Leadership Training Retreats

Leadership Training for Bioscience Postdocs and PhD Students

Our full-day leadership retreats help graduate students and postdocs succeed in research settings, manage conflict, and grow as effective leaders and team members. Each retreat focuses on skills tailored to academic and lab environments. Participants will learn strategies to:

  • Navigate Ph.D. programs and research groups
  • Communicate effectively
  • Build stronger, more inclusive teams
  • Share experiences and connect with peers

Sponsored by UCLA Graduate Programs in Bioscience and Bioscience Postdoctoral Affairs.

Upcoming Leadership Retreats

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  • Individual Development Planning and Goal Setting
    Next Offering: Late September 2026
    Through guided activities, participants will reflect on their values and career goals, identify key resources and training opportunities at UCLA, and complete or update an Individual Development Plan. You’ll leave with a clear, actionable roadmap to advance your research training and long-term professional growth.
  • Emotional Intelligence & Communication
    Next Offering: Early December 2026
    Develop your emotional intelligence skills through managing negative self-talk, interacting with other communication styles, effectively communicating feedback, managing conflict, and strategies to build self-confidence.
  • Project Management & Teamwork
    Next Offering: Spring 2027
    Discover how your professional identity and working style apply to managing projects and working with others, develop skills and tools for managing large research projects to promote accountability, collaboration, accuracy, legibility, reliability and organization, and learn how to build your leadership style into your management system.

Capacity & Attendance

  • Retreat space is limited. Submitting an application does not guarantee participation.

  • Retreats require a minimum number of participants. If that number isn’t met, the retreat may be canceled or rescheduled.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to attend?

  • Must be able to attend the full-day of the retreat.
  • Must complete a post-workshop evaluation survey.
  • Must be a UCLA graduate student or postdoctoral scholar.

Do I have to complete the training retreats in a specific order?

This series can be completed in any order.

Who receives priority for attending these workshops?

On the rare occasion that a workshop is over-enrolled, participants will be prioritized in the follow order:

  1. First priority will be given to graduate students and postdocs who are in the biosciences.
  2. Second priority will be given to graduate students and postdocs outside of biosciences disciplines.

I am not in the Biosciences. Can I attend?

Yes. See priorities list for who is chosen for the program.

Questions?

If you have any questions please email our Program Representative, Malu Arreguin (mjarreguin@mednet.ucla.edu).