Planning a new website for your department or research institute? One of the most important areas to get right is the People section — the human face of your organization. This section introduces the individuals who drive your research, teaching, and innovation. Thoughtfully organizing and presenting this content helps visitors connect not just with your work, but with the people behind it.
Crafting Effective Researcher Profiles
At the heart of the People section are researcher profiles. Each profile should offer a well-rounded view of the individual — who they are, what they do, and how they contribute to your department. Here’s what to include:
- Contact Information
Provide clear details such as email addresses, office numbers, and, when appropriate, professional social media links (e.g., LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Google Scholar). - Research Interests
Summarize each researcher’s areas of focus and current projects to give visitors insight into their academic expertise and passions. - Short Biography
Offer a concise narrative of the researcher’s academic path, notable achievements, and professional background. A strong bio adds personality and credibility to the profile. - Awards and Accomplishments
Highlight key recognitions, grants, or honors that demonstrate expertise and excellence in the field.
Profile Images: Getting Them Right
Images bring authenticity and warmth to a website. A set of high-quality, consistent photos can elevate the entire People section.
- Quality and Consistency
Use recent, high-resolution images. Consider scheduling a professional photo session to ensure uniform lighting, background, and composition across all profiles. - File Naming and Formatting
Save each image with a clear, web-friendly filename such as Lastname-Firstname.jpg (avoid spaces and special characters).
For best display results, crop images to 400×400 pixels and save at 90–95% quality to balance visual clarity and file size.
Clarifying Roles and Terminology
Your web developers are experts in design and technology — but they may not be familiar with your academic structure or specialized terminology. Provide clear context for internal classifications, research groups, or positions. Supplying an organized list with short explanations ensures that the site’s structure and navigation accurately reflect your department’s organization.
Structuring Your People Content
A clear content organization system streamlines the website-building process and makes future updates easier. Create a dedicated “People” folder, with subfolders for each researcher. Within each folder, include:
- Image Files: Well-named profile images for easy identification.
- Text Files: Documents containing contact information, bios, research interests, and achievements. One consolidated document works fine as long as formatting is consistent and individual sections are clearly separated.
- Resources: Optional materials like PDFs of publications, video links, or related media, all labeled clearly.
Final Thoughts
Organizing People content for an academic department website might seem complex, but with thoughtful planning, it becomes straightforward and rewarding. A well-structured, visually cohesive People section doesn’t just introduce your team — it strengthens your department’s identity and reputation.
Ultimately, this section celebrates the scholars, researchers, and staff who make your institution thrive. Present them thoughtfully, and your website will reflect the excellence, diversity, and spirit of your academic community.