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Overview
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Critical Skills Training
Postdoctoral trainees are typically well trained in the technical aspects of their discipline, but few receive formal training in leadership. This course will equip you with the critical leadership skills you need to succeed in a wide range of scientific career paths.
Interactive Format
The course will consist of six three-hour sessions offered once per month for six months. The sessions will be dynamic and interactive through the use of self-assessments, small group discussions, and case studies drawn from the scientific workplace. Work closely with a cohort of other postdocs to develop your leadership skills together.
Tailored for Scientists
Throughout the course, content has been tailored for scientists through the use of science-specific case studies, a supplementary “Lab Dynamics: Management and Leadership Skills for Scientists” textbook, and curated references and resources. In the final session, meet scientific leaders in industry and academia who will illustrate the relevance of developing leadership and management skills in the context of a scientific career.
Instructors
The course will be taught by two experts in leadership and management training.
- Theresa Kim, PLCC, ACC, has been coaching, consulting, and training for more than 15 years and currently serves as the program manager for the Fully Prepared to Lead program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
- Jill Walder, SHRM-SCP, has been facilitating employee development and coaching employees on best practices in managing teams, conflict, and communication for most of her career. She currently leads the human resources department at the Morgridge Institute for Research, and has more than 15 years of previous experience with a large, global provider of scientific solutions.
Sessions
Course sessions will cover the following fundamental topics in leadership:
Session 1. Exploring Leadership and Discovering Your Interpersonal Style
Friday October 10, 2025
Leadership is not about formal title or authority, it is about your personal behaviors and the ability to influence others to affect positive change. This session will introduce the concepts of leadership and guide you in understanding your personal style and how that affects your relationships with others.
Session 2. Managing Conflict and Communication Essentials
Friday November 14, 2025
Conflict is necessary in leading a successful team, however, it needs to be managed effectively. This session will provide you with best practices on handling conflict and give you a chance to practice applying communication techniques in a variety of situations.
Session 3. Motivating Teams and Leading Successful Meetings
Friday December 12, 2025
Every team goes through phases of development before becoming high performing. Even if you are not the formal team leader, there are positive behaviors you can employ to help teams progress. This session will introduce the phases of team development, different decision-making styles, strategies for motivating others, and tools to help run productive meetings.
Session 4. Setting Expectations and Giving Constructive Feedback
Friday February 13, 2026
A critical skill set for any group leader or mentor includes the ability to set goals, communicate clear expectations, and provide ongoing feedback. If properly handled, these conversations can be an invaluable gift of mutual respect and learning.
Session 5. Conquering Change
Friday March 13, 2026
Change is the only constant in our lives. Understanding the types of change, how individuals react to change differently, and how you can positively manage change is an essential part of leadership. In this session you will become aware of personal choices that help with change and transition as well as methods that will develop your resiliency to change.
Session 6. Practical Leadership Applications
Friday April 10, 2026
To be an effective leader, you must find the style that works best for you, openly communicate, and commit to personal development and growth. The final session will bring together the key takeaways from each session and guide you in developing a personal action plan to become a better leader.
Application Process
We are no longer accepting applications for the 2025-26 course. We anticipate hosting the next application cycle in August 2026. Sign up to receive an email when the application reopens.
Space is limited to 30 participants. To be considered for participation in the course, complete the application process described below by September 2, 2025.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply, you must be:
- Appointed as a research associate, postdoctoral fellow, or postdoctoral trainee the University of Wisconsin-Madison and/or the Morgridge Institute for Research by October 1st, 2025. Individuals with the title Honorary Associate or Honorary Fellow should contact Alyssa Leystra (aleystra@wisc.edu) to confirm that they are eligible to participate.
- Able to commit to attending all course dates from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm in the Discovery Building (330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715). Dates include:
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- Friday, October 10th, 2025
- Friday, November 14th, 2025
- Friday, December 12th, 2025
- Friday, February 13th, 2026
- Friday, March 13th, 2026
- Friday, April 10th, 2026
Note: Attendance is expected at all sessions. Participants who miss more than one session may be removed from the remainder of the course.
There are no course fees thanks to the generous support of the course sponsors.
Application Components
The application consists of two parts:
- Online application form
- Description of Training Goals (4,000 characters maximum, including spaces and paragraph breaks)
Input the statement into the application form above or email it as a Microsoft Word document to the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (contact@postdoc.wisc.edu). The statement should explain how participation in this course fits your short- and long-term career goals. In the past, the strongest applicants distinguished themselves from other applicants by providing specific examples from their own experiences that outlined how they would benefit from the training offered by this particular course. They also demonstrated in detail that they understood the purpose of each session of the course and how these would apply to them personally in their chosen careers.
Application Review Timeline
Applications will be reviewed throughout September. You will be notified of the result of the review process by Monday, September 30.
Please email the Office Postdoctoral Studies (contact@postdoc.wisc.edu) if you have questions about the application process.
Sponsors
Course organized and sponsored by:
Past Participants
2024
2023
2021
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
Questions
For any questions about the course, please contact contact@postdoc.wisc.edu.
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