Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Confidence Interval • Research Impact • Research Design

Poster Session

Term from Research Institutions industry explained for recruiters

A Poster Session is a common way researchers share their work at academic conferences and meetings. It's like a science fair for professionals, where researchers create large, visual presentations (posters) displaying their research findings. Instead of giving a formal speech, they stand by their poster and have conversations with people who are interested in their work. This format allows many researchers to present their work simultaneously and enables face-to-face discussions. For hiring managers, seeing "Poster Session" on a resume indicates that the candidate has experience presenting their research and can communicate complex ideas to different audiences.

Examples in Resumes

Presented research findings at three Poster Sessions during the Annual Scientific Conference

Won Best Poster Session Presentation award at the International Research Symposium

Organized departmental Poster Sessions for graduate student research showcase

Typical job title: "Research Scientists"

Also try searching for:

Research Associate Postdoctoral Researcher Research Fellow Academic Researcher Scientific Investigator Graduate Researcher

Where to Find Research Scientists

Academic Networks

Conference Websites

Job Boards

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you mentor junior researchers in preparing effective poster presentations?

Expected Answer: Look for answers that show experience in guiding others, such as helping choose key findings to highlight, creating clear visual layouts, and practicing presentation skills.

Q: Tell me about a time when your poster presentation led to a significant research collaboration.

Expected Answer: The candidate should demonstrate networking abilities and how poster sessions can create valuable professional connections and research opportunities.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you decide which research findings to include in a poster presentation?

Expected Answer: Should explain how they select the most important data, organize information clearly, and adapt the content for different audience types.

Q: Describe how you handle challenging questions during a poster session.

Expected Answer: Look for answers showing ability to think on their feet, communicate clearly, and handle professional discussions effectively.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What makes an effective research poster?

Expected Answer: Should mention clear organization, visual appeal, concise text, and the ability to convey key findings quickly to viewers.

Q: How do you prepare for presenting at a poster session?

Expected Answer: Should discuss practicing their presentation, preparing brief explanations, and being ready to answer basic questions about their research.