At the end of the spring semester, faculty, researchers, and leaders from across campus came together to celebrate the inaugural cohort of the Emerging Research Leaders Academy (ERLA).
The Emerging Research Leaders Academy is a training program designed for mid-career faculty across campus that supports development of leadership and management skills and encourages the application of those skills to research.
Throughout the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters, participants attended a series of monthly, in-person workshops on topics such as strategic leadership, mentoring, building diverse and inclusive teams, effective research communication, and leading and managing teams. Each participant also developed a five-year action plan, which they presented as part of the celebration.
Susan Martinis, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, presented opening remarks, praising both the program organizers and the cohort members.
“This next generation of Illinois research leaders is asking big, interdisciplinary questions, and—in the truly Illinois way—they have formed impressive networks that bridge departments and disciplines to make their vision a reality," Martinis said in a congratulatory note to cohort members.
The final celebration marked a significant milestone in recognizing and fostering the leadership and research capabilities of mid-career faculty across campus. Participants from the first cohort shared some of the more meaningful lessons they learned as well as their visions for the future as they presented highlights from their five-year career action plans.
Like many of her peers, Dr. Annette McCoy wants to help others on a similar path to her own. Dr. McCoy is a large animal veterinary surgeon and an associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Her research focuses on the genetic factors influencing musculoskeletal disease and the role of early exercise on gait development, bone modeling, and fracture prevention.
As a clinician researcher, she wants to encourage and inspire the trainees she works with to pursue a similar path. Until recently, Dr. McCoy had never really considered a role in administration.
“I appreciate the possibility for the broader impact on my profession that I can have in leadership roles,” she said.
Dr. McCoy is currently serving as the College of Veterinary Medicine’s interim Associate Dean for Research. She looks forward to pursuing similar positions in her career.
“The next several years will involve stocking my toolbox with leadership and administrative skills that will help me succeed in this role, and the ERLA experience has jumpstarted that process.”
Stephen Boppart, Interim Director of the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute, concluded the event by commending the cohort for their dedication and vision. He highlighted the importance of programs like ERLA in positioning Illinois for greater research excellence and fostering a collaborative and innovative research environment.
Boppart and Martinis also took the opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of the organizing committee led by Maggie Berg, a Senior Research Development Manager at the Interdisciplinary Health Science Institute (IHSI).
The program is facilitated by Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute in partnership with Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Center for Social & Behavioral Science, College of Applied Health Sciences, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Grainger College of Engineering, and Office of Proposal Development.
Berg, who worked with colleagues from across campus to develop and deliver the program, commented on the campuswide support.
“Seeing how stakeholders from across campus have invested in the Emerging Research Leaders Academy speaks to how powerful the program is both for ERLA participants and for the broader research enterprise.”
The shared connections and professional development opportunities have been meaningful for cohort members. So much so, that some members have requested opportunities to connect and grow beyond the program. Berg and her colleagues are planning future alumni events to meet this need.
The success of the inaugural cohort sets a high standard for future participants. The ERLA program will continue to empower mid-career faculty to lead large, multi-PI grants, enhance their research programs, and contribute to the university's mission of research excellence. The selection committee is now reviewing applications for the 2024-2025 cohort.
For more information or questions about the ERLA, please contact Maggie Berg at meberg@illinois.edu.