SLAM Prep Workshop

Enhance your presentation skills and learn how to create your SLAM presentation

This workshop is open to all Lab employees interested in enhancing their science communication skills.

Increase your chances to win the SLAM competition this Fall! Learn more about the competition and get tips on preparing your talk at our ‘SLAM prep’ workshop.

SLAM participants must be a current employee with an active appointment through October 2026 and have received their PhD between January 2019 - December 2026. Read more about the guidelines and submit your intent to participate by Friday, May 29, 2026. Video submissions are due by 5:00 PM on Friday, June 26, 2026. The event will take place on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

Click here to see the SLAM guidelines.

Guest Speaker - Thi Nguyen, Ph.D.

Dr. Thi Nguyen is the owner of Nguyen Education & Workforce Consulting, a coaching and consulting business focused on facilitating programs on strategic thinking, leadership, public speaking, and sector switching. In addition to working as a coach and consultant, Dr. Nguyen has been Visiting Assistant Professor at Rush University Medical Center; Associate Director of Training Communities at the Science Communication Lab; and Associate Dean for Graduate Career and Professional Development at Washington University in St. Louis, among other roles.

Dr. Nguyen has been PI of a Burroughs Wellcome Fund grant to create an online career exploration tool for PhDs, provided curriculum design and assessment for training courses at Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, and served as a program evaluator for the Global Biological Standards Institute. She holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School.

About SLAM:

The SLAM is modeled after 3 Minute Thesis and Grad Slam. The SLAM is a competition where contestants are challenged to present a compelling three minute presentation of their research in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. Competitors are allowed one PowerPoint slide, but no other resources or props.