This advice is what has worked for me at #ASV2023 meetings in the past.

It may not work for you, but hopefully gives you some thoughts on how to approach networking.

Last bit of advice: Trust your gut.

You won’t connect with some people. Maybe they aren’t a good fit or make you feel uncomfortable.

Don’t stay engaged cause they are in an important lab or are part of a cool club.

These interactions are often paths to toxicity. Beware…

Once you start in a group bring others in.

Maybe people from your university or the guy you met on the bus. Whoever.

Grow the group you interact with. It will help everyone network.

At one #ASV I glommed onto
Tim Sheahan
&
@christopherbrooke.bsky.social
having met them at a UNC grad school interview years earlier ( I didn’t get in).

I hung out with UNC people that meeting and thereafter and paved my way to a postdoc there years later.

“But I don’t know anyone at #ASV2023”

Advice 5: Find a group of people. Students from your lab, university are a good start. Friendships in lab are often started at conferences through shared experiences.

From there you can go to groups like #binningvirologists & other groups

Advice 4: careful approaching groups of faculty to chat.

We were all once trainees. When we are together, we talk science. We also gossip and talk smack. Most of us don’t do that in front of trainees.

Be aware of what your interrupting. Read the signals. It’s ok, but be cool.

Personally I take an intro more seriously as the person introducing vouches for you.

Also I will get more info from them later so make sure your contact will be truthful and supportive (in that order for me).

“But I really want to post doc in that lab.” What’s the best way to contact.

Advice 3: get someone to introduce you.

Did you make friends with a grad student in their lab? Did your boss post doc with them? Does a PD you know know them?

Ask your contact to make intro.

I once met a famous scientist at a conference in a foreign country.

He was dressed differently than normal and looked exactly like a waiter at the hotel restaurant. You can imagine how this went for me.

Pretty sure he remembers, and not fondly. Avoid that.

So take advantage of chance encounters. Introduce yourself. Maybe a short bit on your science. If the conversation doesn’t go anywhere, let it go.

Be cool and let it flow naturally. Don’t be weird. They’ll remember that.