The Environmental Leadership and Mentoring Certificate (ELM) is a nine-month transformative program that aims to empower environmentally focused postdoctoral scholars at Yale University with the vital skills and knowledge needed to excel as leaders and mentors in their respective fields.
This comprehensive program goes beyond traditional academic training, focusing on cultivating essential leadership abilities and effective mentoring practices. Throughout the program, participants will engage in activities designed to foster personal and professional growth and delve into topics such as leadership theories, communication strategies, stress management, time management, and mentoring. In addition to the core curriculum, the program offers a range of enrichment and social activities to further contribute to the participants' personal growth and overall experience. Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a certificate in leadership and mentoring, recognizing their dedication and achievements in developing essential leadership and mentoring competencies. ELM is supported by the Yale School of the Environment (YSE), Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies (YIBS), Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture (YCNCC), and the Office for Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA).
The program’s four main segments are:
While Brigid's background ranges from studying vaccine supply chain logistics in Benin to evaluating access to PrEP in Zimbabwe, she is especially interested in the application of systems thinking methodologies to design, evaluate, and implement global health projects that leverage sustainable and resilient change.
Madeline is a plant eco-physiologist who studies how plants transport water, and the limitations this imposes on plant productivity, survival, and reproductive success in the face of increasing environmental pressures.
Owen studies industrial forest plantations in the Brazilian state of Bahia to understand their carbon implications compared to alternative land uses and the effects of plantation expansion on land tenure and income in the region.
While Cristina did work on organic dye-based dyads for the photoelectrochemical production of solar fuels during her PhD, she is currently focusing on the design and synthesis of new molecular catalysts based on earth-abundant metals for (photo)electrochemical water oxidation..
Annise's research centers on above- and below-ground ecological interactions, encompassing predators, herbivores, plants, their roots, microbes, fungi, food webs, and invasive earthworms, and understanding their collective impact on community and ecosystem dynamics.
Hanno's research focus is on the design of sustainable, non-toxic, biodegradable, and renewably sourced chemicals, materials, and processes that will enable a more sustainable future.
Elise's research interests center the need for more appropriate, sustainable sources of energy and carbon, focusing on biomass utilization and upgrading of plant feedstocks through the implementation of biomass-derived or environmentally benign solvents and processes to integrate our realistic energy and carbon needs with the preservation of our habitable environment.
Jane's research spans diverse subjects, including the dietary preferences of coyotes in North America, the detection of mammal communities through soil samples, and the examination of parasite diversity in endangered West African lions.
Hannah conducts research on the role of sink drain biofilms in healthcare acquired infections, working closely with Yale New Haven Hospital.
Leila's primary focus is the study of how plants adapt to different environments through their anatomical and physiological traits.
Sanguk's research focuses on the investigation of psychological, social, and ecological impacts on behaviors in the context of climate change and public health.
Weier's current research focuses on the climate and biodiversity benefits of forest management in the northeastern United States.
Nick's work delves deeper into the interactions between rainfall, vegetation, and wildfires operating within African savannas with an eye towards how these processes may have shifted in response to past climate changes.
Nohemi's primary research interest is understanding forest regeneration following disturbances, ranging from minor canopy gaps to widespread deforestation in tropical forests.
Fengchao's current research focuses on using various water chemistry analyses and reactive transport modeling to investigate the watershed responses to enhanced mineral weathering (EMW) and its implications for CO2 removal.
Laura has been quantifying the extension of commercial plantations in Latin America, how much carbon they are storing, and what other ecosystem services these plantations can provide.
Muhammad's research work basically focuses on siliviculture practices and agro-forestry systems on degraded land reclamation (saline, sodic and waterlogged) with the help of biological methods.