PGR Training Workshop - Building Inclusive PI Leadership and Grant Success.

Leeds University Business School PGRs took part in a dedicated training workshop on inclusive PI leadership, grant success and research career development.

This was a dedicated training workshop aimed at empowering PGRs as they transition into independent research careers. The workshop served as the first activity for the newly launched project, Embedding inclusive PI leadership in doctoral training. Funded by the Research England Enhancing Research Culture scheme, the project is led by Dr Xingjie Wei, Professor Ahmed Mostafa, and Dr Jennifer Rodley. Recognising that modern research requires skills far beyond immediate academic focus, Dr Wei and the organising team designed this event to equip PGRs and ECRs with the tools needed to navigate research impact, funding landscapes, and inclusive team management.

Dr Wei noted:

Our goal with this workshop is to ensure our doctoral researchers are not only excellent scholars but also prepared to be inclusive, effective leaders in their future careers.

The Leeds University Business School Graduate School continues to prioritise the professional development of its researchers. By investing in a holistic research culture and providing targeted training on grant success and inclusive leadership, the school ensures its PGRs are fully equipped to navigate the complex, collaborative, and rewarding world of modern academia.

The benefits to the students:

• Navigating Research Impact: Professor Matthew Davis opened the workshop with a session on "Research Impact, PI Leadership, and Research Culture". He emphasised that research impact is a process, not just an outcome. A key takeaway for PGRs was to view project delivery as a socio-technical challenge, noting that success emerges from the interaction of people, practices, and systems, rather than individual heroics.
• Unlocking Funding Opportunities: Dr Xingjie Wei provided a deep dive into the funding landscape for PGRs and ECRs. Dr Wei encouraged PGRs to "start small" and actively look for small grant opportunities to build a track record. Her ultimate advice to the cohort: "Keep applying, every application teaches you something, whether you win or not".
• PGR Success Spotlight: The funding session also featured an inspiring sharing session from current PGR Lijun Zhang. Lijun recently secured a grant from the Healthy Buildings Network Leeds for their highly collaborative project, "Sonic Belonging: Co-Designing Community Music Spaces for Well-being and Social Inclusion". Hearing a peer's firsthand experience navigating the application process was incredibly motivating for the attendees.
• Leading with Inclusion: Professor Ahmed Mostafa concluded the talks by exploring "Inclusive Principal Investigator Leadership". He detailed how integrating EDI principles into leadership practices enhances team wellbeing, empowers voices, and stimulates creative thinking and innovation. Professor Mostafa also reminded attendees that a strong commitment to EDI is increasingly an essential requirement from major research funders.