information! Try to keep your poster to the point and and clear. You can always include more information in your handout or on a website.
• << Previous: Examples
• Next: Visualizations & images >>
• Last Updated: Oct 29, 2024 11:53 AM
• URL: https://guides.library.illinois.edu/poster

Research Posters: Creation, Design, & Best Practices

• Getting Started on your Poster
• Poster Templates and Examples
• Designing an Effective Poster
• Making a Poster with Powerpoint
• Handouts for Your Poster
• Printing your Poster @ UTM / Off-campus

Poster Templates available for download

Downloadable Poster Templates in Powerpoint format  

• Science Project Poster (from MS Office Website)
• Posters Templates (from Phd Posters)
• Custom Google Search for Poster Templates

Examples of Research Posters

• PhD Posters Gallery
• "Pimp my Poster" Flickr Group
• ePosters- An Online Library of Scientific Posters
• Faculty of 1000 Poster Repository View 1000s of posters from the Biology & Medicine fields
• Example of Bad Scientific Poster (from Colin Purrington website)
• << Previous: Getting Started on your Poster
• Next: Designing an Effective Poster >>
• Last Updated: Nov 10, 2023 11:50 AM
• URL: https://guides.library.utoronto.ca/posters

How To Make an Academic Poster: Eye-Catching Poster Guide

Explore the strategies on how to make academic poster that engage and educate with precision with our ultimate guide.

Are you a scientist or researcher looking to create an eye-catching academic poster? Look no further! In this ultimate guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of making an engaging and visually striking academic poster. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional, we’ve got you covered. We understand the challenge researchers face in visualizing complex scientific data without specialized design skills, which is why we’ve developed Mind the Graph. Our online platform offers a user-friendly experience, allowing you to easily create visually appealing figures, infographics, graphical abstracts, presentations, and of course, posters. With over 75,000 scientifically accurate illustrations in 80+ fields, Mind the Graph is the best free infographic maker for science. Get ready to take your scientific communication to the next level!

Understanding Academic Posters

Importance of academic posters.

Academic posters are a critical medium for communicating complex scientific data in a visually digestible format. They serve a pivotal role at scientific conferences, symposiums, and seminars, offering researchers a platform to showcase their work, share findings, and promote dialogue within the scientific community. An effective academic poster can engage the audience, encourage questions, and spark meaningful conversations, thereby leading to new collaborations and insights. However, making an academic poster that stands out is not an easy task. It requires the ability to simplify intricate data into a concise, visually appealing, and comprehensible format that can quickly grab the attention of passersby. This is where tools like Mind the Graph come into play, providing a user-friendly platform to create striking academic posters and enhance scientific communication.

Design Elements of Effective Posters

An effective academic poster is not just about presenting data; it also requires thoughtful design elements to engage the audience and communicate the research effectively. Here are some critical design elements to consider:

• Clarity : Clarity is key. The poster should present the research in a concise, straightforward manner, avoiding unnecessary jargon.
• Visual appeal : Use graphics and visuals to present complex data, making it easier for the audience to understand.
• Organization : The layout should guide the viewer’s eye from the title, introduction, methods, results, and finally the conclusion, in a logical order.
• Typography : Choose fonts that are easy to read from a distance. Make sure there’s a contrast between the text and the background color.
• Color Scheme : Choose a color scheme that’s pleasing to the eye and aligns with the research theme.
• Simplicity : Don’t overcrowd the poster with too much information. Less is more.

Remember, the primary goal of an academic poster is to attract attention, present information clearly, and stimulate discussion. Therefore, a well-designed poster can significantly enhance your academic communication and showcase your research effectively.

Steps to Create an Eye-Catching Academic Poster

Selecting key content for your poster.

The first step in creating an effective academic poster is to select the key content that will be displayed. You need to distill your research into a concise and clear message that can be conveyed visually. To do this, consider the following:

• Focus on the main findings : Highlight your most important findings or conclusions. These should take center stage in your poster.
• Simplify your methods : While it’s important to mention the methods used in your research, they should be simplified to a high-level overview. Save the detailed explanations for conversations with viewers.
• Use visuals : Whenever possible, use graphs, charts, or images to represent your data. Visuals can convey information more quickly and memorably than text alone.
• Include contact information : Ensure viewers can follow up on your research by including your contact information and any relevant social media or website links.

Remember, the goal is to engage viewers in a conversation about your work, so it’s important to leave some details for in-person discussions. Selecting key content carefully will ensure that your academic poster is effective and engaging.

Structuring Your Poster for Visual Flow

Once you’ve selected the key content for your academic poster, the next step is to structure it for a seamless visual flow. The aim is to guide your viewer’s eye through your poster naturally and logically. Here’s how you can achieve this:

• Title : Place the title at the top center of your poster. It should be the largest text on the poster to draw attention.
• Introduction : Below the title, provide a brief introduction to your research. This should give the viewer a quick understanding of the context and purpose of your study.
• Methods and Results : Following the introduction, present your methods and results. Use visuals like charts, graphs, or images wherever possible.
• Conclusion : Towards the end of the poster, summarize your findings and their implications. This should tie back to the introduction and provide a clear takeaway for the viewer.
• Contact Information : Finally, include your contact details at the bottom of the poster for viewers who want to discuss your research further or follow up later.

Remember to use ample whitespace to avoid clutter and ensure each section of content stands out. The layout should guide the viewer’s eye smoothly from the title to the conclusion, facilitating an easy understanding of your research.

Utilizing Mind the Graph Tools

Overview of mind the graph features.

Mind the Graph is an online platform designed to help you create visually appealing and scientifically accurate infographics for your research. Here are some of the key features that make Mind the Graph an invaluable tool for researchers:

• Extensive Illustration Library : Mind the Graph boasts over 40,000 scientifically accurate illustrations across 80+ fields of study. This vast library allows you to visually represent a wide range of scientific concepts, enhancing your ability to communicate complex ideas effectively.
• User-Friendly Design Interface : The platform’s design interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible to beginners and professionals alike. You can drag and drop illustrations, resize elements, change colors, and customize your layout with ease.
• Customizable Templates : Mind the Graph offers a variety of customizable templates for different types of scientific communication materials, including posters. These templates provide a great starting point for your design.
• Downloadable Outputs : Once your design is complete, you can download your infographic in high-resolution formats suitable for printing or online sharing.

By leveraging these features, you can significantly enhance the visual appeal and effectiveness of your academic poster.

Creating Your Poster on Mind the Graph

Creating an academic poster on Mind the Graph is a straightforward process, thanks to its user-friendly interface:

• Select a Template : Start by choosing a template that suits your research topic and the information you want to present. Each template provides a well-structured starting point that you can customize to fit your needs.
• Add Your Content : Next, add your research content to the template. You can input text, import images, and use the platform’s extensive library of scientific illustrations to visually represent your data and findings.
• Customize Design Elements : Customize the poster’s design elements to suit your style and preference. Change the colors, adjust the fonts, resize images, and arrange elements to create an effective visual flow.
• Review and Refine : Once you’ve added all your content, review the design for clarity, visual appeal, and logical flow. Make necessary adjustments to ensure your poster communicates your research effectively.
• Download and Share : Finally, download the finished poster in a high-resolution format suitable for printing or digital sharing.

With Mind the Graph, you can create an eye-catching academic poster that effectively communicates your research and captures your audience’s attention.

Tips for Effective Poster Presentation

Engaging your audience.

Presenting your academic poster offers a unique opportunity to engage your audience directly and stimulate meaningful discussions about your research. Here are some tips to effectively engage your audience:

• Prepare a Short Pitch : Have a concise, engaging summary of your research ready to deliver when someone approaches your poster. This should highlight the key findings and the significance of your work.
• Be Approachable : Stand near your poster and be open to questions and discussions. A warm, welcoming demeanor can encourage more people to stop by and engage with your work.
• Ask Questions : Encourage interaction by asking viewers specific questions related to your research. This not only fosters engagement but can also provide valuable insights.
• Use Non-Technical Language : When discussing your research, avoid using jargon. Instead, explain your work in a way that’s accessible to people outside your field.
• Provide Takeaways : Have key takeaways ready for your audience. These could be insightful observations, implications of your research, or potential future work.

Remember, your goal is to engage viewers in a meaningful conversation about your work, and these tips can help make your poster presentation more interactive and effective.

Do’s and Don’ts of Poster Presentation

While presenting your academic poster, it’s essential to follow some do’s and don’ts to ensure an effective presentation. Here are some tips:

Do’s :

• Practice your pitch : Practice a summary of your research that you can deliver in under a minute. This can help you confidently explain your work to anyone who stops by your poster.
• Stand by your poster : Be present at your poster as much as possible during the poster session. This allows you to engage with viewers and answer any questions they may have.
• Use simple language : Explain your research in simple, accessible language. Try to avoid jargon or overly complex explanations.

Don’ts :

• Don’t overcrowd your poster : While it’s important to present your research comprehensively, avoid overcrowding your poster with too much information. Remember, less is more.
• Don’t be passive : Don’t just stand aside and let viewers read your poster. Engage them in conversation and explain your research.
• Don’t forget to provide context : Ensure you provide enough context for your research so viewers can understand its relevance and significance.

By following these do’s and don’ts, you can ensure a successful and effective poster presentation.

Elevate your research with captivating visuals using Mind the Graph

Mind the Graph platform offers customizable scientific illustrations, templates, and design tools, empowering scientists to create engaging figures that effectively convey their findings. With features to integrate data into graphs and customize colors, fonts, and styles, researchers can personalize their visuals to reflect their unique research style, making their work more accessible and memorable to a wider audience.

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Fabricio Pamplona is the founder of Mind the Graph - a tool used by over 400K users in 60 countries. He has a Ph.D. and solid scientific background in Psychopharmacology and experience as a Guest Researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry (Germany) and Researcher in D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR, Brazil). Fabricio holds over 2500 citations in Google Scholar. He has 10 years of experience in small innovative businesses, with relevant experience in product design and innovation management. Connect with him on LinkedIn - Fabricio Pamplona .

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• Poster Design

The Art and Science of Designing a Poster

Presenter: Cheryl Vaughan, PhD

This 50-minute session, from the Effectively Communicating Research course, focuses on using visual strategies to better communicate your science. The lecture features two parts: overall poster design and data visualization.

Three key elements from Cheryl Vaughan's presentation:

Design a poster that will capture an audience’s attention and make it easy for viewers to process the information without guidance from a presenter.

SCAFFOLDING

Incorporate information that builds on what your audience already knows and connects to your science.

COLOR AND CONTENT

Illustrate points with images, charts, and thoughtful text. Display only the most relevant information and use color intentionally to highlight important elements.

Qualities of a Strong Scientific Poster (PDF)

This handout summarizes the key qualities of strong scientific posters. The document includes information on font choice, text size, poster layout and more.

Rubric for Evaluating Scientific Posters (PDF)

Use this rubric to evaluate the organization, data visualization, layout, and content of your scientific poster. Distribute the rubric to your mentors and colleagues to collect feedback on your draft poster before you present it.

Additional Resources

Creating Posters with IMPACT (HarvardKey Required)

Presenters: Beth Beighlie and Graham, McMahon, MD, MMSc, MRCPI

This 55-minute session, from Harvard Catalyst’s Effectively Communicating Research course, shows how to design scientific posters with a focus on layout and effectively using images.

Step-by-Step Guides

Harvard Medical School (HMS) Research Imaging Solutions

HMS Research Imaging Solutions offers seminars and comprehensive resources to support researchers with the creation of figures, images, posters and presentations. Their library of slides and handouts provide detailed, step-by-step instructions on a number of topics.

Making Posters with PowerPoint and Photoshop

This in-depth guide was created by Beth Beighlie at Harvard Medical School Research Imaging Solutions. The document details poster-building strategy including workflow, poster layout, text, figures, and printing.

• Data Visualization
• Poster Presentations
• Visual Design Tools