Presenting Your Research: Strategies for Strong Poster and Oral Talks
Juliana Magro Undergraduate Medical Education Librarian NYU Health Sciences Library
Learning Goals
✅ Identify key components of effective poster design ✅ Identify key components of effective slide design ✅ List best practices for presentations ✅ Apply storytelling techniques to transform research into a narrative
You designed your study
Maybe even wrote about it
Presenting should be easy!
Content
Review & Refinement
Oral Presentation Development
Poster Development
Foundation and Mindset
Before You Start
Foundation and Mindset
The Shift in Thinking
Instead of presenting your study... Present a story that emerges from the results of your study.
What problem in the world is this presentation about?
Lingard, Lorelei et al. “How to Tell Compelling Scientific Stories: Tips for Artful Use of the Research Manuscript and Presentation Genres.” Researching Medical Education. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2015. 257–268. Web.
Helpful exerciseElevator Pitch⏱️ Try to answer:
- Aim for one sentence: "I did _______ because ______ and I found ____________."
Assess:
- Is the problem clear?
- Why should they care?
- What's the key finding?
Poster Development
Content Planning
Content Sections
Design and Layout
https://brandcenter.med.nyu.edu/
Keep in mind:
Obvious flow (column structure)
Paste text from abstract
Ensure readability from 3-4 feet away (24pt)
Long paragraphs
3 colors maximum
Mix several fonts
Remove unnecessary words
Use all space (white space is necessary!)
Visual hierarchy matters
Use low-quality images
Poster Checklist
Content Sections
Technical Prep
Presentation Day
Visual Elements
Design and Layout
Oral Presentations
Oral Presentation Development
Oral Presentation Best Practices
- Content Development
- Slide Design
- Structure & Timing
- Delivery Preparation
- Visual and Audio Elements
- Day of Presentation
Step 1: Content Development
The Problem-Gap-Hook
Your presentation opening should establish: PROBLEM: What problem in the world does this address? GAP: What's missing in current knowledge? HOOK: Why should this audience care right now?
🎯
🎣
Lingard L. Joining a conversation: the problem/gap/hook heuristic. Perspect Med Educ. 2015 Oct;4(5):252-253. doi: 10.1007/s40037-015-0211-y. PMID: 26346497; PMCID: PMC4602011.
Also…
Focus on 1-2 main messages maximum for short presentations
"Kill your darlings" - remove content that doesn't support your core message
Develop a clear story arc with beginning, middle, and resolution
Lingard, Lorelei et al. “How to Tell Compelling Scientific Stories: Tips for Artful Use of the Research Manuscript and Presentation Genres.” Researching Medical Education. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2015. 257–268. Web.
Step2: Slide Design
https://brandcenter.med.nyu.edu/
Keep in mind:
Use slides to support, not replace, your narrative
Force audience to read and listen simultaneously
Use relevant images/drawings
Read text verbatim
Use headings/structure
Fill slides with bullet points and show them at the same time
Use consistent design template
Use low-quality images
Step 3: Visual Strategy
Colorblind safe color schemes
- About 1 in 20 people are colorblind in some way
- Avoid conveying information purely through color (when possible)
PDF Link
Another resource
NCEAS Science Communication Resource CornerLast updated: 6/29/22 Alexandra Phillips
Openly licensed images
https://hslguides.med.nyu.edu/medicalimages
BioRender
https://www.biorender.com/
📝 Consider "Deliberately Sketchy" approach
- Create rough, work-in-progress visuals
- Use hand-drawn elements, rough lines, incomplete shapes
🏛️ Avoid the "Museum Effect"
- Beautiful designs → People admire silently
- Polished visuals → "Looks perfect, nothing to add"
- Thinking stops when it looks finished
Step 4: Delivery Preparation
#1 fear among American adults
Dwyer, K. K., & Davidson, M. M. (2012). Is Public Speaking Really More Feared Than Death? Communication Research Reports, 29(2), 99–107. https://doi.org/10.1080/08824096.2012.667772
Tips
🎯
Memorize: Opening and closing lines
👀
Eye Contact: Look at audience, not screen
🔄
Transitions: Start talking about next slide before it appears
📍
Body Position: Face audience, not screen
Practice: Until you know where each slide fits in your story
Craft Your Opening Lines
"Every year, 10 million patients experience [problem]. Despite advances in [field], we still don't know [gap]. Understanding this could transform how we [impact], potentially affecting [hook - why audience should care]."
Helpful exerciseWrite your 3-sentence opening
Resolution: Craft Your Closing Lines
Your closing sentence can include:
- Key Finding: "What we found was..."
- Implication: "This means that..."
- Call to Action/Future Direction: "Moving forward..."
Resolution: Craft Your Closing Lines Example
"So, what did we learn? [key finding]. This changes our understanding of [implication]. As we move forward, I invite you to consider [call to action or future direction]. Thank you."
Helpful exerciseWrite your closing sentence
Review & Refinement
Key Principles to Remember
✅ Story over study - Present narratives, not just data ✅ Less is more - Remove unnecessary words and elements ✅ Accessibility matters - Design for all audiences ✅ Practice makes confidence - Prepare, rehearse, refine ✅ Visual hierarchy guides attention - Use design intentionally
Wrapping Up
Checklists
Poster Presentations
Oral Presentations
Helpful book
https://search.hsl.med.nyu.edu/permalink/01NYU_HS/h78ldg/alma990081840120107871
Helpful book chapters/articles
- Lingard, Lorelei et al. “How to Tell Compelling Scientific Stories: Tips for Artful Use of the Research Manuscript and Presentation Genres.” Researching Medical Education. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2015. 257–268.
-
Günther, Daniel. “Preparation of a Scientific Presentation.” Arthroskopie 37.4 (2024): 268–271.
-
Lingard, Lorelei, and Christopher Watling. “Problem/Gap/Hook Introductions.” Story, Not Study: 30 Brief Lessons to Inspire Health Researchers as Writers. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2021. 7–14.
- Ameen S, Praharaj SK, Menon V. "Two Minutes More!" Preparing Slides for Conference Research Presentations. Indian J Psychol Med. 2023 Jan;45(1):1-4. doi: 10.1177/02537176221142555. Epub 2022 Nov 23.
Resources mentioned
- Colorblind safe color schemes
Questions? Feel free to chat or raise your hand
juliana.magro@nyulangone.org
Posters and Presentations Library Guide link
Content Sections
- Title: Clear, descriptive, and engaging
- Background: Most relevant context for your audience
- Methods: Key steps, software, measures used
- Results: Focus on figures/graphs that support your main message
- Discussion/Conclusions: Clear lessons learned, implications, next steps
- References
- Contact Information
- Use column structure for obvious flow
- Limit color palette to 3 colors maximum
- Make it figure-based with minimal text
- Follow the "remove words" principle - eliminate unnecessary text
- Ensure readability from 3-4 feet away (minimum 24pt font for body text)
- Create clear visual hierarchy (title > headers > body text)
- Leave white space - avoid cramming content
- Use consistent fonts (maximum 2 font families)
Technical Preparation
- Check printing requirements (size, resolution, format)
- Prepare backup digital version on multiple devices
- Plan transportation method (tube vs. folding vs. digital display)
- For travel, consider printing on fabric or printing at the same city where your conference is held.
Presentation Day
- Arrive early to set up/ test display method
- Prepare 2-minute elevator pitch of your work
- Practice explaining key figures without reading directly from poster
- Prepare for common questions about methods, limitations, future work
- Stand beside (not in front of) your poster during presentations
Visual Elements
- High-quality images (minimum 300 DPI for printing)
- Clear, interpretable graphs with proper labels and legends
- Consistent visual style throughout
- Appropriate use of icons or symbols to guide the eye
- QR code for additional resources or digital version (optional)
Content Sections
- Title: Clear, descriptive, and engaging
- Background: Most relevant context for your audience
- Methods: Key steps, software, measures used
- Results: Focus on figures/graphs that support your main message
- Conclusions: Clear lessons learned and implications
- Future Directions: Remaining questions and next steps
- Contact Information: Email and institutional affiliation
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Juliana Magro
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Transcript
Presenting Your Research: Strategies for Strong Poster and Oral Talks
Juliana Magro Undergraduate Medical Education Librarian NYU Health Sciences Library
Learning Goals
✅ Identify key components of effective poster design ✅ Identify key components of effective slide design ✅ List best practices for presentations ✅ Apply storytelling techniques to transform research into a narrative
You designed your study
Maybe even wrote about it
Presenting should be easy!
Content
Review & Refinement
Oral Presentation Development
Poster Development
Foundation and Mindset
Before You Start
Foundation and Mindset
The Shift in Thinking
Instead of presenting your study... Present a story that emerges from the results of your study.
What problem in the world is this presentation about?
Lingard, Lorelei et al. “How to Tell Compelling Scientific Stories: Tips for Artful Use of the Research Manuscript and Presentation Genres.” Researching Medical Education. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2015. 257–268. Web.
Helpful exerciseElevator Pitch⏱️ Try to answer:
- Aim for one sentence: "I did _______ because ______ and I found ____________."
Assess:Poster Development
Content Planning
Content Sections
Design and Layout
https://brandcenter.med.nyu.edu/
Keep in mind:
Obvious flow (column structure)
Paste text from abstract
Ensure readability from 3-4 feet away (24pt)
Long paragraphs
3 colors maximum
Mix several fonts
Remove unnecessary words
Use all space (white space is necessary!)
Visual hierarchy matters
Use low-quality images
Poster Checklist
Content Sections
Technical Prep
Presentation Day
Visual Elements
Design and Layout
Oral Presentations
Oral Presentation Development
Oral Presentation Best Practices
Step 1: Content Development
The Problem-Gap-Hook
Your presentation opening should establish: PROBLEM: What problem in the world does this address? GAP: What's missing in current knowledge? HOOK: Why should this audience care right now?
🎯
🎣
Lingard L. Joining a conversation: the problem/gap/hook heuristic. Perspect Med Educ. 2015 Oct;4(5):252-253. doi: 10.1007/s40037-015-0211-y. PMID: 26346497; PMCID: PMC4602011.
Also…
Focus on 1-2 main messages maximum for short presentations
"Kill your darlings" - remove content that doesn't support your core message
Develop a clear story arc with beginning, middle, and resolution
Lingard, Lorelei et al. “How to Tell Compelling Scientific Stories: Tips for Artful Use of the Research Manuscript and Presentation Genres.” Researching Medical Education. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2015. 257–268. Web.
Step2: Slide Design
https://brandcenter.med.nyu.edu/
Keep in mind:
Use slides to support, not replace, your narrative
Force audience to read and listen simultaneously
Use relevant images/drawings
Read text verbatim
Use headings/structure
Fill slides with bullet points and show them at the same time
Use consistent design template
Use low-quality images
Step 3: Visual Strategy
Colorblind safe color schemes
PDF Link
Another resource
NCEAS Science Communication Resource CornerLast updated: 6/29/22 Alexandra Phillips
Openly licensed images
https://hslguides.med.nyu.edu/medicalimages
BioRender
https://www.biorender.com/
📝 Consider "Deliberately Sketchy" approach
🏛️ Avoid the "Museum Effect"
Step 4: Delivery Preparation
#1 fear among American adults
Dwyer, K. K., & Davidson, M. M. (2012). Is Public Speaking Really More Feared Than Death? Communication Research Reports, 29(2), 99–107. https://doi.org/10.1080/08824096.2012.667772
Tips
🎯
Memorize: Opening and closing lines
👀
Eye Contact: Look at audience, not screen
🔄
Transitions: Start talking about next slide before it appears
📍
Body Position: Face audience, not screen
Practice: Until you know where each slide fits in your story
Craft Your Opening Lines
"Every year, 10 million patients experience [problem]. Despite advances in [field], we still don't know [gap]. Understanding this could transform how we [impact], potentially affecting [hook - why audience should care]."
Helpful exerciseWrite your 3-sentence opening
Resolution: Craft Your Closing Lines
Your closing sentence can include:
Resolution: Craft Your Closing Lines Example
"So, what did we learn? [key finding]. This changes our understanding of [implication]. As we move forward, I invite you to consider [call to action or future direction]. Thank you."
Helpful exerciseWrite your closing sentence
Review & Refinement
Key Principles to Remember
✅ Story over study - Present narratives, not just data ✅ Less is more - Remove unnecessary words and elements ✅ Accessibility matters - Design for all audiences ✅ Practice makes confidence - Prepare, rehearse, refine ✅ Visual hierarchy guides attention - Use design intentionally
Wrapping Up
Checklists
Poster Presentations
Oral Presentations
Helpful book
https://search.hsl.med.nyu.edu/permalink/01NYU_HS/h78ldg/alma990081840120107871
Helpful book chapters/articles
Resources mentioned
Questions? Feel free to chat or raise your hand
juliana.magro@nyulangone.org
Posters and Presentations Library Guide link
Content Sections
Technical Preparation
Presentation Day
Visual Elements
Content Sections