tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380733575762269367.post1897055631417372090..comments2016-03-18T18:33:01.463-07:00Comments on Science, Food, Etc.: Lab management thoughtsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03212628642283844865noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380733575762269367.post-8460125283108142932011-02-24T20:02:57.195-08:002011-02-24T20:02:57.195-08:00I'm finding that the same thing happens in ind...I'm finding that the same thing happens in industry. I work at an ag biotech company, and thought that since I didn't have a PhD that I would be immune from non-science type activities. However, so far this year, most of my time has been taken up in designing and executing internal rebranding surveys, cost analysis of outsourcing and in-house operations, capital proposal writing, and troubleshooting purchasing systems. Have I had training? Nope.Tonyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05251276362464785473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380733575762269367.post-39488953795430052432011-02-24T10:07:38.175-08:002011-02-24T10:07:38.175-08:00This is such an important conversation and, as a l...This is such an important conversation and, as a later stage grad student, can really see that most of us will be unprepared to be dealing with these issues that you laid out. You hit on all the big ones, as far as I can tell. I've spent time thinking about it and on both sides of many of these dilemmas. I keep WANTING to land on a recipe or a static code of ethic. I haven't yet and guess I never will. It sounds trite, but I do think the most effective strategy is the leading by example thing (i.e. forgive yourself for your own mistakes, etc.) A high-functioning work place needs both transparency and discretion and those two things are at odds with each other by definition, so it can only be a dance that honors both to varying degrees depending on the situation. This is very daunting because it means as junior bosses we'll make so many missteps! And we are a high-achieving bunch which means we much prefer not to misstep. <br /><br />I could go on and on but I think the best we can do is carry on the conversation, as you are. And keep exercising our judgment--like a muscle--because in the end the best leaders are just very skilled at exercising judgment. And then they also seem to figure out how not to let their lapses in judgment (which WILL happen) dog them. <br /><br />It's a dance and an ongoing conversation. Thanks for posting and please let us know when your formal piece is available!CL Fitzpatrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18277204994906419161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380733575762269367.post-2482934996192653482011-02-14T07:06:22.196-08:002011-02-14T07:06:22.196-08:00I'm in my first year as faculty, and grad stud...I'm in my first year as faculty, and grad student advising has definitely been my biggest hurdle. I'm 29, with graduate students ranging in age from early 20's to mid-30's. The temptation to try to be part of the graduate student crowd again is very strong, particularly since I'm in a new city with little time to make friends outside of work. I'm getting better at being friendly without proffering friendship, and at limiting my visits to grad student spaces so that the environment doesn't become too casual. It's an odd position to be in.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11481417110931373545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380733575762269367.post-25798856080957156292011-02-14T05:37:00.122-08:002011-02-14T05:37:00.122-08:00Mohamed- This is a great topic. Scientific faculty...Mohamed- This is a great topic. Scientific faculty are the equivalent of small business owners, with all the attendant financial and management issues, but without any formal training in these areas! As you know the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (in collaboration with HHMI) has a freely-downloadable manual for Laboratory Management, available at http://www.hhmi.org/resources/labmanagement/moves.html . It touches on this topic but greater depth is definitely needed, so please share your formal piece when you finish it! An important issue is how to give feedback in a way that does not discourage but motivates better performance. Unfortunately there is not a simple formula that will work for every lab member- in a way, the PI has to become a student of the various people and personalities in the group, in order to best motivate them. As you point out above however, it is difficult to do this while still remaining fair to everyone. I think one important key is to be approachable (this comes more naturally to some than to others), and to make it clear that everyone in the group has access to you. Another key is to create a culture in which people can admit their mistakes-- this is so important in science! How exactly to do that is difficult but a lot of it has to do with how the PI reacts when a mistake comes to light. <br /><br />It might be useful to find out how many universities offer some basic management training for new faculty, and how that correlates with their track record as managers during those early years. <br />Great post!<br />Nancy Sung, Burroughs Wellcome FundNSunghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17503768683877036270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380733575762269367.post-38509186950717297582011-02-13T12:34:38.682-08:002011-02-13T12:34:38.682-08:00I've developed lots of opinions about lab mana...I've developed lots of opinions about lab management after 15 years of rolling around labs. One thing I have never figured out is the best way for a PI to manage conflicts between students (or postdocs). I know that allowing one student to talk to you (the PI) about his or her issues with another student is a recipe for trouble (the other student will nearly always guess and the situation will only become worse). Still, acting as a conflict mediator seems outside of the realm (and training) of the PI. But ignoring the problem also seems like the wrong route. I'm lucky not to have encountered this problem yet, but I'm sure it will happen eventually.Stacey Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00476159407653766652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380733575762269367.post-25191039048823841162011-02-13T10:30:00.112-08:002011-02-13T10:30:00.112-08:00This is on my mind right now as well. I bought thi...This is on my mind right now as well. I bought this book a while ago:<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/Lab-Dynamics-Management-Skills-Scientists/dp/0879697415<br /><br />but have yet to read it, although it came highly recommended. Time for me to read it!RSBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02476866168018230643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380733575762269367.post-29679500961469117862011-02-13T10:16:38.061-08:002011-02-13T10:16:38.061-08:00I consider that the focus should be on communicati...I consider that the focus should be on communication skills. It's common to notice that the lab inside is like an islands model. The central node is of course the "boss", but the information flow between the different groups (projects) is low. I think that each Lab member can provide valuable advices in order to improve the experimental design, data interpretation and so on, through a simple meeting. Sharing our experiences is the key factor. Of course the main focus must be on the own project, but the "scientific (research) egoism" does not have place.<br />Other topic is where and when these skills should be adquire, whether the classroom or the lab. I don't know the first undergrad program that include it!Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09550285014815033528noreply@blogger.com