Thriving as a postdoc in today’s competitive climate is tenuous. International postdocs in the United States may face additional challenges due to a lack of clarity of expectations (hidden curriculum) and disadvantages due to marginalization posed by intersectional factors (immigration, socio-economic factors, etc.). In this workshop, we will introduce a framework for thriving as international postdocs. This framework will provide approaches for seeking information, resources, mentorship, and communities of support to identify and achieve professional and personal goals.

After this workshop, international postdocs will be able to:

• Appreciate how intersections of identities influence their experience
• Identify challenges that they may experience
• Utilize a framework of approaches for thriving
• Cultivate communities of support and mentoring to achieve diverse goals

Natalie Chernets, Ph.D.,, director of postdoctoral affairs & professional development, associate director, MD/Ph.D. program, assistant professor, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Drexel University

Chernets is a director of postdoctoral affairs and professional development at Drexel University. Chernets developed a passion for enhancing career-related training for trainees when she was the first administrative postdoctoral fellow at Jefferson College of Biomedical Sciences Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Thomas Jefferson University. With multidisciplinary training in physics, electrical engineering, and ibomedical sciences, she speaks the languages of medical doctors, biologists, physicists, and engineers. She excels in drawing ideas from multiple disciplines and enjoys creating opportunities by connecting different people. Chernets is committed to supporting the next generation of scientists through her service with the Philadelphia chapter of the Association for Women in Science, where she served in multiple roles, including president and mentoring co-chair. Lastly, she serves on the postdoctoral section of the National Steering Committee for the Group on Graduate Research, Education and Training (GREAT) by the American Association for Medical Colleges.

Olga Koutseridi, M.A.,, senior advanced degree coordinator for global mobility, University of Texas at Austin

Koutseridi is the senior advanced degree coordinator for global mobility at the University of Texas at Austin. She leads the design of international career and professional development programming, advising, and resource development that directly address the needs and challenges of international graduate students and postdoctoral scholars pursuing careers in academia and industry inside and outside of the United States.

Sonali Majumdar, Ph.D., assistant dean for professional development, Graduate School, Princeton University

Majumdar is assistant dean for professional development in the GradFUTURES team of Graduate School of Princeton University. Previously, she was the associate director of graduate professional development at the University of Virginia, where she lead development and implementation of PhD Plus, the university’s professional development program for doctorate students and postdocs. Nationally, she contributes to the field of graduate and postdoc professional development as communications officer and executive committee member of Graduate Career Consortium. An international scientist, she earned doctoral degree in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Georgia and did postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, where she developed a passion for enhancing the professional development of graduate students and postdocs.