glasgow junior academic forum

TQ Oct 2009

Glasgow Junior Academic Forum

Terry Quinn

[email protected]

Cardiovascular & Medical Sciences

University of Glasgow

Sponsored through an unrestricted educational grant

G-JAF

TQ Oct 2009

WHYWHY

To provide a forum for discussion of current and future research.

To allow junior academics to network with each other and more

senior colleagues.

To facilitate development of research presentation skills.

To provide a forum for informal teaching on research strategies and

advice on succeeding in the academic sphere.


TQ Oct 2009


How to get your abstract

accepted

How to develop a

career in

research

How to get a publishing deal

TQ Oct 2009

Abstracts

TQ Oct 2009

Abstracts for Scientific Meetings

A structured summary of a body of work

An exercise in writing with precision and efficiency

A beginning a muddle and an end

TQ Oct 2009


Why bother ?

TQ Oct 2009


Why bother ?

Communication of science

TQ Oct 2009


Why bother ?

(fast) Communication of

science

TQ Oct 2009


Why bother ?


science

Establish a reputation

TQ Oct 2009


Why bother ?


science


Focus the mind

TQ Oct 2009


Why bother ?


science


Curriculum Vitae

Focus the mind

TQ Oct 2009


Why bother ?


science


Curriculum Vitae

To get a publication

Focus the mind

TQ Oct 2009


Why bother ?


science


Curriculum Vitae


Focus the mind

Learned discussio

n

TQ Oct 2009


Why bother ?


science


Curriculum Vitae


Focus the mind

Learned discussio

n

Necessary for manuscript

TQ Oct 2009


Why bother ?


science


Curriculum Vitae


Focus the mind

Learned discussio

n

Necessary for manuscript

It beats proper work

TQ Oct 2009

Abstract Selection Process

Abstracts centrally collated

Independent quantitative assessment by “expert(s)”

May be single / double blinded

“Objective” scoring criteria

Score for selection (oral / poster) determined

(varies with number of submissions)

approx 33% acceptance rate for international meetings

TQ Oct 2009

Abstracts General Points

Should be a “stand alone” piece of work

– No new information

– No reference to manuscript

Should be written after study complete / after first draft

Clear, short sentences (reviewers not all native English speakers)

Third person, active voice, past tense

Avoid jargon, abbreviations

TQ Oct 2009

Abstract SubmissionGJAF SYMPOSIUM 2010

Title :

Authors:

Section: Trials □ Science □ Epidemiology □ Economics □

Platform: Oral □ Poster □

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusion Max words:250

TQ Oct 2009

Which meeting?

Specialist v. Generalist

Local v. National v. International

TQ Oct 2009

Which meeting?


TQ Oct 2009

Which meeting?


Difficulty:

Often inclusiveDifficulty:

< 1/3 accepted

TQ Oct 2009

Which meeting?


Difficulty:


< 1/3 accepted

? Abstract published

? Abstract published in high impact

journal

TQ Oct 2009

Which meeting?


Difficulty:


< 1/3 accepted



journalNetworking Research profile

TQ Oct 2009

Which meeting?


Difficulty:


< 1/3 accepted



journalNetworking Research profile

Small size, useful

discussion

BIG size

TQ Oct 2009

Which meeting?


££

TQ Oct 2009

Which meeting?


£ £Society travel grants

University awards

ST / SpR Study

budget

Industry

TQ Oct 2009

An abstract threesome

Submission of original research to one local, one national and one

international meeting (with one published abstract) is acceptable

TQ Oct 2009


Title :

Authors:



Introduction

Methods

Results


TQ Oct 2009

Title

Terry’s brilliant review

TQ Oct 2009

Title

Terry’s brilliant review

Keywords

TQ Oct 2009

Title

Review of TGF-β in CHD

Keywords

TQ Oct 2009

Title

Review of TGF-β in CHD

Keywords

Avoid abbreviations

TQ Oct 2009

Title

Review of Transforming Growth Factor-β in Coronary Heart Disease

Keywords

Avoid abbreviations

TQ Oct 2009

Title

Review of Transforming Growth Factor-β in Coronary Heart Disease

Keywords

Avoid abbreviations

Be specific

(Include design: avoid review of…; study of…)

TQ Oct 2009

Title

Systematic review and meta-analysis of serum Transforming Growth Factor-β and association with Coronary Heart Disease

Keywords

Avoid abbreviations

Be specific

TQ Oct 2009

Title


Keywords

Avoid abbreviations

Be specific

Be creative - maybe

TQ Oct 2009

Title

TGF-β or not TGF-β that is the question

Keywords

Avoid abbreviations

Be specific

Be creative ?

TQ Oct 2009

Title


Keywords

Avoid abbreviations

Be specific

Be creative – maybe

Be definitive – if the data allows

TQ Oct 2009

Title

There is no association between serum Transforming Growth Factor-β and Coronary Heart Disease Systematic review and meta-

analysis

Keywords

Avoid abbreviations

Be specific

Be creative – maybe

Be definitive – if the data allows

TQ Oct 2009


Title :

Authors:



Introduction

Methods

Results


TQ Oct 2009

Authors

Include them all

(remember statisticians, original data collection)

….. and let them approve abstract before submission

First author usually presents

Author(s) may need to be member of society for submission

What is your research name ?

TQ Oct 2009


Title :

Authors:



Introduction

Methods

Results


TQ Oct 2009

Section

Some meetings may have only one section

Space devoted to sections may not be equal

Submissions for each section may not be equal

Assessors for each session will differ

Timing of sections may differ

Some meetings have non-research sections (interesting cases)

TQ Oct 2009


Title :

Authors:



Introduction

Methods

Results


TQ Oct 2009

Platform

Always choose oral platforms

– Kudos

– Better exposure

– Publication chances increased

– Posters are a hassle

If not successful, abstract will be considered for poster

TQ Oct 2009


Title :

Authors:



Introduction

Methods

Results


TQ Oct 2009

IntroductionWhy did you do this

Keep it short

One or two sentences summarising background

If more than three sentences - rethink

Clear and explicit hypothesis

Avoid references

Don’t overstate relevance – “This is the first….”

TQ Oct 2009

MethodsWhat did you do

The most important section

…so spend a bit of time getting it right

Describe statistical techniques

Randomisation / blinding

Describe population / intervention / control / outcome

(try to keep blinded)

Ethical approval / consent / disclosures are assumed

TQ Oct 2009

ResultsWhat did you find

If possible avoid “p” and “statistically significant”

Basic descriptive data on subjects

Include all relevant data, assume only the text will be seen

avoid reference to talk / paper

Graphs / tables / figures not always possible (max one)

may not link to abstract when submitted fro review

may not link to abstract when published

TQ Oct 2009

ConclusionWhat does it mean

Keep it simple (more than three sentences – rethink)

Not a discussion

Are conclusions consistent with results

Avoid “further studies are necessary…”

Conclusions not opinions

May be only bit audience reads

TQ Oct 2009

The obvious

Don’t miss submission deadline

Don’t go over word limit

Make sure you can go to meeting

Don’t stop at abstract – full manuscript is the goal

Try out talks at future G-JAF meetings

glasgow junior academic forum

Documents