Social media platforms have revolutionized the way we communicate and connect with each other. When employed effectively, they can be an invaluable tool for professional development, networking and personal branding for scientists. For underrepresented minority scientists, social media can also increase their visibility and draw attention to the disparities faced by their communities. This presentation offered advice and practical strategies on the effective use of social media platforms, particularly Twitter, to create a professional online presence, for personal branding and career advancement. This session was offered at the 2015 SACNAS National Conference by Dr. Mónica I. Feliú-Mójer, Dr. Yaihara Fortis-Santiago and Ms. Liz Neeley.

1. Social Media for Personal Branding and
Career Advancement
Liz Neeley, @lizneeley
Mónica Feliú-Mójer, @moefeliu
Yaihara For;s San;ago, @yfor;ss
Thursday, October 28th, 2015
SACNAS Na;onal Conference
Na;onal Harbor, Maryland
#SACNAS2015

2. Workshop Agenda
• First part:
– Importance of Social Media
– Social Media Basics
– Career Advancement
– Personal Branding
• Second part:
– Panel: Challenges and opportuni;es

3. Importance of Social Media
• Ac;ve voice
• Bridge to opportuni;es
• Access Connec;ons/Networking/Collaborators
• Professional Brand
• Find communi;es
• Being present
• Makes you a beWer communicator

5. Today we will focus on:
Tweet, retweet and engage with us!

6. Yaihara For;s-San;ago, PhD
@yfor;ss

7. Mónica Feliú-Mójer, PhD
@moefeliu

8. Liz Neeley, MS
@lizneeley

9. Image credit: CC BY-NC 2.0 Tamsin Ma

10. @ = username
# = hashtag
= favorite
= retweet

18. Image credit: CC BY-NC 2.0 Jus9n

19. Career Advancement:
Crea7ng Content
• Develop a voice
• Make it about your niche/exper;se
• Engage with followers, experts and influen;al
people
• Understand trends (#’s)
• Share content from reputable sources/people

20. Career Advancement:
Finding/Crea7ng Communi7es
• Find communi;es of interest
– #BLACKandSTEM
– #La;noandSTEM
– #Na;veScience
– #WomeninSTEM
• Counter isola;on
• Strength in numbers

21. Career Advancement:
Networking
• Visibility
• You could be iden;fy as a content expert
• Invita;on to events
• Give you access to other professionals
– Accountability

22. Career Advancement:
Connec7ng with Opportuni7es
• Speaking engagements
• Part of the convo from afar
• Learn about resources faster
• Learn about what other professionals are
doing
– Conferences, fellowships, funding opportuni;es

23. Personal/Professional Branding
• Great way to show your communica;on skills
• Gecng known at conferences
– SACNAS is a great place to start!
• Many jobs, and labs have twiWer accounts
• Replicate your brand iden;ty from plaform to
plaform

24. TwiWer E;queWe

25. Be mindful of your posts
• Privacy, privacy, privacy
• Keep it classy
• Google yourself
• Be your own editor

26. Feliú-Mójer tweets in
Spanish and English
Swears occasionally
Harvard graduate a
passionate advocate for
STEM, diversity and
education
Co-leads organization
engaging Hispanic
scientists with science
education and
communication

27. Find/follow Influencers and Leaders

28. Scien;sts and cool people to engage
on TwiWer

29. Group Exercise
Groups of 4-5
Answer and discuss the ques;ons below:
• What do you want to get out of social media?
• How could you reach that goal star;ng today?

30. I want to start today, what should I
do?
• Start at SACNAS
– Use the #SACNAS2015
– Find social media street team
– Look for speakers at sessions and main events
(Keynote, etc..)
– Get the conference App

31. Take ;me to respond, don’t just react!

32. Have fun!