FAQs

What is Sci-athon? What do participants actually do?

Sci-athon is a 3 day, in-person competition open to UNC graduate students and post-docs in Chemistry and other STEM disciplines. Participants are divided into interdisciplinary teams of 3-5 and tasked with developing a proposal which addresses the Sciathon Theme. In the end, each team gives a 10-minute presentation to a panel of industry judges and the winning team is awarded $300 worth of prizes. Along the way, there are other small competitions with additional prizes, such as a logo design competition, ice-breaker activities with teammates, and a panel with local industry experts. Plus, lots of free food!

What do I get out of participating?

The members of the winning team each receive prizes valued at $300. You get free food/coffee throughout the competition. Additionally, the winners of the logo competition win Sci-athon swag. Participants also forge connections with chemists from across the triangle and experience the joy of working on an interdisciplinary team. 

I am a post-doc, is it too late for me?

Post-docs are welcome participants in Sci-athon! We welcome post-docs as team leaders who use their experience in creative thinking and proposal design to move the team’s ideas forward. Past post-doc participants have enjoyed this opportunity to lead their teams, especially when going on the job market. 

I am a first-year graduate student, is it too early for me?

Not at all! Historically, first-year graduate students have been well-represented at Sci-athon. Since the teams are made up of multi-level scientists, first-years get valuable experience developing a proposal and working on an interdisciplinary topic in a competitive, yet supportive environment. Past first-year participants have appreciated this level of mentorship and inclusion. 

3 days to come up with a brand new idea sounds unrealistic. Do people really come up with this stuff? How do they do it?

It sounds intimidating at first, but people really do come up with great, well-developed ideas in such a short time. The Sci-athon theme is kept broad to encompass a variety of interests and experiences, and participants usually bring their expertise and perspectives which lead to new ideas really quickly. The beauty of an interdisciplinary setting is that these ideas develop into proposals rapidly with the help of the range of perspectives involved. 

I want a career in academia. Why should I participate? 

It’s easy to get stuck in a divisional or departmental silo, but revolutionary science is often the product of collaboration on the interface of complementary subjects. Competing in Sci-athon provides an opportunity to work on one of these interfaces. Plus, proposal writing is integral to academia, and idea generation is the first step!

I want a career in industry. Why should I participate?

Teamwork is a highly regarded attribute in industry, which often focuses on solving interdisciplinary problems. Past participants have credited Sci-athon in job interviews as an experience which instilled leadership and teamwork skills. Additionally, a “scientists in industry” panel during the competition is a great way to hear about potential career opportunities. 

Can I be a team leader? Am I qualified? 

We welcome all post-docs or graduate students who are past Sci-athon participants as team leaders. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Prof. Abby Knight.