Leadership and Management Strategies for Clinical Investigators
Clinical investigators, physician-scientists, and multidisciplinary teams interfacing with clinical departments balance many tensions in their work. Inherent conflicts may exist between meeting institutional needs for clinical care, building a research practice, and simultaneously being maximally effective today, while strategizing for the future.
As responsibilities increase and diversify, success on individual merits becomes less sustainable and many researchers are beginning to build teams critical to their missions. As a collaboration between Kellogg and NUCATS, this course will help researchers harness unique leadership skills that are not taught in the many years of clinical and scientific education most have already completed.
For more information please visit the Northwestern University Clinical & Translational Sciences Institute.
- 2026 Program Dates: May 11-14, 2026 (Chicago Campus)
Upcoming Sessions
| Spring 2026 | Registration Period: |
|---|---|
| NU_LEAD 100-0 Leadership Strategies for Clinical Investigators | February 23, 2026 - May 11, 2026 |
Program Content
Key Features:
- Led by Kellogg faculty in an interactive classroom setting
- Participants will learn practical and effective approaches to topics including organizational culture, strategic time management, feedback and persuasion strategies and diversifying funding sources
- Students will leave with a better sense for how to leverage personal leadership strengths to build collaborative work teams and navigate competing work demands
With research-based curricula presented by subject matter experts from Kellogg, attendees will be exposed to a rigorous classroom learning experience.
Leadership and Management Topics:
- Leveraging strengths-based leadership
- Enhancing persuasion and influence skills
- Understanding and creating strong organizational culture
- Establishing equitable people processes
- Providing feedback and managing difficult conversations
- Learning to thrive as a leader through intention and purpose
- Diversifying funding sources
Who Should Attend
Faculty members who are early to mid-career and building their research program.
Leadership and Management Strategies for Clinical Investigators is a four-day program that offers clinical investigators and their administrative team leaders a chance to build a foundation of evidence-based management and leadership skills that can be applied to the business side of science.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition for the course is $5,000. Benefits-eligible full-time NU employees pay 10% upon registration.
Northwestern University employees: Benefits-eligible full-time Northwestern University employees may use Employee Reduced Tuition Benefits for School of Professional Studies non-credit Professional Development certificate programs, upon approval of their Tuition Reimbursement Application.
Northwestern University employees are responsible for (1) confirming their eligibility for Northwestern employee tuition benefits, (2) submitting the correct Tuition Benefit Application and (3) confirming that the benefit has been applied to their student account in CAESAR. Per Northwestern University HR policy, employees must submit a completed application no later than December 15 in the same calendar year for which the benefit is being requested. Employees who do not submit a Tuition Benefit Application by the stated deadline will be responsible for paying the full cost of tuition.
For further assistance, please contact the Office of Human Resources.
Contact Us
For any questions regarding the program content, logistics, or eligibility, please reach out to Jaime Ziegler, Program Coordinator, Center for Education and Career Development.
Registration Troubleshooting
I tried to register through the website, but I received an error message that the information I entered matches an existing person. I haven’t attended Northwestern before. How should I proceed?
Northwestern’s student information system will recognize your credentials if you applied to or attended a Northwestern University program in the past. If you receive an error message that you are already in the system and have a NetID, please contact the School of Professional Studies Registrar’s Office by emailing onlinereg@northwestern.edu. The Registrar’s Office will assist you with reactivating your student account so you can enroll in professional development courses.
I previously attended Northwestern and I remember my NetID, but I received an error message when I tried to register.
If you previously attended Northwestern University and remember your NetID but are unable to register through the Professional Development website, please contact the School of Professional Studies Registrar’s Office by emailing onlinereg@northwestern.edu. Please include your NetID in this email. The Registrar’s Office will assist you with reactivating your student account so you can enroll in professional development courses.
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