From Lab to Leadership: Project Management for Researchers

Project management is one of the most important skills researchers need, yet it’s rarely taught in academia. From drafting budgets and schedules to building well-coordinated teams – knowing how to run a project is essential for PhD students and early-career researchers. But how do they make the switch from being a project member to actually leading a project on their own?

This episode of “Committed to Planet A” takes us to the “Management of Research Projects” workshop hosted in June 2026 by Technical University of Leoben. During this intense five-day workshop, young researchers from three EURECA-PRO partner universities came together. Alongside expert trainer Caroline Rotter, they learnt essential skills and tools to propose and run their future projects successfully and sustainably.

This episode aims to share the knowledge gained from this workshop with researchers across EURECA-PRO and beyond. So, join the workshop organizers, Michel Varelija (Research Coordinator, TUL) and Isabella Zick (Communication Manager, TUL), as they discuss the growing need for project management in academia and the challenges young researchers face when proposing or leading a project for the first time. And dive even deeper into the topic of project management, together with workshop-trainer Caroline Rotter. She explains the biggest challenge for most researchers: transitioning from a project contributor focused on fine details to a project leader overseeing the entire scope and “bigger picture”. From practical insights on budgets and timelines, to team dynamics – Caroline shares her knowledge of how to turn proposals and projects into sustainable, real-world success.