Description: Life in a research lab can be daunting, especially for early-career scientists. Personal and professional hurdles abound in bench research, and this book by two seasoned lab professionals is here to help graduate students, postdocs, and staff scientists recognize stumbling blocks and avoid common pitfalls.
Building and maintaining a mentoring network, practicing self-care and having a life outside of the lab, understanding that what works perfectly for a labmate might not work for you--these are just a few of the strategies that lab manager and molecular biologist Paris H. Grey and PI and geneticist David G. Oppenheimer wished they had implemented far sooner in their careers. They also offer practical advice on managing research projects, sharing your work on social media, and attending conferences. Above all, they coach early-career scientists to avoid burnout and make the most of every lab experience to grow and learn.Brief description: Paris H. Grey is a writer, molecular biologist, and lab mentor. She has written articles on strategies for early-career researchers for Nature, Lab Manager, Science, and elsewhere. With David G. Oppenheimer, she is co-creator of UndergradInTheLab.com, a website to help researchers navigate the hidden curriculum in STEMM research and to help mentors address emerging issues before small matters turn into big problems. You can also find them on Twitter @YouInTheLab or Instagram @UndergradInTheLab.
Review Quotes: Paris Grey and David Oppenheimer are the mentors you never had in graduate school. They will teach you how to carry out scientific research while still living your best life, so you can do high-quality work without risking burnout.
--Jennifer Polk, Ph.D., Principal, FromPhdToLife