In anticipation of the popular IAD Research Leader Programme opening for applications on 15th September 2025, this blog will outline what the programme is about, who it is for, and what other options for research leadership development exist for University of Edinburgh research and academic staff. Getting your leadership development plan right for you will be key to ensuring your time is well spent.
What is the Research Leader Programme and who is it for?
The IAD Research Leader Programme is for new Principal Investigators (PIs) at the University of Edinburgh, focusing on the challenges faced by PIs as they establish themselves as team leaders for the first time. Topics include understanding your approach to leadership, developing and supporting a research team, and developing your research strategy.
Eligible applicants are likely to be University of Edinburgh research fellows, recently appointed academic staff, or new PIs who are leading teams for the first time. Though aspects of this programme are relevant for leading collaborative groups, this is not the main focus of the programme. The programme is not open to external researchers.
What to expect
The programme is designed to support researchers in developing key leadership skills in the context of the Higher Education research sector, and an opportunity to learn from colleagues and peers from across the institution in similar positions. The specific topics that will be covered include:
- Introduction to research leadership and understanding your approach to leadership
- Leading research teams effectively and how to set them up for success
- Leading research teams effectively and how to deal with common challenges
- Developing a strategic approach to your research
Through a mixture of leadership theory, facilitated peer discussions and learning, participants will be given methods and approaches to leading research teams effectively, and be able to apply these in their own contexts.
Previous participants have given very positive feedback on the course, and some recent comments from participants in 2025 included:
“I cannot rave about this course enough – it was amazing. This has been invaluable and I’m so glad I got a spot. I wish it was still running. “
“I would strongly recommend this course to other new and aspiring PIs.”
“Overall, it was a great programme for thinking about research leadership holistically, from building and leading teams to moving towards my own objectives as a research leader.”
“I gained a lot from the two days and I’m so glad I protected the time and came along.”
How can I sign up for the programme?
The programme will run three times this academic year 2025/26, once online and twice on campus. The choice of online or in-person participation, and the increased programme offers, aims to widen access and increase engagement with leadership development for all those who need it at Edinburgh University.
Further information on dates and how to apply to the programme are available on the IAD webpage.
What other leadership programmes are available?
If this programme is not right for you, or you are looking for other options, you can look at other leadership development programmes available at Edinburgh University. For example, the Participative Leadership Programme is available for those looking to navigate tension and conflict in teams and create participative cultures. You may also prefer one of the management and leadership courses provided by HR for all staff.
If you don’t have time for a full programme or are looking for support in specific areas of leadership, you might find the bite-size leadership series more suitable for your needs. This series is modelled on the Future Leaders Fellows leadership retreat and breaks down key topics for leadership into bite-size online events. You can either join an online event or watch the recording of previous sessions with key resources.
For research staff we also offer a half-day workshop on Developing your Research Leadership, which is aimed at those who are aspiring or new to research leadership who want to explore what research leadership means, your values as a leader and how to develop your leadership skills.
If you’re not sure what is right for you, why not speak to an IAD Academic Developer in a 30-minute leadership development consultation to discuss your needs and create a personalised leadership development plan.
(Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash)
