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...

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)

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!

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!

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-...

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...

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...

In the new book Labwork to Leadership, chemist Jen Heemstra offers actionable leadership advice to principal investigators. Read the #ScienceBooks Review: https://scim.ag/4mljVr1

Agreed! As we advance in our careers, the paths become more complex, and the need for guidance grows. ✅ Investing in mentorship relationships can bring transformative rewards to both your personal growth and professional development. @jenheemstra.bsky.social

ACS Council approves the petition to establish the Committee on the Advancement of LGBTQ+ Chemists, 86% to 14%. #chemsky 🧪⚗️ #acsfall2025

Here you go..." Why strong mentorship was essential for my career success in science" JoAnn Trejo has turned mentoring into an evidence-based science, driven by her own exposure to inspiring mentors. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

We all need mentors, and the further we go in our careers, the more mentors we need. Whether it’s dealing with increasingly complex career situations, considering a career transition, or coping with a career ending, mentors can be an essential source of wisdom and support.

Stop by Oshini Dharmajeewa’s poster (#708) titled “Re-engineering current therapeutics with a methyl pyridinium in the treatment of glioma” from 12-2 PM Wednesday in Convention Center Hall C!

Amazing book by @jenheemstra.bsky.social - an absolute must read covering topics from managing ourselves as well as managing others to do excellent research.

💡Check out @jonathanlwai.bsky.social’s review, published in @science.org, of “LABWORK to LEADERSHIP” by @jenheemstra.bsky.social. The wisdom shared in this must-read masterpiece will equip many venturing into the academic journey. Proud of you, my friend!

In VT to pick up the kiddo and enjoying this read by @jenheemstra.bsky.social. Love that it’s prompting me to think positively about introverted leadership. Thinking about how to adjust elements (eg retreats) for accessibility. Great read.

Look what came in today! @jenheemstra.bsky.social can’t wait to learn your ways. You have paved the way for so many of us 🙏🏽

Feeling awed and a bit starstruck that @science.org chose to run a book review on #LabworkToLeadership!! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Hope is not something I feel frequently right now, so yesterday was a very special day. I had the privilege to spend the day with the #CASFutureLeaders - meeting each of these brilliant scientists who are changing the world through their leadership and outreach was so uplifting and inspiring!

Definition of imposter syndrome: speaking at a workshop right after #ChemSky stars 💫✨ @drdre4000.bsky.social and @jenheemstra.bsky.social 🥰 Such an honour to share the stage with them at the #CASFutureLeaders programme 🎉

Sometimes, more is accomplished by taking a break, self-reflecting, and going back to the drawing board. Remember, you don’t have to do it alone. Sharing your ideas can bring clarity and support.

If your current career situation is making it tough to just get through each day, then setting goals may feel overwhelming (or ridiculous), but those goals may be critical to helping you weather the storm. More in my latest blog post: jenheemstra.com/resources/goal…

Humility is not a lack of confidence. Humility is a lack of arrogance. Arrogance says "I can do great things and you can't, so I'm better than you." Confidence says "I can do great things and so can you, let's work together." It's possible to own your skills without diminishing those of others.

#CottrellScholar 2015 @jenheemstra.bsky.social‬, author of Labwork to Leadership: A Concise Guide to Thriving in the Science Job You Weren’t Trained For, says the scientific enterprise needs people who can strategize, communicate, and lead with empathy.

🌟Congrats to my colleague and friend, @jenheemstra.bsky.social, on this incredible milestone! 👏🏽 Your journey has been, and will continue to be, an inspiration to so many. I’m looking forward to reading your book 📕. I’m sure it will help guide and support others on their own academic journeys.

First copies of my book are here!! As a new faculty member, I realized that in addition to my research job, I also had a leadership job…and I wasn’t prepared for that. This book is the guide I wish I’d had then, with the goal of helping others now.   jenheemstra.com/book

David Liu, who has developed base-editing and prime-editing technologies, has taken it on himself to look for ways to fix several rare and debilitating genetic diseases—AHC is just the latest on his list. cen.acs.org/biological-c... 🧪 #chemsky