Research Leadership Mastery
Nobody taught you how to lead a research team.
And somehow, you figured it out anyway. You learned by doing. By trial and error. By carrying more responsibility than anyone warned you about. You’ve built something meaningful. But chances are, it’s taken more out of you than it should.
This 6-month program is for research leaders who are ready to stop surviving and start leading with clarity. You’ll build practical systems, strengthen your leadership skills, and create a lab that supports your ambition, without sacrificing your life in the process.
Join 200+ research leaders from Harvard,
Max Planck, NIH, and top universities worldwide
Why leading a research team feels overwhelming at times.
The role of research team leader has become nearly impossible to do well.
You're expected to be the visionary, the manager, the mentor, the trainer, and the chief fundraiser. Often with a team that's still learning how to function as professionals. And nobody taught you how to do any of it.
Here's what we hear from researchers like you:
"I don't have enough time for my own work."
Your days fill with meetings, emails, and putting out fires. Deep thinking gets pushed to evenings and weekends. You know this isn't sustainable, but you can't figure out what to cut.
"My team needs more from me than I can give."
Most of your team are trainees. They're smart, but they're still developing technical skills, professional habits, and the ability to plan and follow through. The intellectual driving of the program sits almost entirely with you.
"Systems exist on paper, but they fall apart in practice."
You've tried to put systems in place. Inventory protocols, onboarding documents, project tracking. But they decay quickly. People don't follow through. And you don't have the bandwidth to enforce them.
"I can't tell if it's a skill gap or just the nature of research."
When experiments fail or projects stall, it's genuinely hard to know: Is this a training issue? A motivation issue? Bad reagents? Protocols that aren't tuned yet? The ambiguity is exhausting.
"No one wants this job to be their whole life anymore. Including me."
Values have shifted. You want to do meaningful work without sacrificing your health and relationships. Your team feels the same. But some experiments still require flexibility, and the pressure to produce never lets up. You're caught in the middle.
None of this means you're doing anything wrong.
It means you were never given the systems or support to lead with clarity.
"Stefanie, Alex and Robert have accomplished mission impossible for me. The program helped me become crystal-clear about what needed to change and how to implement change to run my team without feeling stressed all the time or stressing my team. During this half-year implementation course I incorporated strong management foundations with my team and embraced a bigger vision for my work and leadership."
Result: Promoted to Department Chair
What your team could look like.
When you apply proven leadership and management systems, everything shifts.
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Your team becomes more independent.
No more constant interruptions. -
Projects move faster and more predictably.
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Communication becomes clear, calm, and aligned.
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Culture strengthens, motivation rises, and conflict decreases.
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You finally have time to think, write, and innovate.
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Stress levels drop, for you and your team.
LEARN. IMPLEMENT. TRANSFORM.
A research-tested leadership development process built for researchers, by researchers.
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L - LEARN
Evidence-based training modules on research leadership, team management, and operational systems tailored to research teams of all sizes.
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I - IMPLEMENT
With expert coaching, you adapt systems to your team, strengthen communication, and troubleshoot challenges in real time.
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T - TRANSFORM
Your team becomes more independent. Culture strengthens. You reclaim research time, without burning out.
WHAT YOU'LL BUILD
This isn't just training. You'll leave with a strategy you can actually use.
Most leadership programs give you ideas and hope they stick. This one is built around implementation.
Every module addresses a specific piece of your research leadership. And every module adds to an integrated 5-year strategy document that becomes your roadmap going forward.
By the end of the program, you'll have:
A 5-year research impact strategy with clear themes and priorities that doesn't bake in burnout
A team structure roadmap showing what roles you need now vs. in 3 years
Core systems with owners for project management, experiment planning, onboarding, and operations
A training curriculum for your team so skill development becomes systematic
Team values and culture commitments that are written down and practiced
A conflict and feedback pathway so problems get addressed before they become crises
A 90-day implementation plan with specific priorities
This isn't a binder that sits on a shelf. It's a living strategy you'll build piece by piece, with coaching support to help you implement it in real time.
THE 9 MODULES
9 Modules. 6 Months. A complete leadership foundation.
MODULE 1: The One Where You Finally Get Your Evenings Back
Time, energy, and your nervous system
You can't lead well when you're running on empty. This module helps you understand your capacity, identify what's draining you, and make concrete changes to protect your time and energy.
You'll leave with: Protected deep-work blocks on your calendar, at least one commitment reduced, and a personal "window of tolerance" cheat sheet.
MODULE 2: The One Where You Remember Why You Wanted This Job
Purpose, values, and your leadership identity
You can't lead well when you're running on empty. This module helps you understand your capacity, identify what's draining you, and make concrete changes to protect your time and energy.
You'll leave with: Protected deep-work blocks on your calendar, at least one commitment reduced, and a personal "window of tolerance" cheat sheet.
MODULE 3: The One Where Your Team Stops Walking on Eggshells
Team culture and psychological safety
Your team can't learn, take risks, or speak honestly if they don't feel safe. This module helps you build a culture where mistakes get reported early and disagreement is productive.
You'll leave with: A team values exercise completed, 1-2 culture routines chosen, and culture commitments for your 5-year strategy.
MODULE 4: The One Where You're Not the Only Adult in the Room Anymore
Team architecture: roles, capacity, and team design
You're wearing too many hats because your team structure doesn't support you. This module helps you design a realistic structure and identify who can become a "multiplier."
You'll leave with: Current vs. target org chart, a clear list of what only you can do, and identification of potential multipliers.
MODULE 5: The One Where Projects Stop Exploding at the Last Minute
Core systems: projects, experiments, and operations
Chaos is expensive. This module helps you build lightweight systems for project management, experiment planning, and operations that actually get used.
You'll leave with: One project board implemented, an experiment planning template adopted, and one operations system redesigned with clear ownership.
MODULE 6: The One Where Your Trainees Become Real Researchers
Developing capable researchers: your team training curriculum
You can't personally develop every skill in every trainee. This module helps you build a systematic training curriculum.
You'll leave with: A draft training curriculum for at least one role, baseline competencies defined, and at least one repeatable training routine launched.
MODULE 7: The One Where People Actually Take Ownership
Motivation, ownership, and influence
Box-checking isn't ownership. This module helps you design roles and feedback systems that support real motivation.
You'll leave with: At least one ownership conversation run with a trainee, clear tweaks to your leadership behavior, and identification of high-potential multipliers.
MODULE 8: The One Where Conflict Doesn't Turn into a Dumpster Fire
Team dynamics, difficult conversations, and transitions
Friction is inevitable. Dumpster fires are not. This module gives you frameworks for handling conflict and team transitions.
You'll leave with: One real conflict mapped with a conversation plan prepared, a "when there's a problem" pathway for your team, and tools for supporting transitioning team members.
MODULE 9: The One Where It All Adds Up to a 5-Year Strategy
Integration and implementation
This is where it all comes together. You'll finalize your 5-year strategy and lock in your 90-day implementation priorities.
You'll leave with: One integrated strategy document, a short "5-year story" you can tell, and 1-3 90-day priorities locked in.
"For the first time in my career, I feel confident, independent, and the leader that I always wanted to be.
I first met Stefanie shortly after getting tenure and feeling conflicted about what I truly wanted to do next in my life and career. I was proud of having attained tenure, but I had created a life where I kept putting off fun until I had reached major milestones. This created a lot of stress, low energy, and loss of confidence in my own abilities to keep up.
In just 6 months of working with her, I feel confident in my abilities—not because I know exactly how to handle every challenge, but because I know I'm capable of overcoming them thanks to all the ideas and tools she has shared with me."
"I made a team manual and have been introducing many of the concepts to my team. When I asked for feedback from my students, they told me that our team works much better now, they understand their work better, and they love the templates.
The program not only made my life easier and helped me decentralize the team, it also made the students much happier!"
"I just came out of this planning retreat feeling really, really pumped. It showed me that I can build a calendar that's busy and high-performing, but also actually honors what I want—my writing time, my priorities, not just what my 'good little professor' job demands.
Going into 2026, especially Q1, I'm excited to push the team out of its cozy zone and hold myself accountable by really auditing how I spend my time, instead of just believing the story I tell myself about it."
Is this for you?
This program is designed for faculty and group leaders who lead research teams, whether you're new to leading and still finding your footing or a more seasoned researcher who's ready to be more intentional about how you lead.
THIS IS FOR YOU IF:
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You've been leading a team for a while, and some parts are working. But other parts drain you more than they should.
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You're ready to work on yourself, not just collect tips. Leadership starts with self-awareness, and you're willing to look at your own patterns and defaults.
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You want to implement, not just learn. You need a structured way to put good ideas into practice, with support and accountability along the way.
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You're willing to commit 2-3 hours per week for 6 months.
THIS IS NOT FOR YOU IF:
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You're looking for a quick fix. Real change takes time.
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You're not ready to look at yourself. Leadership is an inside job.
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You want grant writing or technical research skills. This program is about leading people and building systems.
Your trainers are researchers who've walked this path.
Dr. Stefanie Robel
Stefanie grew up in Berlin, Germany and completed a Ph.D. in Neuroscience in Munich before permanently relocating to the US.
She became a personal development and leadership nerd during her postdoctoral training, initially to increase her competitiveness and later because she realized she could use these strategies and tools to create a happier, balanced life and increase her levels of success.
She started her independent research program in 2016, built a thriving research team, and brought in more than $6M in funding during her first two years on the tenure track. She has since earned tenure and moved institutions to take her research and institutional leadership to the next level.
Stefanie started GLIA-Leadership in 2019 to systematize leadership knowledge and management approaches specifically for research teams. Her mission is to change the academic culture from negativity and chronic stress to one where people express their unique brilliance and live a fun, joyful, happy life.
Dr. Tanya Garcia
Tanya is a biostatistician and certified coach who builds systems that help people produce excellent work. She earned her Ph.D. in Statistics at Texas A&M and is a tenured Associate Professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she leads a transdisciplinary team of statisticians and neuroscientists and has maintained continuous NIH funding since 2013.
Her statistical work focuses on Huntington's disease, developing methods that make clinical trials more reliable. That research earned her the Gertrude M. Cox Award and election as a Fellow of the American Statistical Association.
She developed "Create Spicy Science," a neuroscience-informed framework for identifying gaps, generating novel ideas, and writing persuasively. Her 42 trainees have collectively earned 80 competitive grants, fellowships, and faculty positions—a track record that earned her the NINDS Landis Award for Outstanding Mentorship.
She was a founding participant of Research Leadership Mastery and now serves as a coach and trainer for the program, helping PIs build the systems and skills she wished someone had taught her earlier.
WHAT YOU GET:
The Research Leadership Mastery Program Course + High-Achieving Community + Weekly Coaching
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Full access to the course for at least 1 year
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9 training modules with downloadable worksheets
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Step-by-step processes to implement with your team
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Weekly coaching calls in a small group setting
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Case studies to illustrate best approaches to difficult situations
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BONUS: 60-minute kickoff 1:1 session to create a custom plan
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BONUS: Workbook with training exercises
You are who you surround yourself with.
The Research Leadership Mastery community is a group of hand-selected, high-reaching researchers who want it all: success and fulfillment.
Your Invesment:
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Payment plans available.
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Trainee or limited-funds stipends available for each cohort. Inquire when you apply.
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Funding may be available through your institution: startup funds, indirects, departmental funding, training grants, or private funds.
$6,000
Frequently Asked Questions
How much time will I need for the program?
Plan for 2-3 hours per week. Each training module runs 30-60 minutes, plus time for practical assignments and implementation with your team.
How is this different from university leadership workshops?
University workshops provide a day or two of content without ongoing support. This program runs for 6 months with weekly coaching calls, so you're implementing and adjusting in real time.
I'm very busy. Will this over-commit me even more?
We start with time and energy in Module 1 precisely because you need breathing room to implement everything else. That said, we encourage you to only apply if you can commit 2-3 hours per week.
What funds can I use to pay for the program?
Most participants use institutional funds: startup funds, departmental funds, indirects, or training grants. Payment plans are available.
Is there a discount for trainees or those with limited funding?
There are limited trainee spots available at a discounted tuition for each cohort. Please inquire when you apply.
What's your refund policy?
Because we work in small cohorts, no refunds are available once you commit. We'll discuss whether the program is the right fit during your application call.
You already know you can't be a great leader without investing in your skills and strategies.
You deserve to lead in a way that feels sustainable. To build a team that works well without depending on your constant attention. To have time for your own thinking and writing and life outside of work.
It's possible. And you don't have to figure it out alone.
