In sharing my career story, I’m realizing that the conversations that were transformative for me were probably routine for my mentors: -asking what I want to do in my career -saying I should go to grad school -advising me to find a good PhD advisor Never underestimate the importance of mentoring.

Sometimes giving yourself permission to fail can open up your ability to try your best.

Sometimes giving yourself permission to give up is what gives you the strength to keep going.

Becoming a great leader or mentor is a lifelong pursuit, but it’s also something that we achieve in small steps every day by: -Setting an intention to grow in a skill or behavior -Deciding on an action or practice to achieve that outcome -Repeating until the change becomes a habit or routine

I used to have imposter syndrome over working in a research area that is very far from what I did for my PhD. Then it recently hit me that I’ve been doing research for 20 years since my PhD and so that’s almost like earning 4 more PhDs over that time. I guess it is okay to shift scientific field 😊

The 2025 book “Labwork to Leadership” by @jenheemstra.bsky.social is an invaluable resource for aspiring academic leaders. Patricia Maurice and I reviewed this book for the @epistimi-stemm.bsky.social blog series. Read our review at: www.epistimi.org/blog/when-do...

When do we learn about leadership? — epistimi

Prof. Jen Heemstra’s 2025 book “Labwork to Leadership” is one we wish that we had been able to read when starting out as assistant professors.  Even senior women leaders in STEMM will be able to ...

epistimi.org

If you’re a people pleaser, a key to effective time management is remembering that you’re usually going to be disappointing someone. When we take on a task we don’t need or want to do just to make someone happy, it usually comes at the cost of letting down ourselves or those closest to us.

It’s great to want to accomplish things in your life. Finding your passion can help you find happiness. Having a purpose is a good path to fulfillment. But you don’t need to have it all done by the age of 30. Or 40. Or 50. Or 60. Or any age. Not having it all figured out is not a failure.

If you’re at #ACSSpring2026 and you see @jenheemstra.bsky.social you are obliged to say “Network better” before she can knock the food out of your hand (Read the post - one of the funniest #ChemSky ever)

In Preparation@inprep.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Highly recommended and should be read by all (future) group leaders! Thanks for sharing your personal struggles also @jenheemstra.bsky.social 🧪

When setting goals, we often focus on achieving milestones like a PhD, job, tenure, or promotion. Those are great goals but they’re not enough. We also need to think about: -Why we’re pursuing that goal -What specifically we need to do to succeed -The values we will follow as we do the work

🚨New book alert🚨 We're very excited to add Labwork to Leadership by @jenheemstra.bsky.social (published by @harvardpress.bsky.social) to our collection! We hope it will be useful and of interest to our PIs and others planning their career in STEMM. #labworktoleadership #chemsky #chematcam

Super exited to be teaming up with #CASFutureLeaders and @petercarlton.bsky.social again to talk about strategies for growing leadership skills! It’s not too late to register for this free online event - link below. And a few people will walk away with a signed copy of #LabworkToLeadership!

Peter Carlton@petercarlton.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Back in August, @jenheemstra.bsky.social gave a wonderful talk to our 2025 #CASFutureLeaders. Now’s your chance to hear her strategies for science leadership. Register for this free webinar!

Back in August, @jenheemstra.bsky.social gave a wonderful talk to our 2025 #CASFutureLeaders. Now’s your chance to hear her strategies for science leadership. Register for this free webinar!

Peter Carlton@petercarlton.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Excited to host @jenheemstra.bsky.social for our first #CASFutureLeaders webinar next month. If you’re an early-career scientist, don’t miss this opportunity! www.cas.org/resources/we...

The more positional authority you have as a leader, the more you have to invite dissent if you want the best ideas to surface. Some of my favorites are: -I’m not even sure I agree with my idea here… -Please push back on this… -I know there are a lot of good options…

Taiwo Bankole is a doctoral student at the University of Maryland, College Park. No matter what the challenge, she is determined to add “Dr.” to her name. Read more: https://awis.org/project/awis-member-spotlight-taiwo-bankole #WomenInScience

Excited to host @jenheemstra.bsky.social for our first #CASFutureLeaders webinar next month. If you’re an early-career scientist, don’t miss this opportunity! www.cas.org/resources/we...

Thanks to Scott Hanton for a thoughtful review of #LabworkToLeadership in Lab Manager: www.labmanager.com/book-review-...

Book Review: Labwork to Leadership

Jen Heemstra offers essential skills for academic laboratory leadership, focusing on self-leadership and coaching others.

labmanager.com

Leadership skills are similar to research skills - we aren’t born knowing the best approaches but we can learn. And just like learning how to be a researcher, growing as a leader involves making mistakes, listening to feedback, and improving over time.

Discovered on #ChemSky on Wednesday Discussed with manager on Thursday Purchased Friday In the Library on Tuesday Going to be a very useful resource, thanks @jenheemstra.bsky.social!

Huge thank you to @rescorp.org and @jenheemstra.bsky.social for the signed copy of Labwork to Leadership! Perfect timing as I head into the chemistry faculty job market this year. 👀 #chemsky

Making mistakes and failing are inevitable, especially in research. However, how you approach failing can impact your ultimate success. My latest blog post shares how becoming a professional ‘fail-er’ can prevent you from ‘fail-ure’ www.jenheemstra.com/resources/be...

Mindset: Becoming a professional ‘fail-er’ can prevent you from ‘fail-ure’

Making mistakes and failing are inevitable, especially in research. However, how you approach failing can impact your ultimate success.

jenheemstra.com

As leaders, we often think about what we need to do each day. Just as important is to think about who we want to *be* each day. How we spend our time is important, but what we value and how we treat others is critical to achieving our desired outcomes for ourselves and those around us.

Wish I had read this book 7 years ago! Luckily, I could still find useful insights to apply tomorrow :) ‪thanks @jenheemstra.bsky.social‬

Traveling sans toddler so devouring this book! Thanks @jenheemstra.bsky.social for sharing your wisdom #Academicsky

The new academic year means new goals, and if you're leading a research group (or yourself!) then some of those goals may be leadership goals. To celebrate a new year and new goals, @harvardpress.bsky.social is giving 20% off #LabworkToLeadership through Sept. www.hup.harvard.edu/books/978067...

New (academic) year, new goals! And one of the personal goals is to get back to training on the MoonBoard. Feels good to be back! #ChemistsWhoClimb

Got my Labwork to Leadership book by @jenheemstra.bsky.social today! Can’t wait to dive in #researchteams #researchleadership #PIs

The real magic of organic chemistry? The people who do it. Thanks to Professsor Malika Jeffries-EL (@chemdiva.bsky.social ) for sharing her story with us. We look forward to reading and watching yours. Please use #AmplifyOrganic

I often feel busy or overwhelmed and don't have the time I want for the things that bring me joy. Can you relate? My latest blog post dives into the question we *often* ask when making decisions about our time and the question we *should* be asking instead. www.jenheemstra.com/resources/wh...