The Leaders for the Future Fellowship is open to UC Davis Master’s and Ph.D. students as well as 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.

Get notified when 2025-26 applications open

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 mentoring and 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.

Being part of a diverse cohort of students from various disciplines provides invaluable perspectives, while engaging with accomplished mentors exposes you to different ventures and industries.

-Nicole Rodrigues, Leaders for the Future Fellow 2023-24

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, Sept. 10-13
  • Lunch-and-Learn Sessions currently scheduled for the following Thursdays, 12:00-2:00: Sept. 26, Oct. 17, Nov. 21, Jan. 16, Feb. 13, March 13, April 10, and April 24
  • Career Pathways Panels
  • Closing Session: Thursday, May 15, 9:00-4:00

Learn more

Watch an information session and alumni

Eligibility and Requirements

Successful applicants are:

• 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.
• Ph.D. candidates must be on active student status (not on filing fee status or PELP) during the program. Priority will be given to those who have completed qualifying exams by program start. (Next cohort: September 2024)

Note: We give priority to applicants who articulate their intent to participate in an experiential project.

Being a Leaders for the Future Fellow encouraged me to think deeply about my values and what motivates me professionally.

-Lillian Jones

Required Activities

Events

Career Fair

How to Apply

Applications open every spring for the following academic year's cohort. If you're interested in becoming a Business Development Fellow, please check our website in spring 2025. 

Questions?

Reach out to our team at aggieinnovators@ucdavis.edu.