Leadership Academy

SUNY Research Leadership Program

The SUNY Research Leadership Academy is a year-long professional development program. Designed for mid- and senior-level STEM and STEM-adjacent faculty, the Academy prepares researchers to lead with clarity, empathy, inclusivity, and strategic impact.

Each cohort brings together up to 36 faculty from SUNY institutions across New York State. A hallmark of the experience is immersive training in the Alda Method®, the Alda Center's evidence-based approach to communication. The Academy is jointly presented by SUNY and the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science with support from the Henry Luce Foundation.

Read the full program overview for complete details

"The training was truly impactful, and I'm already thinking about it as I continue to talk about my research, connect with my community partners, and participate at the university more generally." – 2025-26 Academy Fellow

"Vulnerability is part of leadership." – 2025-26 Academy Fellow reflects on their experience and why learning to connect with people matters as much as learning to generate data.

Apply to the 2026-27 Academy

Applications are open to full-time STEM and STEM-adjacent faculty at SUNY institutions, at the rank of Associate Professor or higher. Priority is given to faculty in the natural and physical sciences, consistent with the Henry Luce Foundation award supporting the Academy.

You'll need to submit:

Online application

Current CV

A 1–2 page written statement

A short video introduction (2 minutes max)

Read full eligibility and application details.

Application Deadline: August 7, 2026

Apply here

Questions? Check out these FAQs

For other questions about the SUNY Research Leadership Academy, please contact: research_academy@stonybrook.edu

The Academy in the News

Building Connection and Leadership

How Stony Brook’s Alan Alda Center, DI3, Office for Research and SUNY are training scientists to lead and communicate

SUNY Research Leadership Nears Completion of Its Inaugural Year

From Stony Brook to Buffalo and Albany, a look at the journey that shaped SUNY’s first Research Leadership Academy cohort

Connecting Science to People: The SUNY Research Leadership Academy Launches First Session at Stony Brook

The inaugural session at Stony Brook marks the beginning of a SUNY system-wide initiative aimed at training STEMM faculty to become more effective research leaders and communicators