LEADERs
Leadership Education Advancing Discovery through Embedded Research
LEADERs connects organizations with outstanding PhD students through business-aligned research projects. Leadership-trained researchers ready to contribute from day one, addressing innovation challenges while advancing your projects.
Advance Critical Research
PhD-level talent tackles complex problems with fresh perspectives and cutting-edge skills.
Engage Vetted Researchers
Concierge-level matching service delivers curated PhD candidates matched to your needs.
Attract New R&D Talent
Extended evaluation period provides streamlined pathway to de-risk future hires.
What Makes LEADERs Different
We develop a special partnership relationship that identifies your needs to find the right talent so you can choose from a curated list without reviewing generic resumes not aligned with your business needs.
Our students are uniquely prepared through a course that develops leadership skills, coupled with project management tools allowing them to make an immediate impact.
Our partner agreement is designed with industry partners in mind so that you can maximize the value of innovations that occur during the course of the project.
We have activated our PhD alumni network with industry experience so every LEADERs Fellow is matched with a mentor to guide and support them to maximize their organizational effectiveness.
Why Partners Choose LEADERs
Asking for Help in the Moment That Mattered
Six weeks into her placement, equipment failed with a week of expensive cancer research at risk. Her instinct: fix it alone. Her choice: ask for help. That decision taught her more than months of lab work.
Testimonial
"Research isn't just about the work you do on your own, but about the people you collaborate with and the connections you make."
Physics PhD to Industry Innovation
Physics PhD Helena Gien joined Amgen's mass spectrometry group with zero domain experience. Her computational background solved problems the biology-trained team couldn't address alone. Cross-disciplinary skills accelerated drug development validation.
Impact
Computational methods accelerated drug discovery, delivering immediate R&D value.
Advance Product Toward Market
Microfluidics PhD expertise accelerated product validation for health tech startup, bridging academic research to market.
Impact
Academic expertise accelerated startup product development and enabled team management.
Build a Talent Pipeline
Industry partner shares why they’ve requested LEADERs Fellows every year since their first placement.
Testimonial
“I would hire every single student recommended. It’s really good synergy.”Ready to learn more?
Connect with our team to discuss how leadership-trained PhD researchers can advance your innovation initiatives.