The goal of the Rising Managers Academy (RMA) section is to provide mid-career researchers with practical skilled leadership potential to apply, run and coordinate research projects. Rising Managers RMA is established to increase the number of sustainable sources of manpower capable of applying, running, and leading high-quality research projects in the region. RMA will provide participants with the competencies needed to prepare grant applications, manage cooperative research projects, lead high-technology research activities, and social skills via relevant courses and lectures. RMA will allow training the early-stage researchers equipped with advanced research leadership and management skills, including the development of grant applications. The Academy will also provide trainees with expertise in research management, leadership and grant applications skills, communication, negotiation, conflict solving, staff selection, and team development.
The first meeting of the 2nd edition of Rising Managers Academy
Design thinking in science, Piotr Wasyluk, 13-14 February 2025
Doctor of Humanities and academic teacher. Design thinking moderator. His specialty is design based on trends. He works using his proprietary method, which allows him to precisely identify innovative changes, interpret them in terms of trends, and design solutions tailored to users’ needs A cook by passion and education. Editor of FB profiles: Dragonfly perspective and Robię projekt.
Self-leadership for scientists, Tomasz Cichocki, 20-21 March 2025
He has been a physicist, radio journalist, salesperson, project manager, and manager. For over 10 years, he has worked as a consultant, trainer, coach, and facilitator. His expertise lies in areas related to innovation, systems thinking, and business strategy development. He combines these with the development of managerial skills, particularly focusing on effective communication with colleagues and team building. He supports the creation of efficient remote teams and conducts workshops where teams develop solutions and prepare for their implementation
Effective Collaboration in Research, Patrycja Radek, 10-11 April 2025
A graduate of the Faculty of Chemistry of the PWR – biotechnology and the Faculty of Information Technology and Management. She is a certified trainer and has been conducting classes with students, trainings, workshops and projects. The former director of the business development area of the Wrocław Research Center EIT+. A strategic leader with 15 years of experience in deep tech innovation development. She is a design thinking process facilitator with 8 years of experience leading projects focused on implementing new products and services.
Balancing Work and Life, Maciej Cieślik, 15-16 May 2025
HR business partner at IARFR with a 10-year of experience in the HR area in manufacturing. He develops HR policies and practices in accordance with HRS4R guidelines. The trainer in the areas of leadership, HR management, communication, public speaking or compliance.
Project Management for Scientists, Karolina Czarnecka-Chrebelska,
5-6 June 2025
A professor at the Medical University of Łódź specializing in research on the epigenetic regulation of gene expression in the development of various diseases, particularly thyroid, lung, kidney, and breast cancers. An experienced scientist, researcher, and project manager with a strong background in leading multidisciplinary projects and teams. Skilled in designing and executing complex research initiatives, particularly in fields such as biotechnology, epigenetics, and innovation development. Adept at securing funding, managing budgets, and delivering impactful results that drive scientific advancement and practical applications.
Career development in practice: one-off session, Monika Kaczmarek, September 2025
Director General of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn and leader of the Programming of Fertility and Development Research Group. For the past 13 years, she has headed the Molecular Biology Laboratory, which serves as a core facility at the Institute. Her scientific achievements and contributions have been recognized by prestigious organizations both in Poland and internationally, including the Foundation for Polish Science, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and the Polish-American Fulbright Commission. She has provided a broad range of services to the academic community and governmental and professional organizations, notably serving as a board member of the Polish-American Fulbright Commission (2017-2022) and the National Science Centre Poland (2020-2024).
Science diplomacy: one-off session, Mariusz Piskuła, September 2025
Mariusz Piskula is an experienced coordinator of prestigious projects, including the FP7 RegPot project REFRESH (2010-2014) and deputy Project Coordinator of the FP5 Centre of Excellence CENEXFOOD (2001-2004). He is an internationally recognized expert in the food and health domain and was elected as a Fellow of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology. He gained extensive experience in knowledge transfer from research to industrial applications during his 2.5 years as Section Chief at R&D Kikkoman Corp., Noda, Japan. For the past 7 years, he has served as the Director General of IARFR, Deputy Director for Research in Food (2007-2013), and Head of the Chemistry and Biodynamics of Food Department (2001-2007).
Grant Writing for scientists, Aneta Andrzejczyk, 23-24 October 2025
As the Head of the International Projects Department at the Medical University of Lodz, she creates new opportunities for international innovation in medicine, biotechnology and healthcare management providing assistance at all stages of the project development journey, supporting researchers and research-intensive companies in building robust project consortia (Horizon Europe, EIT Health, EU4Health, Erasmus+), consulting the process of proposal creation, and managing administrative and financial aspects of the projects.
Science behind visual presentations, Tomasz Jeliński, 13-14 November 2025
Tomasz Jeliński (Ph.D.) is a scientist at the Department of Chemical and Physical Properties of Food, a chief specialist, and the chairman of Inobiotek. He brings extensive expertise in managing grants and competitive projects, with hands-on experience in securing and overseeing initiatives under programs such as Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe.
Communication and pitching, Iwona Kieda, 4-5 December 2025
A senior project manager and head of communications at IARFR, she specializes in consumer-centric strategies aimed at enhancing public understanding of food safety, healthy nutrition, and innovations within the food value chain. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between scientific advancements and consumer awareness, fostering informed decision-making and trust in food-related innovations.
Introduction to RMA methodology, Piotr Wasyluk, 15-16 February 2024
Owner of the company @Wasyluk Creative Design. Doctor of humanities and academic teacher. Specialist and practitioner in the field of service design and design using trends. A trend analyst who uses knowledge about the future to create innovative solutions in organizations. Design thinking moderator. A cook by passion and education. Editor of FB profiles: Dragonfly perspective and Robię projekt.
Self-leadership for scientists, Tomasz Cichocki, 12-13 March 2024
Consultant, trainer, facilitator, coach. 10 years of professional experience as a Project Manager and development manager in the media and telecommunications industry. Since 2003, he has been working as a consultant, primarily in the field of changing organizational culture and implementing innovations.
The training will be in the form of a workshop, and its main goal is to understand what leadership is and how to become a leader in the process of career development and making everyday decisions, including personal ones.
Developing your emotional intelligence, Maciej Cieślik, 18-19 April
HR business partner at IARFR with a 10-year of experience in the HR area in manufacturing. He develops HR policies and practices in accordance with HRS4R guidelines. The trainer in the areas of leadership, HR management, communication, public speaking or compliance.
The training will take the form of a workshop, the main purpose of which is to present the basics of psychological aspects of team functioning related to emotional intelligence understood as a set of skills that helps to recognize and manage emotions in a team. The training includes classes in building resilience, accepting unexpected change, developing critical thinking for better judgment in the workplace, effective listening, persuasion techniques, and using plain language in written communication.
Effective Collaboration in Research, Patrycja Radek, 23-24 May 2024
A graduate of the Faculty of Chemistry of the PWR – biotechnology and the Faculty of Information Technology and Management. She is a certified trainer and has been conducting classes with students, trainings, workshops and projects. The former director of the business development area of the Wrocław Research Center EIT+.
This training will be in the form of workshops, the main goal of which will be to understand the various forms, benefits and challenges faced by researchers implementing joint research projects. The training will enable the development of key skills useful in developing cooperation between members of research teams, such as: communication and teamwork, initiating and conducting cooperation, maximizing the value and results obtained within the project and after its completion. The training, in its assumption, is to present the key principles of conducting more effective cooperation between members of the research team.
One-off session, 19.06.2024
Science diplomacy and career development in practice, Monika Kaczmarek
Professor at the Department of Mechanisms of Hormonal Action at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, where since 2011 he has also headed the Molecular Biology Laboratory. A member of the Council of the National Science Center. Her achievements and scientific achievements have been appreciated by renowned foundations in Poland and abroad, including the Foundation for Polish Science, Pro Scientia et Vita Foundation, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and Polish-American Fulbright Commission.
Supporting excellence in science by applying EMBO methods, Magdalena Weidner-Glunde
Assistant Professor at Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research. She will provide the latest insight from the EMBO excellence methods in sciences supporting talented researchers at all stages of their careers, stimulating the exchange of scientific information, and helping build a research environment where scientists can achieve their best work. EMBO methods help young scientists to advance their research, promote their international reputations and ensure their mobility to maintain high standards of excellence in research practice.
Project Management for Scientists, Karolina Czarnecka-Chrebelska,
19-20 September 2024
Assistant Professor in Department of Biomedicine and Genetics Research areas: Molecular mechanisms underlying of the development autoimmune lung diseases, thyroid and lung tumors, epigenetic regulation of gene expression.
This training will be in the form of a workshop, and its main goal will be to understand the basics of project management methodology based on the Project Management methodology. The training will enable a practical understanding of the individual components of project management, such as identifying and achieving project goals, defining milestones, planning the schedule of activities, principles of human resource management, methods of quality management and risk management, evaluation and practical tools for the project controlling process.
Grant Writing for scientists, Aneta Andrzejczyk, 24-25 October 2024
As the Head of the International Projects Department at the Medical University of Lodz, she creates new opportunities for international innovation in medicine, biotechnology and healthcare management providing assistance at all stages of the project development journey, supporting researchers and research-intensive companies in building robust project consortia (Horizon Europe, EIT Health, EU4Health, Erasmus+), consulting the process of proposal creation, and managing administrative and financial aspects of the projects.
Science behind visual presentations, Tomasz Jeliński, 21-22 November 2024
Tomasz Jeliński (Ph.D.) – a scientist at the Department of Chemical and Physical Properties of Food, chief specialist, chairman of Inobiotek Ltd., and experienced project manager in many EU-funded projects. He will lead the course on using visual presentations to more effectively illustrate and visualize project ideas while enhancing message clarity.
Communication and pitching, Iwona Kieda, 4-5 December 2024
Senior project manager and head of communications at IARFR. Her interests revolve around consumer-centric strategies that help build public understanding around the issues of food safety, healthy nutrition and innovations in the food value chain.
The training will take the form of a workshop, the main aim of which is to teach its participants the principles of conducting a coherent and effective presentation in a structured form. The training will introduce the principles of verbal and non-verbal communication, including the ability to build relationships with the recipient, the proper use of body language, listening skills, and speaking in an engaging way. The workshop will also show how to prepare an interesting written presentation consistent with the assumptions of an oral presentation. As part of the workshop, each participant will prepare their own, professional presentation of themselves.
Recruitment for the 2nd edition of Rising Managers Academy is now open!
Scientist, do you want to become a good leader? Sign up for free training at Rising Managers Academy!
Do you conduct scientific research, create and develop innovative solutions, and wonder how you can develop to become not only a good researcher, and innovator but also a manager or project manager? We have a free course for you as part of the 2nd edition of the Rising Managers Academy – the Academy of Science Leaders, created by the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn. You will learn how to skillfully submit grant applications, how to be a good leader of a research team, and how to effectively communicate your achievements to various groups of recipients.
What is RMA – Science Leaders Academy?
Training for scientists as part of the Academy of Science Leaders is a new initiative that is intended to support researchers in their development, primarily in terms of leadership skills, effective application for grants and communicating their ideas to the public.
For whom?
Scientists, project managers, innovators, employees of innovative companies, and innovation departments dealing with research
What’s on the agenda?
The educational path at the Academy of Science Leaders was designed according to the design thinking concept. Scientists will train in soft skills, i.e. team building, grant writing, project management, negotiation, pitching, and others. The classes will mostly be practical workshops using design methods and tools. Work using design methods and tools will take the form of a practical workshop, during which participants will work on a practical design challenge – from the research stage to the prototype creation phase. The implementation of the designed solution will involve preparing a grant application, the content of which would be the solution designed during the design thinking process. In this way, RMA participants learn practical skills that will be used during the design workshop and when preparing a grant application.
Finally, it will be assessed by stakeholder representatives during a pitching session.
The classes will be conducted in Polish and English by respected practitioners with extensive experience in career management in the science sector.
How to sign up?
If you want to apply, please send us your CV to: k.wilczek@pan.olsztyn.pl
We are waiting for applications until December 4 this year. The number of places is limited. The first classes start on January 17, 2023. Participation in the training is free!
Career coaching for scientists, Joanna Kaniewska, 8-10 February 2023
Senior HR, Talent & Capacity Development Manager. She works in EPHA (European Public Health Alliance) since September 2021 after gaining research and science communication experience in academia, industry and the NGO sector. She graduated from the University of Huddersfield and got a Ph.D. degree in Medical Sciences from the University of Aberdeen.
Professional career coaching can be an excellent strategy for changing the career path of researchers who want to improve their current professional situation. This training, conducted in the form of a workshop, will be aimed at defining the goals of the professional career of researchers based on the available resources and determining the ways to achieve them.
Self-leadership for scientists, Tomasz Cichocki, 23-24 March 2023
Consultant, trainer, facilitator, coach. 10 years of professional experience as a Project Manager and development manager in the media and telecommunications industry. Since 2003, he has been working as a consultant, primarily in the field of changing organizational culture and implementing innovations.
The training will be in the form of a workshop, and its main goal is to understand what leadership is and how to become a leader in the process of career development and making everyday decisions, including personal ones.
Grant Writing for scientists – intermediate level, Joanna Bosiacka-Kniat, PPNT, 16-18 May 2023
Head of the Research Programs Department at the Poznań Science and Technology Park. European Commission expert evaluating applications in framework programs since 2009. Experienced in writing applications in the 6th, 7th EU Framework Program and Horizon 2020. On a daily basis, she advises on obtaining funds for research and innovation for scientific institutions and enterprises.
The aim of the training is to understand how to properly prepare and write a coherent and logically structured application for funding or a research grant. The training will be a workshop consisting of the transfer of specialist and practical methodological, financial, legal and administrative knowledge on the preparation of applications for funding and scientific grants. The training will consist in identifying the most crucial elements of the process of preparing an application for funding, thanks to which a young scientist will avoid making the most common mistakes and will increase the effectiveness of obtaining research funds.
Grant Writing for scientists – advanced level, Peter Jongebloed, Wageningen University & Research Centre, 12-16 June 2023
Senior advisor and manager of the EU office of Wageningen International, Wageningen UR.
Writing applications and obtaining grants from external funding sources is becoming more and more difficult due to the high competition among scientists. Therefore, the importance of using various types of semantic and psychological tools in formulating the message and influencing funders is growing. One of the key elements in the preparation of applications for funding and grants is the use of specific narrative tools that enable a better understanding of the project concept and communicating it to the potential funder. This training will be in the form of a workshop consisting in understanding by its participants’ practical narrative tools enabling targeting recipients, creating a key message (including identifying the main thesis/goal of the project) in the text of the grant application, which is important for the funder, and other elements related to the implementation of empirical data in the analysis of needs, creating a specific message structure, informing, persuading, engaging and/or inspiring a potential recipient.
Effective Collaboration in Research, Patrycja Radek, 22,23,26 June 2023
A graduate of the Faculty of Chemistry of the PWR – biotechnology and the Faculty of Information Technology and Management. She is a certified trainer and has been conducting classes with students, trainings, workshops and projects. The former director of the business development area of the Wrocław Research Center EIT+.
This training will be in the form of workshops, the main goal of which will be to understand the various forms, benefits and challenges faced by researchers implementing joint research projects. The training will enable the development of key skills useful in developing cooperation between members of research teams, such as: communication and teamwork, initiating and conducting cooperation, maximizing the value and results obtained within the project and after its completion. The training, in its assumption, is to present the key principles of conducting more effective cooperation between members of the research team.
Project Management for Scientists, Karolina Czarnecka-Chrebelska, 29-31 May 2023
Assistant Professor in Department of Biomedicine and Genetics Research areas: Molecular mechanisms underlying of the development autoimmune lung diseases, thyroid and lung tumors, epigenetic regulation of gene expression.
This training will be in the form of a workshop, and its main goal will be to understand the basics of project management methodology based on the Project Management methodology. The training will enable a practical understanding of the individual components of project management, such as identifying and achieving project goals, defining milestones, planning the schedule of activities, principles of human resource management, methods of quality management and risk management, evaluation and practical tools for the project controlling process.
Developing your emotional intelligence, Maciej Cieślik, 13-14 April 2023
HR business partner at IARFR with a 10-year of experience in the HR area in manufacturing. He develops HR policies and practices in accordance with HRS4R guidelines. The trainer in the areas of leadership, HR management, communication, public speaking or compliance.
The training will take the form of a workshop, the main purpose of which is to present the basics of psychological aspects of team functioning related to emotional intelligence understood as a set of skills that helps to recognize and manage emotions in a team. The training includes classes in building resilience, accepting unexpected change, developing critical thinking for better judgment in the workplace, effective listening, persuasion techniques, and using plain language in written communication.
Communication and pitching, Iwona Kieda, September 2023
Senior project manager and head of communications at IARFR. Her interests revolve around consumer-centric strategies that help build public understanding around the issues of food safety, healthy nutrition and innovations in the food value chain.
The training will take the form of a workshop, the main aim of which is to teach its participants the principles of conducting a coherent and effective presentation in a structured form. The training will introduce the principles of verbal and non-verbal communication, including the ability to build relationships with the recipient, the proper use of body language, listening skills, and speaking in an engaging way. The workshop will also show how to prepare an interesting written presentation consistent with the assumptions of an oral presentation. As part of the workshop, each participant will prepare their own, professional presentation of themselves.
