Jen Heemstra

Jen Heemstra, biomolecular engineer and chair of chemistry at Washington University, and author of Lab Work to Leadership. She talks about moving unexpectedly into leadership, building trust and psychological safety in labs, creating team-driven lab culture, giving and receiving feedback, and coaching future leaders through practical rituals and self-leadership.

Lauren Celano, Boston-based recruitment consultant and careers coach, explains benchmarking and negotiable non-pay perks. Jen Heemstra, chemistry researcher and chair at Washington University, explores academic negotiation dynamics and mid-career moves. David Perlmutter, communications professor at Texas Tech, offers advice on practicing, tone, and understanding hiring motives. They discuss collaboration, constrained budgets, and what you can realistically negotiate.