
How to Present Biotech Concepts to Non-Scientists: A Public Speaking Guide for Job Seekers
In today’s biotechnology job market, your ability to explain complex science clearly is just as important as your lab skills. Whether you're applying for a research role, pitching to investors, or collaborating with marketing teams, you'll often need to present technical information to people without a scientific background.
This blog explores how biotechnology job seekers can develop and deliver compelling presentations that make sense to non-scientists. From structuring your content to designing effective slides and using storytelling to bring data to life, these techniques will help you stand out in interviews and on the job.
Why Biotech Job Candidates Must Be Great Communicators
Biotechnology sits at the intersection of science, business, and public impact. As such, professionals in this field are increasingly expected to:
Explain the purpose and outcomes of their research
Communicate regulatory considerations
Simplify scientific language for patient groups, investors, or policymakers
Promote new products to non-technical customers
Hiring managers know that even the most innovative breakthroughs won’t succeed if they can’t be understood by a broader audience. This is why communication skills are increasingly tested in job interviews for biotech roles, especially those involving R&D, commercialisation, public health, or cross-functional collaboration.
When You’ll Be Asked to Present
Biotech employers in the UK—whether in pharma, agri-biotech, medical devices, or synthetic biology—may ask you to:
Present your final-year or postgraduate project to a panel
Summarise scientific work for a non-technical audience
Prepare a mock pitch to stakeholders or investors
Explain how your work contributes to public health or business goals
Translate complex lab data into actionable insights
Even graduate schemes, internships, and technical assistant roles often include these tasks to assess how well-rounded and workplace-ready you are.
Structuring Your Biotech Presentation
Use the “S-A-M-I” Structure (Simple, Audience-led, Measurable, Impactful)
This framework helps you build presentations that are clear, effective, and tailored to non-experts.
1. Start with a Problem Everyone Understands
Frame your science around a relatable issue:
“Antibiotic resistance is rising globally. We need faster ways to identify effective treatments.”
Leading with the why before the what makes your audience more invested in your work.
2. Simplify the Science Without Dumbing It Down
Avoid jargon and break ideas into plain English:
“We’re developing a test that uses DNA sequencing to quickly spot which bacteria are causing infection and what drugs they respond to.”
If you need to name a process (e.g., CRISPR, PCR), explain what it does in real-world terms.
3. Use Measurable Outcomes
Translate scientific results into figures that highlight impact:
“Our prototype test gives results in under 2 hours, compared to 2–3 days using current methods.”
Use comparisons, percentages, or visual aids to give numbers meaning.
4. End with Human or Commercial Impact
Wrap up by tying your work to everyday benefits:
“With faster diagnostics, doctors can prescribe the right antibiotic first time, reducing hospital stays and slowing resistance.”
Non-scientists remember the outcome more than the method.
Slide Design Tips for Biotech Presentations
Poor visuals can make even the best research hard to follow. Follow these biotech-specific slide tips:
Keep It Visual
Use diagrams to explain processes (e.g., gene editing, protein synthesis)
Replace dense tables with simplified charts
Illustrate systems using icons or patient-centric imagery where appropriate
Avoid Clutter
One key idea per slide
No more than 6 lines of text
Use white space to make slides easier on the eyes
Choose Accessible Colours & Fonts
High contrast (e.g., dark text on white)
Sans serif fonts for clarity
Colour-blind friendly palettes (avoid red-green combinations)
Include Clear Labels
Always label charts and diagrams simply
Add a one-line summary of what the slide shows
Example: “Test accuracy improves by 18% with new reagent.”
Storytelling Techniques That Work in Biotech
Use a Scientific Story Arc
Turn your presentation into a mini-documentary of your work:
The challenge (Why this matters)
The approach (How we tackled it)
The results (What we found)
The impact (Why it matters beyond the lab)
Use Analogies to Make Concepts Stick
Analogies help audiences understand by comparing the unknown to the familiar.
Examples:
“CRISPR works like genetic scissors.”
“Our assay is like a pregnancy test—but for detecting pathogens in blood.”
“A cell membrane is like a factory wall, letting some things in while keeping others out.”
These comparisons anchor your audience in something they already know.
Frame Data as a Discovery
Rather than reciting statistics, show the journey:
“At first, we saw poor results. But after adjusting the pH, our protein yield doubled. That breakthrough helped us scale production for trials.”
This brings energy and relatability to technical content.
Anticipating Questions from Non-Scientific Audiences
You might be asked:
“What makes this better than current solutions?”
“How safe is this?”
“Who will benefit from this technology?”
“What does this mean for patients/customers?”
“What happens next in development?”
How to Handle Them
Prepare Layman-Friendly Answers
Translate technical answers into outcome-based responses.
Example:
Q: “How does your biosensor detect pathogens?”
A: “It looks for specific DNA sequences linked to disease—like a fingerprint match for bacteria.”
Be Honest About Limitations
“The prototype is promising, but we need clinical trials to confirm it works in real-world settings.”
Transparency builds trust, especially with investors or public health officials.
Focus on Safety and Ethics
Especially in biotech, mention how risks are being managed:
“We follow all MHRA safety protocols and ethical review processes before testing any application on humans or animals.”
This is vital when talking to public stakeholders or media.
Practice Makes Professional
Even the best presentations fall flat without rehearsal.
Rehearse With:
A friend or family member who knows nothing about biotech
Your career adviser, tutor, or colleague
A mirror or phone recording (check pacing and tone)
Time Yourself
Aim for 1–2 minutes per slide in interviews unless instructed otherwise.
Try the “Explain Like I’m 12” Technique
If you can explain your biotech project to a teenager and they understand, you’re ready.
What Interviewers Are Really Looking For
In UK biotechnology job interviews, your presentation often reveals:
Clarity of thought – Can you simplify complexity?
Audience awareness – Can you adapt your message?
Confidence – Can you own your work with poise?
Commercial awareness – Do you understand impact beyond the lab?
Ethical judgement – Can you speak responsibly about scientific consequences?
These are soft skills that recruiters in biotech rate just as highly as technical know-how.
Examples of Biotech Interview Scenarios Involving Public Speaking
🔹 NHS Blood and Transplant (Graduate Scheme):
“Give a 10-minute presentation explaining a biomedical innovation to a non-scientific stakeholder.”
Tip: Choose a topic with clear patient impact & explain using analogies.
🔹 GSK Future Leaders Programme:
“Talk us through a research project you’ve worked on. Explain it as if presenting to a partner organisation outside the scientific team.”
Tip: Focus on the ‘why’, not just the ‘what’.
🔹 Small Biotech Start-Up Interview:
“Pitch our product to a potential investor who doesn’t have a science background.”
Tip: Lead with business value, cost-effectiveness, or unmet need, then support with data.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Using Untranslated Jargon
Say “genetic testing for inherited diseases” instead of “exome sequencing of BRCA1/2 loci”.
❌ Showing Lab Photos or Raw Data Screenshots
Instead, extract the insights and present them cleanly.
❌ Talking Like You're in a Viva
Remember: this is not a thesis defence. It’s a conversation.
❌ Ignoring Audience Needs
Always ask yourself: “What does this audience care about?”
Soft Skills You’ll Build by Mastering This
Developing this public speaking skill will also enhance your:
Science communication
Leadership presence
Team collaboration
Confidence under pressure
Patient/public engagement
These skills are useful whether you work in clinical trials, regulatory affairs, public policy, product development, or academia-to-industry transition.
Final Tips: How to Deliver a Polished Biotech Presentation
Know your first 60 seconds cold – this sets your confidence & tone
Smile & make eye contact – it helps build rapport
Pause for effect – don’t race through your slides
Ask rhetorical questions – keep the audience engaged
Close with impact – tie it back to the real-world benefit
Conclusion: Communicating Science is a Superpower
In the world of biotechnology, your discoveries are only as powerful as your ability to explain them. Whether you're job hunting, pitching a product, or presenting your research, clarity, empathy, and storytelling are your strongest tools.
By learning how to present biotech concepts to non-scientists with confidence and care, you’ll not only perform better in interviews—you’ll be the kind of professional who can build trust, inspire collaboration, and help science reach the people it’s meant to serve.
Ready to Launch Your Biotech Career?
Browse the latest UK biotechnology jobs on www.biotechnologyjobs.co.uk. Whether you're a graduate, postdoc, or industry switcher, we help you find roles that match your scientific passion and your communication strengths.
Science speaks louder when everyone can understand it. Start practising your story today.