The CMI Leadership Academy is a nine-month professional development program that prepares early- and mid-career researchers and professionals in critical materials to become effective leaders in their organizations and in multi-institutional, multidisciplinary collaborations. Since its inception in 2018, the Academy has completed six cohorts and recently launched Cohort 7 in January 2026. Participants from national laboratories, universities, and industry are selected through a competitive application and nomination process, with up to 10 participants chosen for each annual cohort. They engage in approximately 100 hours of activities including in-person team building, biweekly online sessions, collaborative group projects, and self-directed learning. The Academy provides opportunities to network with peers across CMI, explore leadership concepts, identify areas for personal growth, and contribute to CMI's education and workforce development initiatives.
Past members of the CMI Leadership Academy have entered into CMI leadership, advanced where they are employed, and been accepted into prestigious leadership programs, including the DOE Energy I-Corps and Oppenheimer Science and Energy Leadership Program (OSELP).