UChicagoGRAD Communication Lab
Funded by a generous grant from the UChicago Women’s Board, the UChicagoGRAD Communication Lab provides PhD students and postdocs with hands-on opportunities to develop their oral and written communication skills. The Lab’s one-on-one advising sessions and training programs are tailored to the needs of early career researchers, giving them the tools to achieve their professional goals and amplify the impact of their work.
One-on-One Advising
Communication Lab advisors can help PhD students and postdocs navigate a range of academic and professional communication challenges.
- Academic Articles
- Coursework or Qualifying Papers
- Conference Presentations and Academic Talks
- Dissertation Chapters
- Interpersonal Professional Communication
- Poster Presentations
- Public Writing
- Public Lectures
- Workshop Facilitation
Advising appointments focus on the advisee’s communication goals and concerns. Advisors help PhD students and postdocs understand their audience, refine their strategy, and set practical steps for revision. Schedule an advising appointment.
Virtual Research Communication Coach
The Virtual Research Communication Coach helps UChicago graduate students and postdocs convey their research more effectively and confidently in virtual settings. (Be sure to connect to UChicago’s VPN before accessing the tool. You will get an error message if you do not connect to UChicago’s VPN.)
The Communication Coach is designed to help
- Improve presentation effectiveness through persona-specific feedback
- Provide real-time coaching on delivery behaviors such as pace, eye contact, vocal variation, and filler words
- Provide non-native English speakers with repeated practice opportunities, real-time delivery guidance, and confidence-building support
The Coach complements and reinforces the skills that graduate students and postdocs gain through UChicagoGRAD’s advising and other resources, empowering users to articulate the impact of their research with greater confidence and clarity.
Hands-On Training
The Communication Lab offers workshops and short courses that provide PhD students and postdocs with low-stakes opportunities to learn best practices and improve their writing and speaking skills. View upcoming workshops.
Writing Community
The Communication Lab builds community through its quarterly Dissertation Write-ins, which are intensive group writing retreats designed to help writers join together and make progress on their dissertation chapters in a supportive setting. View upcoming opportunities.
Research Communication Credential
The Research Communication Credential helps UChicago PhD students convey research and craft clear messages for a variety of audiences, preparing them to succeed in academia, industry, nonprofits, and government. Learn more.
Public Engagement Opportunities
Through events like the Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition and Research Speaks, the Lab creates opportunities for PhD students and postdocs to hone their skills and share their innovative research with the wider world. View upcoming engagement opportunities.
