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Postdoc Spotlight

SBU Postdoc Spotlight is a celebration of the research performed by Stony Brook's postdoctoral scholars.

Cutting-edge research at SBU presented for a general audience. Spotlight talks are designed like a Three Minute Thesis talk to be accessible to specialists and non-specialists alike. The Postdoc Spotlight is a great opportunity to see some of the latest discoveries and exciting research taking place at Stony Brook.

Save the Date: Postdoc Spotlight 2025

The 2025 Postdoc Spotlight will be featured as a round in the Graduate School's Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition, showcasing the innovative and invaluable research contributions of Stony Brook postdocs. 

Friday, March 28, 2025

10 am to 3 pm

Charles B. Wang Center lecture halls

Postdoc Speaker Sign-Up Form

Speaker registration is open until January 31, 2025.

This event is free and open to the public.

Speaker Sign-Up

Speaker Sign-Up Deadline: Friday, January 31, 2025

Postdoc Speaker Sign-Up Form

  • Please view the rules and speaker information before registering. After submission, you will receive confirmation on whether you have been selected to compete. At that time, we will request a title from selected speakers.

Competitor Selection

Organizers aim to accommodate as many eligible students as want to compete, but competitor slots nevertheless are limited. Competitor selection, if necessary, will take into account coaching date availability, disciplinary and demographic balance.

 

Photos of 3MT 2024 Winners.

 

Speaker Information

Eligibility

To compete in the Postdoc Spotlight, postdocs must:

  • Be SBU postdocs;
  • Work in any disciplinary field, with those in the Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences particularly encouraged to participate;
  • Have advanced in their research to a stage where findings, preliminary conclusions, and broader impact can be discussed. Findings from previous research is welcome, however postdocs may only participate in the Spotlight once;
  • Affirm during speaker sign-up that their supervisor supports presentation of their research; and
  • Commit to participating in all 3 coaching sessions.

Coaching Sessions

As a Postdoc Spotlight competitor, you undergo research communication coaching that is grounded in techniques from the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. Coaching takes place in small groups where peer feedback and support is expected and encouraged while students workshop their draft presentations.

To participate as a speaker in the competition, you must commit to three mandatory coaching sessions. You have the option of attending an additional fourth coaching session, which we suggest you pencil in on your calendar.

The first session will provide an overview of best practices for honing one's message for a general audience. In the second and third sessions, speakers will receive coaching on their individual talks in small groups. 

Plenary (mandatory*) : Thursday, February 27, 3 - 5 pm | Graduate School Conference Room
Coaching 1(mandatory) : Friday, March 7 | 1 to 3 pm | Wang Center Lecture Hall 2
Coaching 2 (mandatory) : Friday, March 14 | 1 to 3 pm | Wang Center Lecture Hall 2
Coaching 3 (optional) : Monday, March 24, 2 - 4 pm |  Wang Center Lecture Hall 2

Please try to save the coaching dates on your calendar until you know you are selected.

 

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place and are generously sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR)

Questions?

Contact the Graduate School Office of Professional Development at gradprofdev@stonybrook.edu

SBU POSTDOC SPOTLIGHT WINNERS AND COMPETITIONS

 

LEARN MORE
 

RULES AND JUDGING CRITERIA

 

LEARN MORE