June 22, 2017, by Lisa Chin

Research Showcase Experience #1

This post is written by Tham Shiau Ying, Overall Winner and the recipient of the Best Poster Award.

I was a little apprehensive to begin with the task of preparing a 250 word press release in a simplistic layman version of my PhD work. Yet, the experience was both challenging and unique because I had to convey my research to a wider audience from a different perspective.

As for the poster preparation, I searched high and low online for inspiration in order to make my poster a standout among the norm. After a few changes on the design, I finally came out with a poster that I was most satisfied with.

On the day of the Research Showcase, I was rather rattled upon the arrival of the first judge. But I grew more confident as the day went on and the audience became more inquisitive at my work. The audience expressions helped me to come out with ideas to better explain my research in simple terms and emphasise some interesting facts.

I had thoroughly enjoyed the showcase by putting my best foot forward without much thought on getting an award. So when I was announced as the winner for ‘Best Poster’ and ‘Overall Winner’ awards, I was surprised and overjoyed!

I gained invaluable experience through all the positive responses, constructive comments and some interesting questions which I strongly believe is beneficial to steer my research towards the right direction.

Research Showcase is indeed a good platform to stimulate discussions with the general audience as some of them end up sharing their views from a non-scientific standpoint. I have no hesitation in recommending my fellow postgraduate students to take part in the Research Showcase because it allows one to meet people and get advice to enhance communication and presentation skills.

It is my honour to share these awards with my supervisors, Professor Sandy Loh (UNMC), Dr Mai Chun Wai (IMU) and Dr Fu Ju Yen (MPOB) and thank them for their continuous support.

Last but not least, I would like to thank the Graduate School for organising the Research Showcase competition and congratulate all my fellow Research Showcase participants, we did it!

[From left] Professor Sandy Loh and Tham Shiau Ying, with her poster entitled “Beyond the Magic Bullet: The Multitargeted Anticancer Drugs Cocktails”.

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Featured image: Tham Shiau Ying accepting the Overall Winner Award from Ms Deepa Kumari, Head of Graduate School.

More information on the UNMC Research Showcase 2017 is available at: https://blogs.nottingham.edu.my/postgraduate/2017/05/02/unmc-research-showcase-2017/

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