This premier leadership development program is designed for early career PhDs. In this program participants will explore the inherent and environmental aspects of their behaviors to gain a holistic understanding of their priorities, preferences, and motivations. Through this understanding they will not only enhance their self-awareness, but also will gain insight into the priorities, preferences, and motivations of others. Certificates will be awarded to participants who complete all program requirements
The 2022-2023 program cohort will include 30 postdoctoral scholars and advanced graduate students. Participants will virtually attend classroom-style modules one Friday per month (4 hours each via Zoom, starting at 9:00 am PT/12:00pm ET), and engage in discussions and assigned projects in between modules. Participants will work in groups to develop a program project for presentation at the finale. See Program Timeline for more information.
In Module 1 program participants will undergo a process of self-analysis through utilization of a comprehensive personal assessment. As the assessment will serve as a foundation for understanding the unique value each individual brings to their leadership roles, participants will spend Module 1 exploring their personal leadership styles, motivations, and preferences, as well as considering what type of leader they want to be.
CloseIn Module 2 program participants will continue their self-analysis towards a deeper understanding of their inherent priorities and preferences. As a first step in defining their personal leadership goals, participants will define their individual “Unique Value Proposition,” or how they will describe what they offer as a leader.
CloseIn Module 3 participants will shift their focus externally to gain a better understanding of the priorities and preferences of others. While an understanding of others will be explored to some degree in Modules 1 and 2, in Module 3 participants will specifically focus on developing their awareness of others’ styles. Through the activities and case studies explored in Module 3, participants will explore how to more effectively work with individuals who have different priorities and preferences than they do.
CloseIn Module 4 participants will explore the professional and leadership strengths they already possess and want to refine, and what additional leadership strengths they want to develop. Additionally, participants will further develop their “Unique Value Proposition” that will serve as a guide as they continue to explore how and where they can best contribute what they desire to offer as leaders.
CloseIn Module 5 participants will be introduced to an organized framework to investigate the nature of conflict. Through self-assessment and analysis, participants will have the opportunity to explore how they most often respond to conflict and whether this serves them well. This module will also explore where and why conflict often arises in the context of individual preferences and styles, as well as various ways to analyze a situation towards understanding the root cause of the perceived conflict so that one can better choose how to approach the situation, if at all.
CloseIn Module 6 6 participants will continue their investigation of the sources of conflict, reflecting on the internal factors that may cause conflict within them outside the original issue at hand. This module will also introduce additional ways to explore a conflict that will lead to a better understanding of the factors involved in the conflict that most need to be addressed. Additionally, participants will discuss how best to communicate with individuals with different styles/preferences during times of conflict.
CloseIn Module 7 participants will learn a process through which they can identify if a difficult conversation needs to be had, and how they can approach challenging conversations while preserving and even strengthening relationships. Through small group activities they will practice what they have learned.
CloseIn Module 8 participants will present and analyze case studies that highlight relevant challenges that they and others may encounter. By applying the knowledge they have gained in the first seven program modules, participants will work with each other to suggest approaches to dealing with the challenges discussed. In addition to discussing best approaches to the conflicts highlighted in the case studies, participants will practice different ways to give feedback and consider which approaches work best for different individuals, including themselves.
CloseIn Module 9 program participants will explore how to influence without title or authority through first assessing their current style of influencing others and subsequently examining their level of influencing success.
CloseIn Module 10 participants build on what they learned about their influencing style through exploring the importance and role of stakeholders in achieving long-term goals. They will practice a framework for assessing whom and how they need to influence in any give situation so they can enter any discussion fully prepared to speak to the interests of the various stakeholders and to listen to what their stakeholders have to say, with the ultimate goal of successfully influencing their stakeholders and further strengthening relationships at the same time.
CloseModule 11 marks the end of the program, final group projects will be presented, participants will learn of opportunities to become a peer mentor to future Leadership Development Program cohorts, and time for networking and discussing program outcomes will be available.
CloseDr. Diane Klotz is Director of the Office of Education, Training, & International Services, and Associate Dean of Administration and Professional Development in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in La Jolla, CA. In this position Diane oversees a team responsible for creating and delivering innovative programs to support the professional growth and complement the scientific education and training of Sanford Burnham Prebys graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. She also participates in institute-wide efforts in strategic planning with respect to education and training initiatives, and serves as an advisor to faculty on education and training best practices and to executive leadership on education and training policy. Most recently, Diane was selected to lead a new Sanford Burnham Prebys initiative to develop a leadership competencies model and new leadership development program for all employees.
Diane received her PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Tulane University, and pursued her postdoctoral research training at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS, NIH). Diane’s research focused on cross-talk between steroid hormone receptor and growth factor signaling pathways in the female reproductive tract. Outside the lab, Diane served as a member and chair of the NIEHS postdoctoral association and was a member and chair of the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Board of Directors, where she remains active as chair of the NPA Advisory Council. Diane has served on the NIH study sections for the NIH Broadening Experience in Scientific Training (BEST) Award program and served as a member of the NIH BEST External Scientific Panel of advisors.
Diane’s career path has been shaped by her observations of and experiences with how scientific organizations function and how scientific leaders strive to effect change and make progress. Her focus in the education and training of scientists at all levels and in all career paths is on helping scientists find their voices as high impact leaders who are able to guide their teams with compassion, clarity, vision, and intent. Toward this end, Diane worked with academic labs, professional associations, and biotech companies towards developing high-performing teams and cultures that support them. Diane is a certified DiSC® facilitator, Influence Style Indicator™ facilitator, and MBTI® practitioner, and has achieved comprehensive certification in Conflict Management and Change Management from Kilmann Diagnostics, along with a certificate for Negotiation and Leadership from the Harvard Program on Negotiation.
Dr. Nisha Cavanaugh is the Associate Director of Career Development & Postdoctoral Programs within Sanford Burnham Prebys' OETIS. In this role, Nisha oversees the portfolio of career and professional development programming for Sanford Burnham Prebys postdoctoral scholars and the co-curricular activities for graduate students. Additionally, she collaborates with OETIS faculty and with the Sanford Burnham Prebys Science Network to design new professional development workshops, programs and opportunities to enhance the postdoctoral experience. Nisha is a certified Influence Style Indicator™ facilitator and MBTI® practitioner, and she has completed certification in Conflict Management from Kilmann Diagnostics and the Gallup Successful Strengths Coaching course.
Nisha received her PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Colorado at Boulder where she elucidated the primase-polymerase enzyme mechanism in Herpes Simplex Virus-1 DNA replication initiation. As a postdoc at the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), she analyzed the structure-function relationship of DNA polymerase beta and the misincorporation of ribonucleotides during DNA repair. Nisha is passionate about creating and developing innovative programs for early career PhDs that complement the education and research training they receive to provide them with the necessary tools to successfully achieve their research and career goals. This desire stems from her own graduate education and postdoctoral training experience as well as her time spent as Chair of the NIEHS Trainees Assembly, the NIEHS postdoctoral association.
Heather Dillon is the Career and Professional Development Program Manager in the Office of Postdoctoral and Research Scholar Affairs at the University of California, San Diego. In this position, Heather develops, coordinates, and presents programs to meet the training and professional development needs of the UCSD postdoctoral community. Heather serves as an ex-officio member and advisor to the UC San Diego Postdoctoral Association Board and collaborates with partners across UC San Diego to facilitate high-impact career development programs for PhDs and Postdocs.
Heather graduated with Highest Honors from the University of California, Davis with a degree in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior and has a Master’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience from Dartmouth College. She is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and MBTI® Certified Practitioner. With over a decade of experience in recruitment and advising, Heather has assisted hundreds of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with their job searches and application materials. She is devoted to helping trainees succeed in their chosen professions by providing career guidance and advice through seminars, workshops, and individual meetings.
B. Bea Rajsombath oversees the Pre & Postdoctoral Office at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. She has been employed at the Salk since 2010 and has successfully served in various instrumental roles during this time. She earned a BA in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Carlson School of Management with an emphasis on strategic management and international business. In her current position, B. Bea’s responsibilities include assisting postdocs in identifying funding, providing ongoing career development programs, developing strategies and tools to aid postdocs in finding independent positions and collaborating on diversity initiatives for Salk. She is also an MBTI® Certified Practioner.
You can contact us at sbpleaders@sbpdiscovery.org!
You MUST be a:
The program's cohort of peer emerging leaders will be committed to fully engage in all program activities and support their fellow participants.
To be accepted into the program, complete the application form in full. The parts of the application include: