How to!
How to give your first oral presentation at an international conference
From the PhD office to an international stage: In June, PhD student Anne Møller Clausen presented her research at an international conference for the very first time. Here’s how she tackled the challenge – and how you might too.
Anne Møller Clausen is a PhD student at the Haematology Research Unit, Department of Clinical Research, Odense University Hospital. Her research focuses on supportive care for patients with a rare haematological condition. That means everything surrounding chemotherapy – such as screening for medication side effects, managing symptoms, addressing depression, family life and more.
– We noticed that some patients could benefit from a more structured support during their treatment, so we established what is likely the world’s first specialised nurse-led outpatient clinic for people with AL amyloidosis. Together with my supervisory team, I decided to aim for an oral presentation at the International Council of Nurses congress, says Anne Møller Clausen.
What is amyloidosis?
Amyloidosis is a rare condition in which certain proteins in the body fold incorrectly. When this happens, the body is unable to break them down, and they accumulate as stiff deposits known as amyloid.
These amyloid deposits can build up in different organs – including the heart, kidneys, liver or nerves – where they cause the tissues to become rigid and gradually impair normal function.
There are several types of amyloidosis, classified by the type of protein involved. The most common forms are:
AL amyloidosis: Caused by abnormal cells in the bone marrow that produce antibodies. These cells create a misfolded protein in excess, which the body cannot break down, leading to deposits in various organs.
ATTR amyloidosis: Caused by a protein made in the liver that becomes unstable and misfolds – either due to ageing or an inherited genetic variant.
Treatment aims to stop the production of the faulty protein and to support organ function throughout the course of the illness.
– I submitted an abstract outlining our work on developing and setting up the nurse-led clinic. In it, I described what I planned to present – including the aims, methods, results and practical relevance.
Anne found out she had been selected to present around six months before the conference. This gave her plenty of time to plan both her clinical responsibilities and her preparation.
Practise, practise, practise
Practise is one of Anne’s key pieces of advice.
– I put my presentation together and discussed it with my supervisors and supportive colleagues to make sure the message was clear, says Anne.
– Then I started rehearsing. I practised my wording, body language and emphasis. I also teamed up with a research secretary who’s very skilled in English. It gave me a safe space to practise and get feedback.
Anne also rehearsed her talk in front of colleagues.
– I asked them to give honest feedback and challenge me with questions. I’d rather hear what needs improving early on – so I can do something about it, she explains.
In addition to feedback from colleagues and collaborators, Anne took the PhD course How to structure an oral presentation, offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences (SUND). It gave her useful tools and insights into how to shape her presentation effectively.
Recommended courses from Anne Møller Clausen
- How to structure an oral presentation
- Forskere formidler (Researchers communicate), offered by Videnskab.dk
Templates and guidelines
Anne created her own PowerPoint presentation, which she reviewed with colleagues during her rehearsals.
The congress organisers had provided a standard template – including a fixed title slide, background slide and closing slide – along with detailed guidelines on slide order and mandatory elements, such as financial disclosures.
– I was a bit surprised by how strict the requirements were, but in some ways it actually made things easier. It helped to have a clear framework to work within, says Anne.
She also discussed the presentation’s angle, slides and content with her supervisors, to make sure they were fully on board with what was being presented in their name.
Anne Møller Clausen’s PowerPoint tips
I used a guide from the University of Leicester – Simple tips for great presentations. I created my slides using Canva.com, and before getting started, I looked at examples for inspiration. It can be really helpful to watch other people’s presentations on YouTube or explore guides from other universities – many of them offer practical tips on structure, visual design and how to keep your audience engaged.
– It’s incredibly useful to test your ideas with people who bring different perspectives – supervisors who understand the scientific and international dimensions, and colleagues who reflect the audience you’ll be presenting to, says Anne.
A learning experience for life
Anne was surprised to discover that the presentation had to be uploaded about a month in advance. She encourages others to check deadlines early – they may come sooner than expected.
Fortunately, other surprises were much more positive.
– I came home with so many new perspectives. I was asked questions straight after my talk – and even received emails afterwards. It added real depth to the project, because the questions brought in new angles for our research team, says Anne.
The oral presentation also opened doors Anne hadn’t anticipated. She was invited to receptions and social events, where people recognised her and started conversations about the project.
– It definitely didn’t put me off – I’m already looking forward to doing it again, she concludes.
Meet the researcher
Anne Møller Clausen is a nurse and PhD student at the Research Unit for Haematology, Department of Clinical Research and Odense University Hospital. Her research focuses on supportive care for patients with AL amyloidosis.
Anne Møller Clausen’s step-by-step guide
Check with your supervisors whether your project is a good fit for the conference. Read the call for abstracts together. Consider: Is the conference clinical, methodological or thematic? Agree on your core message – and who your target audience is.
Write your abstract – and follow the requirements closely. Use the conference’s abstract template – there’s almost always one. Stick to the word or character limits. Discuss with your supervisor whether you should aim for an oral presentation or a poster.
Once your abstract is accepte. Familiarise yourself with all deadlines – they’re often earlier than expected. Find out what the presentation should include: time limit, number of slides, colours, logos, templates. Check if there are mandatory elements such as disclaimers, funding acknowledgements or institutional affiliations. Also confirm whether the presentation needs to be uploaded in advance – and by when.
Prepare your presentation. Create an initial version of your slides. Review them with your supervisors. Make adjustments and get feedback again. Practise your presentation out loud – not just in your head. Ask colleagues for honest feedback. Add brief notes to your slides so you know exactly what to say.
Use the ‘Show it, don’t tell it’ principle. Choose one concrete example from practice. Show what you did – focus on one intervention, not the entire project. Highlight the difference it made. End with something actionable, e.g. “If this sounds familiar, you could start by…”
On the day. Know when to arrive and where to check in. Attend the technical run-through (lights, sound, pointer, screen, slides).
And finally: Take a deep breath. You’re ready.