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Science Alliance Leadership Training

Are you a PhD student in the New York City metropolitan area who wants to pursue a career in STEM? Science Alliance Leadership Training (SALT) is for you! This free, one-of-a-kind, 5-day program provides exceptional graduate students with the opportunity to connect with a powerful network and build the skills you need to effectively advocate for yourself throughout your career. 

SALT trains you for both personal and institutional success. Through team-building exercises and workshops, SALT Fellows learn leadership skills, communication skills, conflict resolution, and team dynamics. The SALT program’s goal is to create a cadre of diverse, entrepreneurial leaders in STEM, while providing a unique networking opportunity across disciplines and institutions.  

What to Expect from SALT 

Gain the tools you need to succeed 

Workshops in leadership, conflict management and communication— all the skills you need to take ownership of your career. 

Continuous follow-up and education 

The learning doesn’t stop when SALT ends. We provide continuous education through webinars, Q&A sessions and supplemental materials. 

A tight-knit community of SALT alumni 

You’ll go through SALT with a small cohort of driven students like yourself, enabling you to build connections and open up networking opportunities across multiple institutions and fields. And you’ll become part of the wider network of SALT alumni who have participated in the program since its inception in 2016. 

Eligibility & Application Requirements 

Applicants must be:

  • PhD students in the 2nd year of their PhD or beyond. 
  • Enrolled at an institution located in the New York City metropolitan area. 
  • Members of The New York Academy of Sciences at the time of the application. If you are not already a member, please join here prior to submitting your application. 


Application Requirements: 

Statement of purpose (max. 500 words) 

  • What does Leadership mean to you? 
  • What do you expect to learn at SALT? 
  • Please describe your professional vision and how you plan to get there. 

Leadership essay (max. 400 words) 

  • Describe opportunities in your current position as a graduate student where you have demonstrated leadership. 
  • Describe a scenario where you were not effective as a leader and describe lesson(s) learned from it. 

Candidate biography (max. 150 words) 

  • Brief bio that includes education, interests and professional goals. 

Consent form 

Resume (max. 2 pages) 

Letter of recommendation (1) 

Frequently Asked Questions 

SALT Application

+ What is in the application and in the consent form? 

+ Does the recommendation letter have to be written by my Principal Investigator? 

+ Can I submit more than one recommendation letter? 

+ Does the consent form need to be signed my PI? 

+ If my PI won’t sign the consent form, will my application still be considered? 

+ Is there is a fee to apply or attend SALT? 

+ When will I be notified about my application status? 

+ Who will review my application? 

SALT Eligibility 

 + Is a PhD degree required to apply? 

+ Are first year or early second year graduate students eligible to apply? 

+ Are undergraduates, master’s students or postdocs eligible to apply? 

+ Do I need to be a US citizen to apply for SALT? 

+ If I am pursuing my degree at an institution outside the New York City metropolitan area, can I still apply? 

+ I was part of a previous SALT program. Am I eligible to apply?

SALT Program Requirements

+ If selected, am I required to attend every day? 

+ When do sessions start and end? 

+ When does the last session end? 

+ Are meals provided during SALT? 

+ Does The New York Academy of Sciences cover my commuting fees? 

+ Will The New York Academy of Sciences cover my travel and lodging expenses? 

Contact Us 

To learn more about SALT, contact us at education@nyas.org