Short bio academic

Whether you’re presenting at a conference for the first time or you’re a seasoned professional looking to change your bio, our little guide will help you create a speaker bio that will grab the reader's attention and provide the right information for your audience.

So, let’s dive in.

What is a Speaker Bio?

Let’s start at the beginning.

A speaker bio is an essential tool.

It grabs the attention of attendees and helps them decide whether to attend your session.

It is a written introduction, essentially your “business card,” that includes crucial information about you and your expertise while hinting at the value of your session.

So, it must be professional yet engaging, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

Okay, if this is your first time writing a speaker bio, you may feel a little daunted, but don’t fret — we’ve got you covered.

What a Speaker Bio should include (short version)

• Name and title

• Education & qualifications

• Experience & specialisms in your field (current role first)

• Achievements

• About your presentation

• Contact information

Nice to include if permitted:

• Key takeaways from your presentation

• Past speaker experience (name previous conferences you have spoken at)

The bio will often be short, so keep this in mind when writing it. It should also be written in the third person.

The conference organisers will tell you how many words are required, but be warned: It can be as little as words. Avoid unnecessary jargon and ensure every word adds value and is easy to understand.

Keeping it concise is crucial.

If you present at many conferences, you’ll likely have to tweak the bio for each conference. Why? You want to write the bio for the audience attending, and no two audiences are the same.

Plus, if your presentation changes topics, you’ll need to alter your bio slightly to highlight the areas you’ll be covering.

Let’s go into depth on what to include in your bio so you produce an excep

After a paper has been accepted or a conference talk has been arranged, you may be asked to provide your academic biography. For publications and conference presentations, you may be asked for a short one of 30 to 50 words. Applying for grants and jobs may require a longer biography between and words. Writing about yourself can be uncomfortable, but there is a way to write an effective biography without feeling like you’re boasting.

For a short biography, the following should be included:

• your full name
• position
• institution
• research interests in brief

Here is an example.

Dr. June Ava Smith is a professor at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on identifying and understanding key pathways involved in the development of soybean root nodules. Identification of these pathways may allow non-legumes to be engineered for nodule formation.

A longer biography will have multiple paragraphs and should include the following:

• your full name
• academic degrees
• current position
• institution
• research interests
• awards or distinctions
• publications

Here are a sample of longer biographies:
Leanne Jones, PhD Principal Investigator

Tips

1. Write in formal language and in the third person.
2. Use humor sparingly. Save the comedy for your stand-up act.
3. Do not divulge too much personal information.
4. Do not pack it with all of the information in your CV.
5. Avoid exclamation marks and symbols like emojis.

Remember that although you’re writing about yourself, you’re helping others to understand your academic credentials when they’re introducing you for a talk or assessing your grant proposal. Let your light shine!

Most early-career academicians and PhD students spend a lot of time in research. They are often engaged in submitting papers to journals and conferences and sometimes contributing articles and chapters, and publishing books. These generally require their core credentials to be presented in the form of a short academic biography. Such bios are also needed for posting on departmental or personal websites and social media platforms as well. Academic bios are crucial as they help to establish a researcher&#;s professional identity, facilitate networking and collaboration, and create opportunities for career advancement. 

However, writing an academic bio is no easy task. In fact, most early career researchers find writing their academic autobiography more challenging than writing a complex research paper. Creating an academic bio requires researchers to introspect on their careers and present their achievements using a delicate balance between humility and self-promotion. Content also needs to be tailored depending on where the bio will be given. Moreover, maintaining the right mix of factual accuracy and engaging storytelling is essential and can be challenging. No wonder, then, that understanding the nuances involved in creating an impactful bio is a crucial skill that early career researchers must develop.  

This article explores the intricacies of crafting an engaging academic autobiography, shares details on how to structure it, and outlines the key elements that it must include. It also offers some great tips that make the writing process easier.  

Academic biography: structure and essential elements

While there are different ways in which you can present your academic biography, there are two basic frameworks that are usually used &#;  

Short academic bio

Written using words, a brief biography is generally used for articles, books, and conferences. It should include the following key elements: 

• Write your full n

Author bios, or speaker bios, can be used for a variety of purposes. They can be included as part of your application to present at a conference (check out our Call for Papers Template) or posted to an event website to introduce yourself as a presenter at the event.

Bios can also be helpful to have on your profile in the participant directory of the conference management tool used for the event, so that others to know what you’re working on. 

For many, an author bio is their first introduction to their peers – sort of like a digital, written handshake. In the world of academic conferences, conference programmes and websites (see How to Plan Your Scientific Conference) will include a biography of every speaker.

An interesting, engaging bio can help encourage others to participate in the event, and impact the number of people who attend your presentation, so it’s important to take your time, do your research, and write a biography that will highlight the characteristics that set you apart from the rest. 

How do you write a good short bio?

Start by taking notes of your strengths and accomplishments. Look at your CV and pull out the very basics like where you went to school and your primary area of interest, then add in the impressive details like fellowships, published pieces, or exciting collaborations.

Here are the detailed steps to take to write a bio that will inspire your peers to attend your presentation or connect with you in a breakout session.

Step 1: Find out the required length

When you’re writing a speaker bio for a specific conference, make sure you know the length of bio the organizer is looking for. Each conference will have its own guidelines, and some will even ask for two versions – a longer one for the event website and a shorter one for the printed program. 

Step 2. Write in the third person

Write your bio as if you’re writing it about someone else. Not only is this the