OGPS Research in Motion: Project Management for Biomedical Scientists

Research rarely moves in a straight line. Experiments change, priorities compete, collaborators have different timelines, and unexpected results can reshape the plan entirely. Yet researchers are still responsible for keeping complex projects moving forward.

Research in Motion is a two-part professional development series designed to help graduate students and postdoctoral fellows apply practical project-management approaches to the realities of biomedical research. Participants will explore strategies for planning and prioritizing work, coordinating projects, communicating progress, adapting when plans change, and using emerging technologies responsibly.

The series connects day-to-day research challenges with transferable professional competencies—including project management, communication, collaboration, strategic planning, documentation, and professional judgment—that are valuable across careers in academia, industry, government, and other sectors.

Participants may attend either session independently or attend both to build a broader toolkit for managing research projects effectively.

If you have any questions, please reach out Dr. Ioannis Chremos (ichremos@umich.edu)



From To-Do to Done: Using Agile Project Management to Move Research Projects Forward

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VIRTUAL
Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)
Dr. Shayla Vradenburgh

Biomedical research projects rarely unfold exactly as planned. Experiments fail, timelines shift, new priorities emerge, and progress often depends on collaborators, shared resources, and decisions outside your control. Project-management strategies can help researchers navigate that complexity without trying to eliminate the uncertainty that is inherent to science.

In this interactive workshop, participants will explore foundational project-management concepts and learn how selected Agile practices can be adapted for biomedical research. Using research-relevant examples, we will consider practical approaches to breaking complex projects into manageable work, setting priorities, making progress visible, identifying obstacles, and adjusting plans as new information emerges.

Participants will leave with strategies they can apply immediately to their own research projects while developing project-management skills that transfer across scientific and professional settings.


By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Apply foundational project-management concepts to biomedical research projects.
  • Break complex research goals into smaller, actionable pieces of work.
  • Use prioritization and workflow-management strategies to focus effort and make progress visible.
  • Identify project dependencies, constraints, and potential bottlenecks.
  • Adapt plans when research findings, timelines, or priorities change.
  • Recognize project-management skills they are developing through their research and how those skills translate to future careers.

Archer Careers Resource

This workshop will complement the Archer Careers Build Skills | Project Management for Life Scientists course available to U-M trainees. Participants are encouraged to explore the course before or after the workshop to deepen their understanding of project-management principles and their application in the life sciences.

For questions or contact information click here