University of Wisconsin–Madison

Leadership in the Lab

Introducing the Leadership in the Lab series—a semester-long, cohort program designed specifically for early-career STEM faculty who are, or will be, leading a laboratory at UW—Madison.

We understand that transitioning into a leadership position can present unique challenges. Often, faculty who are experts in their field have not had the opportunity to learn and develop the necessary skills to inspire and guide their teams. The Leadership in the Lab series has been carefully crafted to address these specific needs by offering a dynamic curriculum tailored to the research environment.

Key Program Elements

  • Leadership Essentials: Participants will learn essential leadership principles and concepts applicable to research environments. Topics include effective communication, team building, performance management and feedback, conflict resolution, and fostering a positive work culture.​
  • Tangible Strategies: The program will equip participants each week with specific tools and strategies that can be immediately implemented. Participants will have dedicated time to learn and practice these strategies with other cohort members before considering how they can apply to their own lab.
  • Peer Networking: Participants will have the opportunity to engage with peers from across the UW–Madison campus, fostering new relationships and expanding their professional network. This will facilitate knowledge-sharing and provide additional perspectives in navigating leadership challenges.​

The program consists of:

  • A one-day in-person session (prior to the start of the semester) to introduce the cohort to each other, network, and complete the full DiSC workshop series.
  • 10 virtual 90-minute sessions that run once a week during the semester that contain leadership essentials and tangible strategies.

How to Apply

Applications for the Fall 2025 cohort of Leadership in the Lab will open in February 2025.

Contact

Amy Arbogash
amy.arbogash@wisc.edu

Who should attend?

UW–Madison faculty who:
  • Currently (or in the near future) lead a laboratory and oversee the work of others
  • Are interested in learning leadership skills
  • Are committed to creating healthy, inclusive, and engaging environments for their staff
  • Want to grow their network of peers

Why should you attend?

  • Learn and practice leadership skills to be more effective in maximizing the potential of research teams
  • Access tools that can be implemented immediately to help create a healthy, inclusive, and engaging lab environment
  • Practice navigating scenarios to learn how to address issues that can arise in management
  • Build a network of colleagues across campus through cohort learning

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