Christian Leadership in the STEM Lab, Luncheon with Jennifer Heemstra

What does it mean to lead a scientific research laboratory in ways that foster both excellence and human flourishing? How can Christian convictions shape leadership in the highly collaborative and demanding environment of the STEM laboratory?

Join the Institute for Faith and Learning for a luncheon with Jennifer Heemstra, an internationally recognized chemist and leader in scientific research, as she reflects on leadership, vocation, and the practice of science. Drawing on her experiences as a principal investigator and the themes of her book, Labwork to Leadership, Dr. Heemstra will explore how effective leadership can cultivate thriving research teams, encourage innovation, and create laboratory cultures marked by trust, purpose, and mutual respect.

Bringing together insights from science, psychology, and organizational leadership, this conversation will be especially valuable for faculty interested in the intersection of Christian faith, leadership, and scientific inquiry.

Following Dr. Heemstra's presentation, participants will have the opportunity to engage in discussion over lunch.

Open to all Baylor faculty. 

Lunch will be provided. The discussion will begin at 12:30 pm, but we encourage participants to arrive at 12:15 pm to get food downstairs. 

About the Speaker

Jennifer Heemstra, Ph.D. is the Charles Allen Thomas Professor of Chemistry and Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis. An internationally recognized chemical biologist, her research focuses on molecular recognition, biomolecular assembly, nucleic acids, biosensors, cellular imaging, RNA editing, and biomaterials.

A Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Dr. Heemstra has received numerous honors for both her research and teaching, including the NSF CAREER Award, the Cottrell Scholar Award, the ACS Women Chemists Committee Rising Star Award, and the University of Pennsylvania Women in Chemistry Leadership in Science Award.

She is the author of Labwork to Leadership: A Concise Guide to Thriving in the Science Job You Weren't Trained For (Harvard University Press), which draws on research in psychology and business management, along with her own experience leading a research laboratory, to help scientists develop the leadership skills necessary to build healthy, productive, and innovative research environments. Her work has become an influential resource for principal investigators seeking to cultivate excellence while fostering the growth and well-being of their research teams.