The Laboratory Management Institute (LMI) at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) was an experiment designed to enhance the leadership and management skills of researchers and thereby enhance the overall quality of the academic research enterprise. The educational programs that resulted provide examples of how research administrators can help academic research teams become more productive, quality-vigilant, compliant, and safe; make a more satisfying research workplace; mitigate institutional risk; and advance science and careers. The LMI delivered educational programs for researchers that were novel in pedagogy, including "LabAct" learning, which used actors to help researchers practice skills such as communication, innovation, leading teams, and managing resources; "LabScripts", which were sample dialogs researchers used to practice communicating authentically and to build their confidence before initiating important discussions (courageous conversations) with others; "LabTrek", team building exercises for practicing research management skills; and "LabCheck", a novel learning assessment tool. One of the LMI educational programs developed for postdoctoral scholars and some of the curricula and pedagogies developed through the LMI are described, as well as the rationale and significance for providing professional development for researchers at the institutional level. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)