From Scientist to Leader: Study Elevates Coaching in Translational Science
Penn State CTSI Study on Coaching and Leadership Accepted by Journal of Clinical and Translational Science
Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) is proud to celebrate the acceptance of a new manuscript in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science. The article, titled “Qualitative Evaluation of a Coaching and Leadership Program for Early-Stage Researchers in KL2 and T32 Training Programs,” highlights the impact of a structured coaching and leadership program designed to support early-career researchers at Penn State.
The study was led by Lauren J. Van Scoy, MD, Penn State CTSI Associate Director and PI of the CTSI’s Early-Stage Investigator Training Program (KL2) Program, along with colleagues from the Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, and The Communication Gym, LLC.
Why This Study Matters
Early-stage researchers are experts in science and medicine but success in research requires more than technical skills. It also takes leadership, communication, time management, and the ability to work effectively with teams. These “soft skills” are not always formally taught in traditional research training programs.
This study evaluated a Coaching and Leadership Program (CLP) offered to trainees in Penn State’s KL2 and National Research Service Award (T32) programs. The program included one-on-one coaching sessions and group workshops focused on leadership development and communication styles, including the widely used DISC framework. The DISC framework is a model used to understand personality styles and improve communication, teamwork, and productivity.
The goal of this work was to understand whether structured coaching helps early-career researchers grow not just as scientists, but as leaders. Through in-depth interviews with 12 trainees, the team identified five key themes:
A Positive and Valuable Experience
Stronger Organizational Skills
Greater Confidence and Professional Identity
A Strong Complement to Scientific Training
Opportunities for Growth
Advancing the CTSA Mission
Van Scoy believes the findings have implications well beyond Penn State.
She added that as CTSAs continue to innovate in workforce development, evidence-based approaches to leadership training will become increasingly important.
Expanding Coaching Across the CTSA Community
In addition to leading this research, Dr. Van Scoy recently launched the ACTS Coaching Programs Special Interest Group (SIG). The initiative officially kicked off on April 20 at the ACTS conference with a Meet and Greet event. Sarah Horvath, MD, MSHP, and Dale Fallon of The Communication Gym, LLC are co-chairs of this SIG.
The new SIG is dedicated to exploring, developing, and promoting the use of coaching to support professional development, team science, and well-being for faculty and staff working in clinical and translational science.
Moving forward, the group will serve as a national platform for shared learning, collaboration, scholarship, and innovation related to coaching programs across Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) hubs. By connecting institutions and sharing best practices, the SIG aims to strengthen coaching initiatives and advance workforce development across the consortium.
Building the Next Generation of Research Leaders
Overall, the study shows that structured coaching can meaningfully enhance traditional research training. By helping trainees develop leadership skills, improve communication, and manage teams more effectively, the program supports the development of well-rounded translational scientists.
Importantly, the findings suggest that coaching is not just an “extra” but may be a critical investment in preparing researchers to lead complex teams, secure funding, and translate scientific discoveries into real-world impact.
A Collaborative Effort
This work reflects strong collaboration across disciplines and was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and Penn State College of Medicine.
The acceptance of this manuscript underscores Penn State CTSI’s commitment to innovation in research training and to preparing the next generation of clinical and translational science leaders.
Congratulations to the entire author team on this outstanding achievement!