Boyi Guo, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Sarah Samorodnitsky, University of Minnesota

Boyi Guo

A key component of advancing JEDI in our profession is ensuring that all students and young professionals have access to the knowledge and resources needed to benefit from new and perhaps unfamiliar professional activities. This month’s JEDI Corner from two student contributors offers practical advice to junior statisticians preparing for their first conference experience.

For early-career statisticians, attending national conferences, like the Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) next month, can be an overwhelming experience. It might feel like there is a collection of unwritten norms and processes, referred to as the hidden curriculum, to follow. In this article, we offer some transparency on the conferences’ hidden curriculum. Specifically, we highlight some tips about financial and mental preparation for conference trips and networking strategies. We acknowledge individual experience, needs, and resources may vary substantially; nevertheless, we hope our suggestions will help you navigate conferences more confidently.

Tip 1: Access Financial Support

National conferences can be costly due to registration and travel expenses, which are difficult for students to endure independently. Hence, finding sponsorship is essential. Some common sources include training grants, advisors’ research and institution funds, department and university travel support, conference programs (e.g., the JSM Diversity Mentoring Workshop provides some travel support to students), and other statistics interest groups (e.g., the Caucus for Women in Statistics offers travel awards). Graduate student organizations at your university may also award travel funds to students who apply. It’s not uncommon to reach out to faculty collaborators and mentors who encourage and take responsibility to advance your professional development and give you opportunities to showcase research achievements. We advise preparing a travel justification (e.g. oral presentation, educational program) and budget when proactively reaching out. In addition, be familiar with the funding policies, including which expenses and how much are covered for reimbursement (so you don’t eat homemade PB&Js for every meal only to find out about hundreds of dollars in dining allowance afterward – please don’t ask us why we have such specific examples). Ask about the deadline for submitting expenses, and if the upfront costs (like registration, flights, and hotels) can be paid directly, so you do not have to wait for reimbursement.

Sarah Samorodnitsky

Tip 2: Budget Your Time

Have you considered how to budget your time and effort for the conference trip? For example, if you are immediately heading into finals week after a conference, exhausting yourself by attending eight hours of scientific programs for three days straight and enduring an additional day of traveling may not be worthwhile. Instead, be mindful of the conference’s timing within your schedule. Consider viewing the program in advance to prioritize the sessions you are most interested in. Many conferences, including JSM, offer sessions across many scientific topics but also on professional development, teaching practices, coding skills, and promoting diversity and inclusivity in the statistics profession. We suggest balancing your schedule with scientific and non-scientific activities. Professional conferences usually offer career services, mentoring workshops, and mixers. These are great opportunities to jump-start your career. Meanwhile, don’t overlook the roundtable discussions. They are an interactive and effective medium to gain knowledge and build relationships. Do not feel impeded as an early-career statistician – your unique experience and perspective will contribute, even your questions. We also recommend allocating time for socializing and leisure. Such activities, e.g. city and food tours, will help you recover mentally and physically. Besides, exploring a new city could help you decide on your next professional destination. Be aware that some organized events (normally discounted for early-stage professionals) can inflict extra costs that should be accounted for in your financial budget.

Tip 3: Identify Your Expectations

With a budget in hand, it’s time to outline your expectations and goals. We advocate setting expectations within a general theme, such as developing your professional skills and connections. Scientific presentations at conferences are inspiring and exciting, but are normally too brief to develop a complete understanding. Early-career and senior statisticians alike may not understand the entirety of a scientific talk. Don’t be frustrated! Instead, expect to return home with a list of topics and papers to investigate further. On the other hand, conferences provide a great platform to connect with others (especially other early-career statisticians!) with whom you can seek advice or exchange scientific ideas, leading to possible future collaboration. Another general suggestion is to set “low” but realistic goals. As motivated individuals, it is easy to set aggressive goals to take full advantage of the valuable opportunities. It is also easy to forget how stressful the conference experience can be, e.g., seeing thousands of people in a maze-like venue for the first time in two years, meeting your statistics idols or the leaders of your dream institution, or feeling imposter syndrome. Adjusting your expectations can prepare you mentally and ease into the conference. While you plan your goals, it is natural to iteratively adjust your time and effort budget discussed above.

Tip 4: Network, Network, Network

An important part of professional conferences is to connect and network. This can be a daunting task. Conferences typically offer structured networking events. For example, at the upcoming JSM there will be several mixers and receptions, including the First-Time Attendee Orientation (August 7th), the Opening Mixer (August 7th), and the Student Mixer (August 8th). We also recommend mentoring programs and round-table discussions as potential opportunities. In these settings, people share similar backgrounds and/or passions. It makes bonding easy. An example is the JSM Diversity and Mentoring Program, which connects statisticians at all career stages from historically underrepresented backgrounds. We also suggest structuring your networking in a purposeful way so that it can generate short-term rewards. For example, proactively reach out to those who work in your targeted research field or institution, the professionals who are in the career path you are interested in, and even other attendees to ask for shadowing opportunities during the conference. By this point, you can already celebrate as you’ve begun networking and making a professional impression. Remember, being respectful and thoughtful in your initiations and asking insightful questions will show your commitment. As a general principle, we recommend preparing a short bio that introduces yourself professionally, an elevator pitch to showcase your idea or passion, and an update-to-date resume/CV to share easily.

Tip 5: Get Involved

Lastly, we recommend getting involved in program planning for future conferences if possible. This can include chairing a presentation session or organizing a session of your choice— yes, even students can do this! While this can feel intimidating, it is an opportunity to showcase a topic of interest to you. We also recommend joining an ASA section, where you can make and deepen your connections with others in your subfield. There are several ASA committees that sponsor conference events and facilitate community, like LGBTQ+ Advocacy Committee, Committee on Minorities in Statistics, and Committee on Statistics and Disability. These are effective ways to instill even more purpose in your conference travel and help you engage in the broader statistics community.

There are many other equally important topics that we do not have space to discuss, such as finding your support group or structuring a short talk. Topics like these within the hidden conference curriculum are difficult to navigate. We hope our suggestions can help to develop a more equitable experience for all early-career statisticians. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help and suggestions from your peers, mentors, advisors, and conference organizers. Be humble but confident – you got this! We look forward to seeing you at future conferences. Oh, and keep your receipts.