International post doctoral scholars make up more than fifty-five percent of Ohio States overall postdoc community. The university has many resources devoted to the support of this community.
Pre-Arrival Resources for International Scholars
Visa Processing
The Office of International Affairs (OIA) is an important resource at Ohio State for international postdocs on J1, H1B, and F1 OPT visa types. OIA handles immigration issues, helps new students and scholars acclimate to the university and the city, and coordinates programs for those coming from abroad to train at Ohio State. The International Scholars section of the OIA site provides helpful information about visa processing.
Benefits
Post doctoral scholars at Ohio State have access to a full range of benefits. The Office of Human Resources has compiled a benefits eligibility document that details benefits at Ohio State. To see more details about each of the benefits included in the linked PDF, please visit Ohio State’s Human Resources website for the most current information. Instructions here:
- Go to this website: https://hr.osu.edu/benefits/eligibility
- Under “Position Information”, input the following criteria:
- Job Family: Postdoctoral Scholar
- FTE: “75-100%”
- Employee type: “regular or term”
- Hit submit
- Once you have done this, the system will take you to a page with the detailed information about the benefits available to you, broken into the following categories: Health, Retirement, Leave, Financial, and Work-Life. Each of these categories is further broken down into specific programs with links to pages with all relevant information.
OIA has compiled a helpful guide on healthcare providers and facilities within the Central Ohio region here: Healthcare Services in the United States.
Healthcare
Post Doctoral Scholars are considered A&P equivalent term staff at Ohio State University. Individuals in these positions are eligible for most healthcare plans at Ohio State. Visit the Human Resources website to find out more about health plans.
J-1 visa holders: The U.S. Department of State sets a standard minimum level of health insurance coverage required by law for J-1 scholars to participate in an exchange visitor program in the United States. Therefore, you are required to purchase a health insurance coverage that meets or exceeds that standard for yourself and your J-2 dependents throughout your entire stay in the U.S. Failure to do so would violate your non-immigrant status, and you would no longer be eligible to participate in Ohio State's J-1 program. J-1 scholars have several options to meet this requirement. Read more about each of the options shown below on the Office of International Affairs website.
- The Gallagher Accident and Sickness Plans (Gallagher A&S) – Meets the Department of State requirements. All scholars are eligible to purchase this plan.
- An Ohio State health plan (several choices) or Nationwide Children's Hospital's health plan (if hired as a postdoc at Nationwide Children’s) – Meets Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements. Eligibility for these plans is dependent on being paid by Ohio State or Nationwide Children's and the terms of your appointment/employment.
- An ACA/Department of State compliant health plan via an application process – Read more below regarding this option and read the sections entitled: Alternative ACA Comprehensive Insurance Information & Compliance Application and Government- Sponsored J-1 Scholars Insurance Information.
For specific information about finding housing, commuting to campus, or details about available sports and recreational facilities on and around campus, please visit our Prospective Postdocs page.
Post-Arrival Resources for International Scholars
Onboarding and Orientation
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs offers a New Postdoc Orientation every other month. During this 90 minute session, participants learn about the office and its programming, the benefits available to postdocs at Ohio State, how to draft an individualized development plan (IDP), and what expectations faculty have of postdocs (and what expectations postdocs should have of their faculty mentors). To learn more about orientation programming, visit the new postdocs page.
Making Personal and Professional Connections
Postdoctoral Association (PDA): The PDA is an organization run by postdoc volunteers whose membership is comprised of a diverse group of postdocs from all over the university. PDA has the goal of better connecting postdocs across Ohio State’s campus and providing trainings to assist them with professional and career development, learning how to navigate the U.S. tax code and annual return process, and many other topics of relevance. In addition, PDA offers several social and professional networking opportunities so that postdocs can develop robust personal and professional networks to assist them as they begin their roles at Ohio State. Learn more about the PDA, their events, and how you can join their leadership team (if interested) by visiting their website.
Research Institute Trainee Association (RITA): The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Research Institute has a PDA-equivalent organization, which is run by NCH-affiliated trainees (graduate students in addition to postdocs). To learn more about their trainings and activities and how to get involved, visit their website.
Learning English
“Specific knowledge of the culture, language and technical aspects of any discipline…provides a strong foundation for both traditional and non-traditional professions.”
(The NPA Postdoctoral Core Competencies, 2007-2009)
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and Ohio State’s Workplace and Professional English as a Second Language (ESL) Program have worked together to design courses that meet the needs of Ohio State’s international postdocs. ESL administers the courses, and OPA provides scholarship funds for postdocs.
Please see below for course descriptions.
Courses focused on written English:
- Writing Course (Summer, 1st seven weeks)
This course is design to help postdoctoral scholars improve their academic and professional written communication skills. Participants will receive guidance and practice in composing and editing research papers, abstracts, email communication and other relevant academic/professional genres. Class modules and individual tutorials in these various written forms will focus on improving English grammar control, as well as on achieving coherence, appropriate style, and effective written academic discussions. - Professional Presentation (Summer, 2nd seven weeks)
In this course, postdoctoral scholars will develop and practice communication skills required within their professional contexts: within a team, an institution, a discipline and a society. Participants will have opportunities to present their research in various forms (poster sessions, conferences or seminars, PowerPoint presentations, for example). The focus of the course is presentation skills, and the goal is to create a forum where participants may refine aspects of their oral/aural English skills, body language, academic and professional etiquette, and overall comfort and confidence in making professional presentations.
Meetings will consist of instructor presentations on topics ranging from English prosody and pronunciation to Kawasaki’s Presentation Zen, followed by group or class discussion. This will be followed each session by participants’ presentations, with guided peer and instructor feedback. Exercises designed to enhance spoken English and public speaking will also be a significant part of the course.
Courses focused on spoken English:
- Understanding American Culture (Autumn, 1st seven weeks)
This course provides a forum for participants to sharpen their language skills as they increase their cultural fluency in a relaxed and supportive setting. Topics will be drawn from American history, business, education, government, social issues, the arts, and entertainment, depending on participants’ interests. Our meetings will include short presentations from the instructor and the participants; group and class discussion of topics covered in short readings and topics the participants raise from their experience; guest speakers; community contact exercises; and short field trips. This course will enhance your knowledge of American culture and the ease with which you negotiate your day-to-day, academic and professional interactions. We will explore, examine and discuss American perspectives on Individual Freedom and Self-Reliance; Equality of Opportunity and Competition; Material Wealth and Hard Work.
- Speaking Skills: Pragmatics (Autumn, 2nd seven weeks)
Postdoctoral scholars, as future professionals within the disciplines, require not only a high level of expertise in these disciplines but also ease with English when it is the language used to communicate and exchange ideas. “Postdoctoral scholars are expected to demonstrate interpersonal and other communication skills that enable them to communicate effectively with colleagues at all levels” (The NPA Postdoctoral Core Competencies, 2009).
In this course, participants will refine and practice their spoken English pronunciation, intonation, rhythm and syllable prominence. In addition, the course will address the pragmatics of English. That is, we will study the practical ways English is used and understood in many different contexts and situations: in the lab, among colleagues, with department staff, with undergraduate students, and in day-to-day social interactions outside of the university. In a general sense, pragmatics determine the way a speaker may be perceived by others, such as how polite a speaker seems to the listener. Class meetings will include instruction on aspects of pronunciation at the level of phrases, sentences, and longer discourse, followed by practice in small groups; and presentation and discussion of English in interpersonal interactions followed by practice both in and out of class through community contact-type exercises.
Additional Resources for Learning English:
The Office of International Affairs has compiled a resource guide for improving English fluency.
External Resources for International Scholars:
The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is another helpful resource. Visit their International Postdoc section for a survival guide and news items. As an Ohio State University postdoc, you have full access to NPA as an institutional member. If you have not already set-up your affiliate member account, please follow the instructions found at nationalpostdoc.org.