Request for Applications
MOTHERS LEADING SCIENCE 2023–2024
Mothers Leading Science (MLS) is a competitive, year-long, leadership development program for research-intensive faculty in the health sciences who identify as mothers of school age and/or young children.
The purpose of this program is to foster professional and personal growth, provide peer coaching, integrate the dual roles of scientist and mother, develop future institutional leaders, and build a network of peers for ongoing support throughout their careers. See program plan for scheduling details.
Benefits
Dedicated programming and facilitation, peer support and connection, networking, training in resilience, peer coaching, and leadership skills. There is no cost to participate in this program.
Program Details
Cohort size: 8-12
Length: 1-year formal programming, followed by annual retreat and consultation
Curriculum: Leadership training grounded in Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead™, guest mentor sessions with accomplished mothers leading science, peer coaching, various topical articles, TED talks, and podcasts. The goal is to keep pre-work modest and the conversations vital.
Diversity and Inclusion
Priority will be given to current and former ICRE KL2 and CEED Scholars. We would also like to specifically invite persons to apply from backgrounds often excluded from scientific careers (e.g., persons excluded based on ethnicity and race, individuals with disabilities, individuals who identify as LGBTQIA, first generation college students, and other backgrounds recognized as excluded by the NIH).
We want to create an inclusive space for all mothers in science on campus. We welcome participation from anyone regardless of gender identity who identifies as a "mother"; however, we want to note that we do explore the relationship between motherhood and womanhood specifically in this program. If you have any questions about whether this program may fit your needs as a mother, please contact the Program Coordinator, Cynthia Fela, at cgf31@pitt.edu for more information
Scholar Application Process
Now Accepting applications for the 2023-2024 Cohort. Submit your application by June 1, 2023, by midnight. Cohort selection by August. MLS Kickoff in January 2024.
Eligibility
- Faculty appointment in a school of health sciences
- Research-intensive (must have ≥50% protected research time)
- Mother of school-age and/or younger child(ren) living in the home at least 50% of the time
- Must be able to commit to year-long program and attend, at a minimum, in-person kickoff/retreat meetings and 75% of virtual meetings
- Strong interest in professional, personal, and leadership development
- Open to giving and receiving peer support
- Willing to participate in all program evaluation efforts
Application Components
- Demographic and faculty appointment information
- Curriculum vitae
- Four short required statements plus a fifth optional statement each < 250 words:
- Explaining your motivation for joining this program
- Describing your current research career plans
- Describing past professional and personal development activities
- Describing a difficult challenge you are facing currently and how this program would be helpful
- (Optional) Describing additional caregiving responsibilities or extenuating circumstances that add significant stress to your life (e.g. child with special needs, ill parent, single parent status)
Program Plan 2023–2024
| Meeting Time | Event Content |
|---|---|
| January | 6 to 8 hour in-person kickoff event |
| January-December | Bi-monthly 60-90 minute virtual meetings |
| Summer (TBD) | In-person 1-2 day mid-year retreat |
| December | All-cohort in person 6-8 hour annual retreat |
Evaluation and self-assessment throughout
MLS is a collaboration of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and ICRE. The University of Pittsburgh Mothers Leading Science program is the first sister site of the founding University of Minnesota - Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s Mothers Leading Science model. Questions may be directed to Cynthia Fela at cgf31@pitt.edu.
