A deadline passes. Then another. You mentioned it once, assumed it was understood, and moved on to the dozen other things competing for your attention. Yet you find yourself increasingly frustrated… There may not be a hard due date for this manuscript, but you want it out sooner rather than later. Or, your graduate student needs to submit their dissertation … Read More
How Successful PIs Build (and Repair) Research Group Culture
Ask a group of principal investigators what makes their research programs run well, and initial answers may vary. Talk long enough, though, and a different theme emerges. The groups that sustain productivity over years, that attract talented people and keep them engaged, that weather the inevitable setbacks without falling apart… those groups tend to have something else in place. They … Read More
The ROI of Investing in Faculty Leadership Development
If you’re in a leadership role at a research-intensive institution, you already know the metrics you’re accountable for—scholarly output, grant funding, enrollment strength, and research impact, to name a few. These are visible indicators of success. Yet, the real engine behind them is the capacity of faculty to lead. Too often, we assume that exceptional researchers will naturally evolve into … Read More
3 Phrases That Help You Influence Up the Ladder
In academic research, principal investigators often carry a lot of responsibility without having much direct authority. You’re accountable for your program’s success—its funding, outcomes, and the well-being of your team—but many key decisions about resources, policy, or priorities are made by institutional leaders above you. That reality can make things tricky. How do you advocate for your program, push back … Read More
Cultivating a Productive Partnership with Your Grants Administrator
In the complex ecosystem of a research program, your role as the Principal Investigator (PI) is to be the visionary, the one who defines the scientific questions and drives the intellectual direction. But turning that vision into funded, manageable projects requires another crucial skill set: the navigation of grants, budgets, and compliance. This is where your Grants Administrator (GA) comes … Read More
Deciding When to Let Go: 5 Strategic Questions Before You Quit a Project
In the life of a research program, new projects often start with excitement and possibility. But over time, some initiatives lose their momentum. They continue to demand your team’s time, energy, and funding, while the path to a meaningful outcome becomes less clear. Letting go can feel like admitting defeat, but in the strategic “business of research,” choosing to stop … Read More
Your Research As a Business: 3 Simple Tools to Keep Your Finances on Track
If you’re leading a research team, you’ve mastered the art of juggling: study designs, manuscript revisions, mentoring trainees, and the eternal pursuit of resources. It’s a complex, often overwhelming balance between research vision and practical constraints. And for many, the biggest source of that overwhelm isn’t the research itself—it’s the administrative and financial infrastructure that makes the research possible. When … Read More
Building a Research Legacy: How to Make a Long-Term Impact
By the time they reach mid-career, research faculty have already climbed some serious mountains. From securing the first faculty position to building a productive research program and earning tenure, there’s a fair share of hard-won achievements. But at this stage, many researchers find themselves facing a quieter, more complex question: What kind of impact do I actually want to leave … Read More
How to Retain and Support Early-Career Faculty: A Strategic Guide for Decision-Makers
Attracting top academic talent is only the first step—retaining early-career faculty is essential. These junior scholars represent the future of research, teaching, and institutional reputation, yet many face overwhelming pressures that drive them away from academia. In fact, nearly half of early-career faculty consider leaving their positions within the first five years, often due to burnout, unclear expectations, or insufficient … Read More
Designing Faculty Development Programs that Actually Work
Faculty development programs are essential for helping academic researchers grow their skills, advance their careers, and meet institutional goals. But let’s face it: not all faculty development programs are created equal. Too often, they’re generic, overly theoretical, or disconnected from the real challenges faculty face. So how do you design faculty development programs that actually work? Programs that engage participants, … Read More
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