Workshop: Mentoring Up — Navigating Difficult Conversations with Your Faculty Mentor — Presented by the Penn Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

About

Postdocs from the University of Pennsylvania, the University of California San Diego, and the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute are invited to a virtual workshop, Mentoring Up: Effective Strategies for Approaching Difficult Conversations with Your Faculty Mentor. This interactive session will focus on the essential role of mentor support in shaping your career path—and the importance of clear, honest communication in that relationship..

This interactive session will highlight the vital role of mentor support in shaping career development and explore strategies for fostering honest, constructive conversations. Participants will learn how to align expectations, clearly communicate needs, and work toward shared goals with their mentors.

The workshop will also address common challenges, such as navigating power dynamics, unspoken cultural norms, and fears around retaliation or strained relationships. Through guided discussions and collaborative exercises, attendees will gain tools to approach difficult conversations with increased clarity and confidence.

Facilitated by:

• Heather Dillon, Office of Postdoctoral Scholar Affairs, University of California San Diego
• Nisha Cavanaugh, Ph.D., Career Development & Postdoctoral Programs, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

Bonus: Attendees will have the chance to win one of two OPA goodie bags in a random drawing!

Sponsored by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA)

Type: Virtual
Audience: Open to the Penn Postdoc Community ONLY
Registration: Registration is REQUIRED