On Sunday, June 12, from 1–2:30 p.m., Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Room 251, graduate students and scientists will duke it out in a 5-minute research pitch competition.
The competition provides an opportunity for scientists and PhDs who are performing research on IR-relevant topics to put their data in front of an interested audience, according to Govind Srimathveeravalli, MS, PhD, who is coordinating the session along with Punit Prakash, PhD.
“We have several scientist members who come to the meeting, but they are spread out amongst different sessions. There’s a lack of opportunity for cross-pollination, because they’re all siloed into their own research areas,” says Dr. Srimathveeravalli. “The goal is to cut across the scientific disciplines in track with IR and put them on a single podium to let the scientists demonstrate their work and hopefully stimulate broader interest.”
Participants will present a 5-minute talk and, at the end, the audience will be invited to vote on the best ones. The top three speakers will be provided a certificate of recognition—and hopefully the competition will serve as a recruitment space for future postdoctoral candidates.
The pitch competition is a new take on existing programs, says Dr. Srimathveeravalli. “A few years back, several IRs ran a hackathon that was very well received. People love a competition. In addition, I’ve been running a workshop where I bring in scientific speakers from outside SIR to speak about their research, such as tissue engineering.” According to Dr. Srimathveeravalli, the idea is to bring more exposure to topics that IRs may not be aware of and stimulate clinical translation of discoveries in the lab.
According to Dr. Srimathveeravalli, the competition is just part of a larger effort to engage graduate students and scientists in the work of SIR—such as increasing membership numbers, incentivizing their attendance at SIR 2022, and involving scientist reviewers more during the abstract review process. Dr. Srimathveeravalli has worked to build and enhance such opportunities since joining the SIR Foundation Board of Directors in its new Scientist position just last year.
“This all helps foster better relationships and collaboration between non-IR researchers and physicians,” says Dr. Srimathveeravalli. “And hopefully instead of just a cut and dry scientific talk, the competition aspect will make the science more accessible and interesting.”