Columbia University: PI Crash Course: Skills for Future or New Lab Leaders

Date/Time: Jun 09, 2025, 09:00 AM to Jun 10, 2025, 04:00 PM

Location: Hybrid training

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This two-day intensive crash course integrates the principle skills that future and new PIs did not develop during their post-doctoral training, but will be necessary to survive as a new Lab leader and manager. Whether you are a doctoral student, postdoc, new PI, or looking to start your own lab, as a lab leader you will immediately be confronted on daily basis by a variety of situations that you must be prepared to handle. This crash course will provide you the tools you need to start your lab on the right foot.

Led by a team of experienced leaders and scientists in the field of environmental sciences, epigenetics, genomics, epidemiology, immunology, neuroscience and bioinformatics, this workshop will integrate lectures with hands-on sessions to put eight key “survival skills” into practice: Negotiating, Staffing, Leading, Mentoring, Managing People, Managing time, Managing projects, and Networking. Emphasis will be given to leadership styles, leadership vision, self-awareness, successful delegation, responsibility, problem solving, adaptability, communication techniques, goal setting, and strategizing. The Crash Course will conclude with a panel discussion with successful PIs at different stages of their careers, ranging from Assistant Professors to Department Chairs.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be familiar with the following topics:

Negotiation skills for a new position/promotion/collaboration/publication

Staffing skills for job posts/candidate screening/interviews/hiring

Leadership and mentoring skills in the Lab

People management: day-to-day/conflict resolution/misconduct/promotions/layoffs

Time management: balancing research, teaching, service/when & how to say No

Project management: planning/tracking progress/meeting deadlines/introduction to management software

Network creation and maintenance: mentors/collaborators/supporters

Real-life lab leader success stories and best tips from early-stage and experienced investigators

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