Minlin Minny Zou (she, her)
Postgraduate Researcher
School of Education
Minlin (Minny) Zou is a Ph.D. researcher in Language Education and Applied Linguistics at the School of Education, University of Exeter, the United Kingdom. Her research interests include Generative AI-mediated Informal Language Learning (GenAI-ILL), individual differences in second language acquisition (SLA), L2 writing, written feedback, evaluation and assessment in writing, and IELTS testing. Her recent work appears in leading SSCI-indexed journals, such as ReCALL, System, RELC Journal, Language Teaching Research, Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, International Journal of Applied Linguistics, and European Journal of Education. She is an editorial board member of TESOL Quarterly (SSCI-index JCR Q1 Top) as well as Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching (SSCI-index JCR Q1 Top 11).
Minny was awarded The Dean of PGR's Commendation for Academic Citizenship Honour (the only awardee at the School of Education, University of Exeter) [see University of Exeter News]. The Dean's Commendations for Exceptional Performance can be awarded to the highest performing students at each level of study.
I was the leader of the Researcher-Led Initiative (RLI) award 2025: University of Exeter - Finding your footprint: Traditional research impact and beyond for Postgraduate and Early Career researchers across Exeter (Project number: 128776), co-organizing with my colleagues (Wenyu and Katy). Our workshop series encompasses four-part sessions: 1) Introduction to academic impact; 2) Demystifying academic publication, peer review, and the job-hunting; 3) Thinking about broader social, environmental, and economic impact; and 4) mapping our impact.
1) Introduction to academic impact
Academic impact begins with bold attemps-this workshop helps PGRs and ECRs take the first crucial step. In this session, we define what academic impact is, and why your research needs to be seen. We also look at the importance of publishing, and how high-quality publications enhance their academic reputation and career development.
2) Demystifying academic publication, peer review, and the job-hunting
Unveiling the academic publication, the peer review process from submission to acceptance, step by step. We cover some strategies to help in academic publications, peer review process, and two keynote speakers detail their career journey from PhD and beyond, sharing their real and constructive top tips along the way.
3) Thinking about broader social, environmental, and economic impact
In this session, we consider the broader impact that researchers' reseach can have beyond academia. We are joined by academic members from the Impact Team at the university of Exeter, who share their insights from their own academic research and practice.
4) Mapping our impact
This concluding session takes the form of a collaborative workshop, where we begin to plan next steps to enhance the impact of our research. We also consider our research in light of the UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and begin to consider how our research might align with these.
Here is our RLI programme information:
