Mindset

Scientific research is arguably one of the most impactful pursuits in our society. Scientific breakthroughs have enabled us to thrive and solve difficult challenges that might have seemed impossible centuries, or even just decades, ago. It is a wonderful privilege to have the chance to forward the cause of science and grow humanity’s sum of knowledge.

Scientific discovery, collaboration, and critical thinking are strongest in an environment where ideas and thoughts can be exchanged freely and without judgement. This kind of environment is built on the relationship established between everyone present. You can help build this environment by doing things like:

• Actively listening to your peers (spending your mental energy considering their words, instead of filtering it out and trying to think of something to say in response)
• Asking questions when you don’t understand something
• Asking for feedback from your peers, and being open (but not submissive) to their response
• Kindly offering feedback to your peers, motivated by the desire to help them grow as a scientist (not to inject your own agenda, take credit for something, or put somebody down)

Relationship dynamics can make this challenging at times. For example, the Principal Investigator of a research laboratory holds a position of authority over the postdoctoral employees, the graduate students, the undergraduate students, and anyone else that works in the PI’s lab. It’s absolutely critical that those in leadership positions (or even those in positions higher than others in “the hierarchy”) lead by example to encourage open conversation and trust.