Program Description
The Belfer Institute for Advanced Biomedical Studies at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine is excited to announce a new career development program in Biomedical Sciences Leadership. The Biomedical Sciences Leadership Program aims to teach participants career skills not often gained in conventional scientific training in order to prepare them for future leadership positions in research, teaching, administration, and industry. The program consists of courses and workshops that will foster the development of skills in communications, mentorship, leadership & management, personal resiliency & emotional intelligence, cultural competency, course design, grantsmanship, and career management.
Courses and workshops will generally take place on Tuesdays (8:30-10:30 AM) but may be on different days of the week depending on the scheduling needs of session instructors. Some sessions will in-person while others will be held online.
Course Descriptions
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
This course, mandatory for all new postdocs and graduate students, introduces key issues in the responsible conduct of research by following the research process from inception to planning, conducting, reporting, and reviewing biomedical research.
Communications Skills for Scientists
This course consists of a series of modules designed to develop the strong communication and presentation skills required for scientists to successfully and persuasively share information about themselves and their research, draft scientific manuscripts, learn about the world of scientific publications, and write grants to secure funding.
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Communications Module A: Writing
In this module, participants will learn strategies and techniques to enhance their scientific writing and grant writing skills. Participants will learn how to use EndNote and navigate the Einstein library. Through practical exercises and expert guidance on the nuts and bolts of scientific writing and publishing, attendees will develop the ability to communicate their research effectively, improve clarity and organization, and convey complex scientific ideas with precision.
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Communications Module B: Presenting
This module provides practical guidance on delivering effective scientific presentations in a polished manner as well as organizing a presentation for greatest impact. Participants will learn essential skills and techniques to engage their audience such as how to prepare an “elevator pitch”, communicate complex scientific concepts clearly, and deliver impactful presentations with confidence.
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Communications Module C: Interpersonal Communication
This module seeks to empower participants with enhanced active listening and interpersonal communication skills, including topics such as emotional intelligence. Participants will learn practical techniques to foster effective, respectful, and empathic communication, build stronger professional relationships, and improve collaboration within the scientific environment.
Grantsmanship
This course, offered in partnership with the Office of Grant Support, is designed to provide participants with practical knowledge and skills to navigate the process of obtaining grants. Participants will learn strategies to effectively identify funding opportunities, develop compelling grant proposals, and enhance their chances of securing funding for their research projects.
Mentoring Up
Mentoring Up is an active learning approach designed for PhD trainees to support development of the skills needed to successfully navigate the research training environment and proactively manage their mentoring relationships. This course addresses important topics and concepts in research mentoring and training by creating learning communities and engaging participants in activities, assignments, case studies, and facilitated discussions to solve mentoring dilemmas and share successful mentoring up strategies.
Building Career Skills for Scientists
The Office of Career and Professional Development for Graduate Students and Postdocs (CPD) offers year-round programming to support career exploration, career management, and professional development for all scientific trainees to enable them to become leaders in and beyond academia.
Anti-Bias Competency
This course will provide participants with a deeper understanding of equity and inclusion as well as the history of racism in science. The course aims to equip participants with the skills to be upstanders, confront implicit bias and bias-related situations, and mitigate microaggressions.
Fundamentals of Course Design
This course will educate students in fundamental concepts and principles widely used in the design and execution of courses for college and postgraduate learners. Topics will include cognitive hierarchies and multiple intelligences in adult learning, lesson and syllabus design, lecture hall strategies, active learning strategies, and formative and summative assessment techniques.
Leadership & Management
This course will introduce participants to key principles related to working in organizations as well as the basic functions of management (planning and decision-making, organizing, leading, and motivating). Through case studies, experiential learning, and interactive discussions, participants will develop a deep understanding of effective leadership strategies, team management, decision-making, and organizational dynamics in scientific contexts. Content to be delivered in a range of formats, including occasional seminars and full-day workshops. Topics will include influence, decision-making, fundamentals of management, strategic planning and goal setting, teambuilding and managing group dynamics, conflict management, and negotiations.
Resilience
This course is designed to provide you with the resilience tools needed to develop well-being, assertiveness, and feedback skills with the goal of improved relationships in research groups and beyond. The series is helpful for trainees at all levels and is also helpful for fellows who supervise others and wish to develop strong mentoring skills for the future.
Science Policy and Advocacy
This course delves into the realm of scientific policy, equipping participants with a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between scientific research and its impact on public policy. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and guest lectures from policy experts, participants will gain insight into the policymaking process, learn effective strategies for science advocacy, and explore the crucial role of scientific evidence in shaping policies that address societal challenges.
Program Participation
If interested in attending or participating in the program, contact BSLProgram@einsteinmed.edu.
The program’s development was supported by a $250,000 grant awarded to John Greally (Genetics) and operated under the leadership and direction of Anne Bresnick (Belfer Institute), Victoria Freedman (Graduate Division), Diane Safer (Career and Professional Development), and Ariel Fishman (Office of Institutional Research). The program is partially funded by an NIH grant that seeks to support and enhance mentorship for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, although it is open to all postdocs/clinical fellows, associates, advanced graduate students, and early-career faculty.