You’ve completed your research—great job! Now comes the next big step: presenting it. Whether you’re creating a poster or putting together a PowerPoint, the way you communicate your findings matters just as much as the research itself.

Key Tips for Presenting Your Research (Poster or PowerPoint)

  • Know Your Audience
    • Avoid talking down to or going over their heads.
    • Adjust your language and level of detail based on their knowledge.
  • Professional Appearance
    • Ensure your poster or slides look polished and organized.
    • Include your name, credentials, affiliation, email, and date on your PowerPoint.
    • Dress professionally, regardless of the audience.
  • Check the Presentation Space
    • Visit the room beforehand, especially for PowerPoint presentations.
    • Understand the setup and equipment available.
  • Follow Organizer Guidelines
    • Confirm if they require: 
      • Pre-recorded presentations (and in what format).
      • PowerPoint submission in advance (and by what deadline).
      • Specific poster dimensions—stick to them.
    • Know whether you’ll present on Mac or Windows, practice on the correct system.
  • Enhance Accessibility
    • Use clear fonts and appropriate colors.
    • Include white space for readability.
    • Avoid unnecessary clip art or images—only use visuals that add value.
  • Content Tips
    • Keep text concise; use bullet points instead of long paragraphs.
    • Organize your content logically.
    • Have someone proofread for spelling and grammar errors.
  • Engagement & Preparation
    • Practice your PowerPoint and Poster in front of others for clarity and timing.
    • Arrange for someone to ask the first question you know the answer to—it helps break the ice.
    • Leave time for questions at the end.
    • For posters, prepare answers to likely questions.
  • Technical Readiness
    • Bring your PowerPoint in multiple formats (flash drive, email, the cloud).
    • Test videos and internet connectivity in advance.
    • Expect the unexpected—always have a backup plan.
  • Extra Resources
    • Consider handouts or a QR code for additional information.

Keep these tips in mind whether you are doing Grand Rounds, Journal Club Presentation, Paper or Poster presentation at a conference/meeting, or at a Research Day. All of the tips will help you in some way.

Answer these three questions before you start your poster or PowerPoint presentation design:

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

Graphic Design research guide from University of Delaware – some great available content on poster design 

https://guides.lib.udel.edu/design/home

Goes over color schemes:

https://guides.lib.udel.edu/design/color

Over accessibility:

https://guides.lib.udel.edu/design/accessibility

Over images:

https://guides.lib.udel.edu/design/images

New type of Poster design from the University of Delaware research guide: (https://guides.lib.udel.edu/design/research-poster)

I agree with the presenter’s description of a poster session. Not sure the new type of design will work out but I like that we see the conclusion up front and central.

Title: Dos and Don'ts of Designing a Research Poster by University of Guleph Library by Mike Morrison, PhD is licensed under a CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 international license. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RwJbhkCA58

Templates of the new design: (https://osf.io/ef53g/files/6ua4k)

Poster making software: 

  • PowerPoint (Windows and MAC)
  • Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or InDesign (if available) 
  • Microsoft 365 Copilot (if available) 
  • Google Docs – includes a Google Slides Poster Template

 

Slides from a presentation I did on PowerPoint Presentations:

Link to 5-5-5 Rule
 

Link to The Golden Rules of Presentation Design

Fonts and colors

Organizing your content. What looks better and gets your point across faster?





Link to 10 Bad PowerPoint Slides Examples to Avoid

Link to Ten simple rules for effective presentation slides

Link to Susan McConnell (Stanford): Designing effective scientific presentations

 

Disclaimers

  • Professors often include a lot of information on their slides, so you have comprehensive material to study from. Otherwise, you’d need to take more detailed notes. This isn’t wrong—it’s simply a different approach. Teaching and presenting serve different purposes.

  • Information here is not meant to compete with your advisors or mentors. If they have specific requirements or preferences, always follow their guidance.

Skeleton presenting to other skeletons was make by Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Please continue to reach out to me if you need assistance in this area. 

Should you wish for me to present this topic, or any other, to your group or to you individually, please don't hesitate to reach out. I would be glad to assist.  

Happy Searching! 

Dawn Field, Your UIWSOM Librarian