RSP: Rehearse, Stress, Pass

I just completed my Research Studies Panel after three months of research. I had no idea what to expect going in, so maybe I can help you know better.

• Focus on the big picture, not the gotcha details. I spent so much time preparing extra backup slides, the way I do for weekly supervisor meetings, only to realise I should have spent that time refining how I explain the basics. I underestimated how much I would need to bring my panel up to speed.

• Have your RPDP finished a week before. Get the slides done by then too, so the content actually matches.

• Anything you pitch should clearly be YOUR contribution. I made the mistake of mentioning plans for two papers and naming students I wanted as co-authors. The way I framed it actually made it sound like a collaborative idea rather than something I was leading. Be deliberate about how you position your own role.

• The panel are genuinely excited for you and want to see where your work goes. It was even noted in my post-RSP sign-off comments.

• Practise what you’re going to say. For me it’s not about reading off a script. It’s about practising enough that I can trust myself to find the right words in the moment.

• Don’t take the sign-off comments to heart. One of mine was to work on how I present my research gap. My master’s supervisor once told me that if your supervisors are criticising your work, it’s because they see you as “an academic equal.” You can be the least experienced person in the room, but you are in the room.