Mock Chalk Talks - June 16 & 26

Are you a postdoc considering an academic job? If so, you will likely be asked to give a chalk talk—a high-stakes presentation where you communicate your research vision to a faculty hiring committee. Curious what that entails and how to prepare?

We are excited to invite you to a two-part Mock Chalk Talk Series designed to illuminate the chalk talk process for early-career scientists preparing for the 2025–2026 academic job market.

Dr. Zongliang Chen, a Research Associate at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology, will deliver a mock chalk talk focused on: Genetic regulation of meristem development and somatic embryogenesis in maize

Location: RWJMS Research Tower, Room V12

Session 1: June 16 | 3:00–5:00 PM (Opening 10 minutes and introduction strategy)

Session 2: June 26 | 1:00–3:00 PM (Full-length chalk talk with Q&A)

Both sessions will be attended by Rutgers faculty volunteers serving as a mock hiring committee, providing constructive feedback from the perspective of an actual search panel. We are also thrilled to welcome chalk talk expert Dr. Erik Snapp—Director of Student and Postdoctoral Programs at Janelia and Adjunct Professor at Johns Hopkins University—who will offer live insights and critique during the first two sessions only.

Refreshments will be provided. Please register for one or both of the sessions here

If you are a postdoc planning to enter the academic job market and are interested in practicing your chalk talk in this format, please contact:

Dr. Liisa Veerus (lv273@cabm.rutgers.edu) and Dr. Janet Alder (janet.alder@rutgers.edu).

The event is sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology and the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, Rutgers Health.