Networking & Communication Skills for Scientists-- Workshop in Collaboration with CU Anschutz

Keystone Symposia and The University of Colorado Anschutz Graduate School (CU Anschutz) are teaming up to provide training opportunities for conference attendees interested in boosting their networking and communication skills. In a joint workshop geared towards empowering participants to make the most of their conference experience, the workshop will focus on practical tips and tricks for scientists to engage with colleagues and put their best foot forward. These ‘soft skills’ are critical to short- and long-term success of researchers, and are often overlooked in today’s fast-paced research environment.   

The collaboration between Keystone Symposia and CU Anschutz arose out of a common mission to support the next generation of scientists, and enable them to achieve their career goals.  In discussions between the leadership teams, it became clear there was particular need and interest from trainees for such a workshop as this generation of scientists was impacted by pandemic shut-downs which limited their experience with in-person conferences. As the first generation to grow up with social media, these scientists are more comfortable with online communications and networking than the older generation, which has some benefits— but this background also puts digital-generation researchers at a disadvantage at in-person conferences where rubbing shoulders with Nobel Laureates and field leaders can be extremely daunting!  Recognizing these challenges that the next-generations faces, Keystone Symposia and CU Anschutz aim to provide these promising young stars with the skills they need to become future field leaders in a special pre-conference workshop.  

This workshop is one of many projects demonstrating our commitment to elevating early-career scientists.  By collaborating with CU Anschutz, we are unlocking a unique ecosystem of mentorship, storytelling skills and networking that transforms potential into momentum. For Keystone Symposia, this partnership isn’t just strategic:  it’s powerful evidence that when we bring world-class talent and dedicated institutional partners together, we accelerate discovery, expand scientific access, and set the stage for the next generation of leaders.”

-Dr. Jamie Baumgartner, President & CEO, Keystone Symposia 

Benefits for Scientists Across Career Stages 

While inspired by the needs of trainees, the workshop is not limited to students.  Post-docs, early-career scientists, clinical researchers, and others are encouraged to join, as these networking and communications skills can benefit scientists at any career stage, and in any sector. In particular, introverted scientists who tend to shy away from networking often miss out on career building opportunities; introverts have much to gain from the workshop, which will equip them will the tools and practice to comfortably navigate networking situations and open the door to new possibilities in their research and careers. (I know because I speak from experience!)   

The workshop will address tools for networking, as well as communication, which are intertwined but distinct skill sets:  

• Networking:  Focuses on how to make interpersonal connections at the conference, including tips to initiate conversations with field leaders and strategies for forging lasting relationships and collaborations that will serve you throughout your career.   
  
• Communication: Covers how to best communicate your science to different audiences and in different contexts to engage the person you want to connect with, whether an editor, potential collaborator, funder, future employer, venture capitalist, policy maker, or various other players in the biomedical arena. 

Most scientists lack training in these areas, which limits the potential and impact of their work.  

The CU Anschutz Graduate School is pleased to partner with Keystone Symposium for the ‘Maximize Your Keystone Symposia Experience’ program presented by our own Career Development team. Tangible skills to build professional relationships at scientific meetings and share the impact of your science maximizes the return on the investment for students, postdocs and junior faculty. We are excited to show off our beautiful campus and talented scientists.  

-Dr. Jennifer K Richer, Dean, CU Anschutz Graduate School 

CU Anschutz Graduate School Campus

The Inaugural Pre-Conference Workshop 

The first iteration of this workshop was held on April 6, 2025, for attendees of the Lipids in Cellular Function and Disease conference in Breckenridge, Colorado. Nineteen participants, including graduate students, postdocs and early-career scientists from across academic, industry and non-profit institutions, registered for the interactive training modules developed by Dr. Bruce Mandt, Associate Dean of the CU Anschutz graduate school and Director of CU Anschutz Post-Doctoral Career Development Office.  Dr. Mandt hosts similar trainings for CU Anschutz trainees  and customized the Keystone Symposia Pre-Conference Workshop to specifically focus on the conference setting for a variety of attendees across career stages.  

Unlike many large society conferences where it’s easy to get lost in the crowd, Keystone Symposia offer an ideal setting to build professional networks and connect with potential collaborators. But networking can still feel intimidating, especially for early-career scientists. That’s what makes this partnership so cool. We’ve designed a workshop to help participants feel empowered to network and then turn them loose in the perfect situation to reap the benefits of networking. This direct skills acquisition-application design is pretty unique and will help engrain effective networking as a practice participants can leverage for rest of their careers.   

-Dr. Bruce Mandt, Associate Dean of the CU Anschutz Graduate School and Director of CU Anschutz Post-Doctoral Career Development Office 

At the inaugural event, participants came in trepidatious, and after two hours of working with Dr. Mandt and his team, walked out the door already chatting confidently with each other and enthusiastic to deploy their skills in the ensuing Welcome Reception. Transformed from wall flowers into budding social butterflies, they continued to practice their newfound skills throughout the conference, at coffee breaks, poster sessions, share meals and group activities –discovering new opportunities along the way that arise from the serendipity of informal conversations, and unlocking the magic of Keystone Symposia. 

From those who attended, the workshop received glowing reviews.  100% of survey respondents agreed that the workshop was valuable, and specifically that: 

• The skills & tips from the pre-conference workshop led to connections during the conference that they planned to maintain beyond the conference itself. 
• They felt the workshop would positively affect their overall career development
  

It was a great way to begin the conference as it provided the groundwork for networking, and a place to practice networking tools in a very low-pressure environment with peers.

- Workshop Participant 

Expanding the Initiative and Impact at CU Anschutz 

After the success of this workshop, we have expanded the initiative into a larger event this year, hosted on the CU Anschutz campus in the state-of-the-art Elliman Conference Center facility.  The workshop will precede four conferences that begin on March 16, 2026, at venues in the Colorado mountains, extending the impact of the workshop to serve scientists across various fields.  These conferences are in fact joint meetings, where attendees get full access to two meetings for the price of one. Joint conferences are specifically designed to foster interdisciplinary insights and collaborations that drive research and medicine in new and innovative directions. 

• B Cells and Plasma Cells: Fundamental and Translational Biology joint with

• B and T Cell Collaboration in Lymphoid and Nonlymphoid Microenvironments 
  

• Islet Biology and Diabetes: Beta Cell Compensation, Failure and Recovery joint with

• Gut-Brain Axis 

The CU Anschutz Pre-Conference Workshop is offered as an add-on to the above conferences in the 2026 Keystone Symposia meeting season. Colorado-based scientists are also encouraged to attend. 

Through hands-on activities and personalized feedback, participants will learn: 

• Practical tools to make the most of the conference experience 

• Skills for initiating, sustaining and wrapping up conversations smoothly 

• Strategies to develop connections into lasting collaborative relationships 

• How to craft your research story tailored to diverse audience, whether peers, Nobel Laureates, publishers, funders, future employers and other critical audiences, to advance your research and career 

Participants will leave the workshop empowered to make a lasting impression and maximize every networking opportunity at the March conferences and beyond. 

Event Details: 
 
March 16, 2026 | Elliman Conference Center, CU Anschutz Campus |  $85         

The cost of the workshop, which includes lunch and transportation to the conference, is roughly the same as the cost of a shuttle from the airport to the conference venues.   

Register early to secure your spot in this formative career development opportunity! 

Learn more here!

https://www.keystonesymposia.org/cu-anschutz-workshop