Empower
Your Pitch
Your research matters. Share it in a way people remember.
Empower Your Pitch (EYP) is Johns Hopkins’ research communication competition for PhD students and postdocs. It’s your chance to craft a 3-minute story about your work, refine it through coaching and feedback, and share it with audiences across Hopkins and beyond.
Tell your research story in three minutes,
and make it land. Whether you’re
presenting at conferences, interviewing
for jobs, or engaging with the public, a
well-told story can open doors and expand
the reach of your work.
New in
2026:
EYP for
Humanists
To better reflect the diversity of research at Hopkins, the early rounds of Empower Your Pitch 2026 include two discipline-based tracks for PhD students—Arts & Humanities and STEM—as well as a third track for Postdocs. This structure allows you to develop your pitch in a setting aligned with your field or career stage. After these preliminary rounds, finalists from all tracks will advance to the university-wide finale.
Eligibility
Empower Your Pitch is open to all Johns Hopkins doctoral and postdoctoral scholars at any stage of research. Previous participants are welcome to return and join the competition again.
Contest Rounds
Round 1: Try Out Your Ideas
Share a first version of your 3-minute pitch and get constructive feedback from judges. No eliminations—everyone advances to Round 2.
Round 2: Refine Your Pitch
Present an updated pitch that you’ve strengthened through dedicated workshops and coaching. Judges select finalists from each track who will advance to the university-wide finale.
Round 3: Shine On Stage
Finalists present their polished pitch at the Grand Finale before a panel of expert judges and a live audience that includes peers, faculty, alumni, and university leaders.
EMPOWER YOUR PITCH 2026
For PhD Students & Postdocs
Awards
Empower Your Pitch recognizes outstanding research communication across several categories, including dedicated awards for postdocs and for Arts & Humanities. Winners are honored at the event and receive $1000 cash prizes.
2026 Contest
Schedule
THURSDAY
February 19
Round 1 (Virtual)
THURSDAY
March 19
Round 2 (Virtual)
FRIDAY
April 17
Grand Finale
(In Person)
What Participants Say
“The chance to explain my research to a general audience in just three minutes was incredibly valuable. I’d always wanted to develop an elevator pitch for my work but never quite got around to it. Empower Your Pitch was the perfect motivation to finally make it happen.”
“Until this year, I had only presented my work within a very tight community of fellow neuroscientists. EYP gave me a fun and unique platform to share my research with a broader audience. Through feedback over multiple rounds, I grew in my communication skills and became a more confident speaker.”
“Empower Your Pitch enabled me to share my ideas clearly and confidently. Through the experience, I connected with a summer incubator opportunity led by one of the judges, where I’m now developing my startup.”