Elevator Pitches: Your research, in a nutshell
A strong elevator pitch is a short, engaging way to share your research in a way that invites curiosity and connection with others.
When Elena, a neuroscience grad student, met someone from a biotech company at a conference social, she didn’t start with “I’m studying long-term potentiation in hippocampal CA1 neurons.” Instead, she said, “I study how memory works—specifically how the brain strengthens certain connections when we learn something new. We think it could help us understand memory loss in aging.” Boom. Clear, relevant, and approachable.
Imagine you just stepped into an elevator with a potential advisor, funder, or future collaborator. You’ve got 30–60 seconds—what do you say about your research?
This isn’t about cramming your whole thesis into a single breath. It’s about sparking curiosity and inviting connection. Think of your elevator pitch like a movie trailer: it doesn’t tell the whole story—it makes people want to hear more.
A great elevator pitch:
Says what your research is about, in plain language.
Connects to the big picture—why it matters.
Shares what you’re excited to figure out next.
Keep it conversational. No jargon, no long-winded explanations. Just a few sentences that make someone say, “Oh, that’s cool—tell me more!”
You don’t need to be “perfect”—you just need to be you. Speak with clarity, show your excitement, and trust that people are interested in what you’re building.
For 10 minutes:
Define your goal and audience. Then, write the WHAT, So WHAT, and Now WHAT of your work so that is a 1-min long overview of your work. Use a generative AI tool for ideas.
Practice saying it to yourself and others. Continue rehearsing it for an additional 10 minutes a day until it flows comfortably.