Audience: PDOs and PDAs

During the workshop, participants will (1) identify and gain an appreciation for the unique needs of international postdocs (2) become familiar with a needs analysis framework to guide programming choices and tailor strategies (3) discuss and share best practices and strategies institutions currently use (4) set short and long term goals around this topic (either goals for implementing new strategies for tailoring programming based on needs OR reflecting on current practice and setting goals for continued advancement).

We will explore the specific needs of international postdocs and discuss how institutions can more effectively and efficiently reach higher levels of participation, engagement, and measurable outcomes in their professional development programs. By using a framework of needs driven programming to inform decision making, institutions can tailor offerings to authentic vs perceived needs.

We will draw on information from a survey we conducted of international postdocs through the NPA in 2017. Of the survey respondents, 937 from 84 countries indicated feeling uninformed of English language training opportunities and other workshops. Likewise, approximately 40% expressed dissatisfaction with workshops they attended, stating they felt the trainings didn’t effectively address their needs as non-native speakers of English.

Anyone that attends will be entered into a raffle for a free two-hour workshop at their institution (virtual). They will be allowed to select one of our two-hour workshops (public speaking, scientific slide design, "Telling Your Science Story," etc).

Mallory Fix Lopez, M.S. Ed/TESOL is an applied linguist and educator focusing her teaching on English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and English for Specific Purposes (ESP). She has been coaching international scholars, fellows, and postdocs on effective communication since 2013 at research institutions, such as the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), UC Berkeley, Columbia, and others. She is a former faculty member at Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania. Her work is centered around the concept of “Telling Your Science Story” as a way to clearly communicate complex science to wide audiences. She also facilitates program development and management for nonprofits, such as the Free Library of Philadelphia, The Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians, and Garces Foundation. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post and NPR among others. She previously lived and taught in Guadalajara, Mexico, and holds a master’s degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) and a Bachelor of Science in education, both from Temple University. She is a member of the Board of Education for the School District of Philadelphia, appointed by Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney in 2018 and reappointed in 2020.

language connectED, principal/founder
www.languageconnectedllc.com/