The Leaders for the Future Fellowship is open to UC Davis Master’s and Ph.D. students and postdoctoral researchers in all disciplines who are interested in developing leadership, innovation and business skills while engaging in an experiential project or applied experience outside academia.
Applications are now open for the 2026-2027 Leaders for the Future Fellowship cohort. Apply by August 6.
It's your time to shine!
Gain confidence and a strong sense of community as you develop in-demand leadership, innovation and business skills. As part of this fellowship, you’ll engage in an experiential project or applied experience beyond academia that aligns with your interests and potential work aspirations.
Develop practical skills that enable you to stand out as a job candidate, communicate with impact and collaborate effectively on teams. Build your network and celebrate your successes as a member of a supportive interdisciplinary cohort of UC Davis graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
In this nine-month program you will:
- Gain valuable leadership, innovation and business skills through interactive lunch sessions within an interdisciplinary cohort.
- Explore career possibilities as you design and implement an experiential project or applied experience beyond academia.
- Build your network and hear from others who have navigated obstacles and traveled their own pathway to success.
- Receive coaching to support your professional development.
- Learn and apply a strengths-based approach to leadership and collaboration that will bring out the best in you and others.
The fellowship is a supportive space to step back from daily research and think intentionally about your goals and growth. It offers practical guidance, honest conversations, and a sense of community that can be hard to find in a regular academic setting."
-Parastoo Farajpoor, Leaders for the Future Fellow 2025-26
Snapshot: Your Year as a Fellow
To successfully complete the program, you must:
- Plan and engage in a focused experiential project or applied experience beyond academia
- Attend and participate in all of the following:
- UC Entrepreneurship Academy
- Lunch-and-Learn Sessions
- Closing Session
See below for the 2026-27 dates.
| Event | Date/Time | Location |
| Orientation & Meet-and-Greet | Sept. 3, 2026 12 PM | Zoom |
| UC Entrepreneurship Academy | Sept. 8-11, 2026 | UC Davis International Center |
| Session 1 | Oct. 7, 2026 12-2 PM | Gallagher Hall |
| Session 2 | Oct. 21, 2026 12-2 PM | Gallagher Hall |
| Session 3 | Nov. 18, 2026 12-2 PM | Gallagher Hall |
| Session 4: Career Pathways Panel | Dec. 2, 2026 5-6:30 PM | Zoom |
| Session 5 | Jan. 13, 2027 12-2 PM | Gallagher Hall |
| Session 6 | Feb. 17, 2027 12-2 PM | Gallagher Hall |
| Session 7 | March 10, 2027 12-2 PM | Gallagher Hall |
| Session 8 | March 31, 2027 12-2 PM | Gallagher Hall |
| Session 9 | April 28, 2027 12-2 PM | Gallagher Hall |
| Session 10: Final Presentations + Closing Reception | May 26, 2027 All day | Gallagher Hall |
Eligibility and Requirements
A successful applicant is:
- A current UC Davis graduate student or postdoctoral scholar (title codes 3252, 3253, 3254, 3255 or 3256) in any discipline.
- In an academic program or appointment for the duration of the Leaders for the Future program.
Note: Ph.D. candidates must be on active student status (not on filing fee status or PELP) during the program. We give priority to those who have completed qualifying exams by program start (next cohort begins September 2026) and to those who articulate their intent to participate in an experiential project.
The fellowship reinforced that professional success is not just about individual excellence, but about how effectively you collaborate, communicate, and uplift others.”
-Nafiz Imtiaz Khan, Leaders for the Future Fellow 2025-26
Frequently Asked Questions
- Program Overview
- Who can participate in the Leaders for the Future Fellowship?
The fellowship is open to UC Davis master's students, Ph.D. students, and postdoctoral scholars from all disciplines.
Who should apply to the Leaders for the Future Fellowship?
The fellowship is a great fit for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who want to build their leadership, communication, innovation, networking, and career-readiness skills.
If you're excited to explore career paths beyond academia, learn alongside an interdisciplinary cohort, reflect on your professional goals, and complete an experiential project aligned with your interests, this fellowship may be a great fit for you.
What will I gain from participating in the fellowship?
Throughout the fellowship, you'll build professional skills and mindsets that can support you across a wide range of career paths.
You'll learn how to:
• Communicate with confidence and impact
• Recognize and apply your strengths
• Build meaningful relationships
• Collaborate across disciplines
• Explore your career goals
• Grow as a leader
You'll also participate in one-on-one and group coaching, complete an experiential project, and learn alongside a supportive interdisciplinary cohort.
What skills will I develop?
Throughout the fellowship, you'll strengthen the professional skills employers value across many industries, including:
• Leadership
• Professional Communication
• Networking and relationship building
• Collaboration
• Innovation and creative problem solving
• Career exploration
• Self-reflection
Our goal is for you to leave the fellowship with greater confidence, stronger professional relationships, and skills that continue to benefit you long after the program ends.
What is the career impact of the fellowship?
The fellowship helps participants clarify career goals, build professional relationships, strengthen communication and presentation skills, and gain confidence navigating career opportunities inside and beyond academia.
Fellows report leaving the program with a stronger network, clearer career direction, greater confidence, and improved communication and presentation skills. Alumni have gone on to pursue a variety of professional pathways, including roles with startups, nonprofits, government agencies, and industry.
How do I know if Leaders for the Future is the right fit for me?
The fellowship may be a great fit if you're ready to invest in your professional growth, build leadership skills, explore career pathways, and contribute to a dynamic cohort.
As you consider applying, ask yourself:
• Am I ready to invest in my professional growth?
• Am I excited to learn from and contribute to a cohort?
• Can I fully engage in the fellowship experience?
• Do I want to build skills, relationships, and experiences that support my next steps?
- Program Experience
- What does a lunch-and-learn session look like?
Lunch-and-learn sessions are interactive, discussion-based meetings focused on leadership, professional development, career exploration, and cohort learning.
Each session will focus on a different topic and will often include:
• Guest speakers
• Small-group discussions
• Guided activities
• Reflection exercises
• Opportunities to connect with other fellows
Will I receive coaching during the fellowship?
Yes, fellows receive group and one-on-one coaching as part of the program experience. Coaching sessions are personalized and may focus on topics such as reflecting on strengths, clarifying career goals, and navigating professional growth.
What is the experiential project or applied experience?
The experiential project is a required part of the fellowship and gives you the opportunity to apply what you're learning to a professional goal that's meaningful to you.
Projects vary widely but are designed to align with your interests, career goals, leadership development, or another applied experience beyond academia.
- Time Commitment & Requirements
- What is the time commitment for the fellowship?
The fellowship runs throughout the academic year, beginning with the UC Entrepreneurship Academy in September and continuing with monthly lunch-and-learn sessions through May.
Fellows participate in nine pre-scheduled two-hour lunch meetings, a full-day closing session, all four days of the UC Entrepreneurship Academy, and occasional assignments between sessions.
Applicants should review the schedule carefully and discuss dates with their advisor or principal investigator (PI) before applying to ensure they can fully commit to the program.
What is the UC Entrepreneurship Academy? Am I required to attend?
Yes. The UC Entrepreneurship Academy is a required component of the Leaders for the Future Fellowship and serves as the kickoff experience for the program year.
The Academy brings together UC Davis graduate students, postdocs, faculty, researchers, and staff across all academic fields, and it is designed to help participants build networks, engage in discussions and teamwork, and learn from mentors, guest speakers, and peers across campus.
For Leaders for the Future Fellows, the academy helps set the foundation for the cohort experience and the professional growth that continues throughout the year. It’s also an early opportunity to connect with both Leaders for the Future Fellows and Business Development Fellows.
Do I need support from my advisor or principal investigator (PI)?
Yes. Because the fellowship requires a time commitment throughout the academic year, we strongly recommend discussing this opportunity with your advisor or PI before applying and ensuring you have their support.
What if I graduate before the fellowship ends?
It is a core requirement for fellows to remain enrolled as a master’s, PhD student, or postdoctoral researcher for the full duration of the fellowship.
What if I can only attend some of the required sessions?
Fellows are expected to attend all required sessions and activities. Because the fellowship is built around a cohort experience, each fellow’s participation contributes to the overall learning experience and collective success of the group.
Applicants should only apply if they're able to commit to the full program schedule. Inability to meet the program requirements may result in dismissal from the fellowship.
Will I receive a certificate for completing the program?
Yes. Fellows who successfully complete all program requirements are eligible to receive a certificate of completion.
- Choosing Between Our Fellowships
- How is the Leaders for the Future Fellowship different from the Business Development Fellowship?
The Mike and Renee Child Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship offers two graduate student fellowships: Leaders for the Future Fellowship & Business Development Fellowship. Both fellowships help graduate students and postdoctoral scholars build skills beyond their academic training, but they emphasize different kinds of growth.
The Business Development Fellowship is best suited for applicants who want deeper training in business, entrepreneurship, commercialization, and startup or industry pathways. Learn more about the Business Development Fellowship here.
Leaders for the Future is best suited for applicants who want to build leadership, communication, networking, innovation, and career-readiness skills through cohort sessions, coaching, and an individualized experiential project.
Can I apply to both the Leaders for the Future Fellowship and the Business Development Fellowship?
Yes, you can apply to both fellowships. The application and interview processes are great opportunities to learn more about each program and assess which one best aligns with your goals.
Please note that if you are interested in both fellowships, you will need to submit separate applications for each.
If you're selected for both programs, our program managers will work with you to determine which fellowship is the best fit.
- Application Process
- What information & materials does the application require?
Applicants should be prepared to provide basic contact and academic information, a LinkedIn profile, degree information, a CV or resume, information about their current research or area of study, and short-answer responses about their goals, interests, availability, and potential contributions to the cohort.
You'll also be asked whether you've discussed the fellowship with your advisor or PI and whether you have their support.
What happens after I submit my application?
Once you submit your application, our team will carefully review your application materials. Applicants selected to move forward in the process will be invited to a virtual interview.
How many fellows are in each cohort?
Each cohort includes approximately 20 fellows.
- Cost & Logistics
- Where does the fellowship take place?
Sessions are held in Gallagher Hall at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, unless otherwise noted.
Is there a cost associated with the program?
Fellows attend the program at no cost.
Whom should I contact if I still have questions?
For questions about the Leaders for the Future Fellowship, contact [email protected].
Questions?
Reach out to our team at [email protected].