The UROP Postdoctoral Research Leadership and Mentorship Fellows Program is a specialized professional-development opportunity for University of Michigan postdoctoral scholars who mentor—or plan to mentor—undergraduate researchers.
Developed by the U-M Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) Center for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Inquiry in partnership with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA), this five-session series adapts the evidence-informed mentor-development framework of the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison to the distinct needs of postdoctoral mentors.
Through practical workshops, guided reflection, peer exchange, and insight from experienced UROP faculty mentors, participants will strengthen their ability to lead inclusive, productive, and intellectually engaging research environments—while preparing for the transition from postdoctoral scholar to faculty mentor and research-group leader.
- Strengthen advanced skills for mentoring undergraduate researchers.
- Develop a clear, intentional research-mentoring philosophy.
- Learn effective approaches to onboarding, supervising, and supporting undergraduate researchers.
- Set clear expectations and cultivate healthy communication practices.
- Provide constructive feedback, support progress, and create meaningful accountability.
- Navigate difficult conversations and common mentoring challenges with greater confidence.
- Foster undergraduate independence, belonging, and research identity.
- Build an inclusive culture within a lab, studio, field site, research group, or collaborative project.
- Prepare to lead a research team as a first-year faculty member.
- Develop practical materials for future faculty applications and research-group launch.
- Build relationships with peer postdocs, faculty mentors, and UROP leaders.
All workshops are Noon–1:15 p.m. at Rackham Building, Earl Lewis Room (3rd floor). Lunch is provided!
Five-part training series
- Establishing Expectations, Communication Practices, and an Effective Team Climate | Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | RSVP
- Providing Feedback, Supporting Progress, and Creating Accountability |Wednesday, December 9, 2026 | RSVP
- Navigating Difficult Conversations and Mentoring Challenges | Wednesday, December 16, 2026 | RSVP
- From Tasks to Ownership: Cultivating Undergraduate Independence, Belonging, and Research Identity | Wednesday, February 3, 2027 | RSVP
- From Postdoc to Faculty Mentor: Preparing to Lead a Research Group (Mentors from both STEM & Non-STEM fields) | Wednesday, March 3, 2027 | RSVP
Postdoctoral scholars who complete three or more workshops will receive:
- A $1,000 professional-development award
- A signed certificate of completion
- Professional recognition from the Office of the Provost
- An invitation to a Provost-hosted recognition reception and luncheon, planned for late March or early April 2027
Participation offers more than a credential. Fellows leave with practical tools, a stronger mentoring philosophy, an expanded professional network, and greater readiness to lead the next generation of researchers.
This program is designed for University of Michigan postdoctoral scholars who:
- Currently mentor undergraduate researchers;
- Expect to mentor undergraduate researchers in the future;
- Want to strengthen their research leadership and supervision skills;
- Are preparing for faculty positions or other research-leadership roles; or
- Seek practical strategies for building inclusive, effective, and sustainable research cultures.
Postdocs from all disciplines and research settings are welcome, including laboratory, computational, clinical, community-based, humanities, social science, arts, design, studio, and field-based environments.
