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Support English Skill Development for Emerging Science Researchers
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Activity/project background
The Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco (CIATEJ), Southeast Unit, is a public research center offering national award-winning master’s and doctoral programs in biotechnological innovation. Each year, these programs admit approximately 10–12 graduate students from across Mexico with academic backgrounds in agrifood sciences, biotechnology, industrial biotechnology, and plant biotechnology. CIATEJ aims to train highly specialized scientific talent through advanced research, innovation, and scientific development.
Despite a minimum TOEFL entry requirement of 450, incoming graduate students display a wide range of English proficiency levels. Students are expected to read, analyze, and discuss scientific literature in English and, in some cases, collaborate with international thesis advisors or present research to English-speaking audiences. However, the academic curriculum does not include formal English instruction. Students must independently strengthen their reading, writing, and oral communication skills to meet graduation requirements, including achieving a TOEFL score of 550.
Limited resources and varying proficiency levels present significant challenges that can affect students’ academic progress and future opportunities in scientific and technological fields. Thus, to strengthen students’ English communication skills, CIATEJ is requesting the support of a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) who will work with approximately 10 graduate students. The VSPP will facilitate small-group online sessions once or twice per week focused on reading comprehension, academic writing, and oral presentation skills. Through these structured activities, the VSPP will help students develop the language competencies needed for academic success, international collaboration, and professional advancement in scientific research.
The organization has previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer.
Engagement and tasks
The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners:
• Co-assess students’ English proficiency and co-plan language support priorities during the first week of the engagement
• Co-design weekly session plans and upload materials to a shared cloud‑based folder throughout the engagement
• Facilitate small‑group English language support sessions once or twice per week (approximately 3–4 students per group), focusing on reading comprehension, academic writing, and oral presentation skills
• Provide weekly feedback on student work and conduct monthly progress assessments and summaries with the counterpart
• Meet with the counterpart biweekly to plan, review, and evaluate project progress, and maintain ongoing communication via email or WhatsApp to coordinate activities and share resources
VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be eight hours per week, of which approximately four hours will be online collaboration.
Online collaboration will generally occur between 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Mexico time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.
The host country counterpart will have access to email, WhatsApp, Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams for regular communication and collaboration.
Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0–18), two adults must be present.
Optional additional activities
The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:
- To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
- To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
- To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
Goal 1 will be achieved through the VSPP's engagement and completion of the above tasks. The counterpart and VSPP may also choose to identify an activity that aligns with Goal 2. Additionally, the VSPP may identify a Goal 3 activity to implement during their engagement. See recommendations and tools for Goal 3 activities.
Essential qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in any field and/or relevant certification: TEFL, TESOL, Cambridge, or similar
Experience: 2 years of TEFL/English teaching to university students or adults
Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually
Desired qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in a natural science field (Biology, Chemistry, Biotechnology, etc.) OR Bachelor’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language with a strong background in research and science, including vocabulary and technical terms
Language: Intermediate Spanish
Experience:
• Virtual engagement and communication
• 2 years of academic writing and proofreading
• Academic research
Terms and conditions of engagement
VSPPs will be engaging with the host country partner, in coordination with Peace Corps post staff, remotely from the US. They should have access to a computer, internet, and telephone in order to enable direct engagement with the Peace Corps overseas office and the Host Country Counterpart assigned by the host country partner.
Orientation with the host country partner will be provided, within the designated virtual service hours, during the first week of virtual service via an online presentation and discussion. The host country partner will provide an overview of its organization, the local context, and how they envision collaborating with the VSPP.
The VSPP will have regular check-ins with their counterpart and bi-weekly check-ins with Peace Corps staff. Spending unstructured time with counterparts can be critical to relationship-building and is encouraged through activities such as coffee chats and informal calls within the weekly 5-15 hours.
Engagement safety and security
The VSPP will receive an orientation on Peace Corps’ Child Protection Policy and how it relates to online engagement along with IT security best practices. The VSPP will be expected to follow safety and security guidelines for online engagement to ensure their safety and that of the Host Country Partner and their counterpart, and any beneficiaries of the engagement.
Supervision requirements
The VSPP will report to a designated Peace Corps staff member. The VSPP will be expected to abide by the Virtual Service Pilot Participant and Donation Agreement and Participant Principles of Engagement. The VSPP will also be expected to check in with the designated host country counterpart as assigned by the host county partner.
