Finding the Right Lab Culture and Where You Fit in

Lab Cultures

Every lab is a little different

Research labs are more than scientists doing experiments by themselves and getting data. Whatever research lab you end up in you will have to interact with the other people in that lab and exist within the culture of that lab. It is therefore important that you pick a lab with people and a culture that you can thrive in.

The best and easiest way to discern what a particular lab’s lab culture is like, is to ask people who are either in the lab or have been in that lab before. If you have friends doing research in a lab you are interested in you can ask them what their experiences are like and what the lab culture is like. If you are interested in a lab but you don’t already know anyone associated with that lab, don’t be afraid to reach out to people in the lab to ask what it is like.

Before you join a lab, you will have to talk to the principle investigator (PI) of that lab to see if you can join. During this meeting you can ask what their mentoring philosophy is, who it is you will likely be working with and if you can reach out to that person if it is not the PI. You can also ask what the lab is like.

Types of labs (This is not all the types of labs that exist but these general labs are the most common)

• High intensity no lunch labs: These types of labs usually have very focused people who work non stop. Their mentality is publish or perish and it shows. People work very long hours and you are not sure if they eat. If you end up in a lab like this you may get limited mentorship because everyone is focused on their work and you may also be expected to work very hard working towards lofty goals.

People who thrive in these labs are often independent people who learn quickly and are hyper focused. They are also able to advocate for themselves. If your mentor expects you to achieve an unreasonable goal don’t be afraid to stick up for yourself.

• Love to work love to play labs: In these labs people generally talk to each other a lot and goof around. They get work done but sometimes its not as fast as it would be if people were just focused. People who thrive in these labs are generally people who enjoy talking to others and like getting to know people. These labs are also good for people who can multitask and prioritize. If you end up in a lab like this you need to be able to politely tell people when you need to focus so that you don’t get too distracted.

• Are there even people in this lab labs: This lab does not have a lot of people in it and the people who do work in the lab may come at off hours or hours you are not there. People who thrive in these labs often are more independent and like to be alone. To be in labs like this you need to be okay with being by yourself and you also need to be able to trouble shoot problems by yourself.

• Chaos labs: These labs tend to be large and unorganized. At any given moment 5-8 people can be running around and there is no organization. To thrive in these labs you need to be okay with mess and chaos and able to work in the midst of it. People who can multitask and compartmentalize generally do well in these labs.

• Collaborative labs: These labs generally have people always wanting to help each other. If you are in this type of lab you can expect to be checked in on frequently. These labs are usually good for people who have never done research before and are still a little more dependent.

Types of Mentors

There are many types of mentors. When thinking about joining a lab you will want to think about the mentorship you receive. A mentor will be someone who will help guide your research and help you with your professional and developmental goals. The primary mentor in a research lab is the PI. The PI will likely shape the lab culture and dictate the type of lab you are in but they may not necessarily be the person you work with most. It is very common that undergraduate students primarily have a graduate student mentor that they work with. The person who is mentoring you and guiding your research will have a large effect on your research experience. Part of choosing a lab will be figuring out how potential mentors affect the lab culture. For more information specifically about picking a mentor see the research guide section: “Choosing the right mentor”.

Common mentorship styles and how they affect the lab culture:

• Hands off mentorship: Mentors in these labs generally only help students when directly asked and they prefer students to be independent. The culture in these labs is usually a bit more individualistic.

• Hands on mentorship: These mentors will likely require regular meetings and will often walk around the lab to see how people are doing. If you like more oversight this may be the lab for you.

• Open door policy mentors: These mentors allow you to decide what you need. They will leave their door open to help you but won’t actively seek you out. The lab will likely have a mixture of independent and dependent people. Labs like this are good for people who are self-reflective enough to know when they need help.

• This lab has a PI? mentors: This lab has a PI who is constantly traveling for conferences or talks. You will likely either be independent or working more directly with a graduate student.

Self-Reflection: What type of environment is best for you?

When thinking of the right lab culture for you, it is important to think about the types of things you need to succeed. What’s you figure out what it is you require than you can figure out whether or not a particular lab culture is right for you. Don’t be afraid to talk to people about their experiences with labs and if that person knows you well than don’t be afraid to ask if they think a particular lab would be good for you. The categories below are the type of thing you should think about and ask yourself when you are trying to decide if a particular lab culture is right for you. Once you have answered these questions you can see which lab cultures best fit what you need. You may not be able to find a lab that perfectly fits what you need so prioritize the factors that you think will be the most important for you.

Feedback: Do you need others to tell you how you’re doing?

• Do you respond well to positive reinforcement?

• Does negative reinforcement encourage you to be better or just discourage you?

• Will you ask for feedback or do you need people to constantly give it to you?

• Will you ask for help?

• Are you independent or do you need more guidance?

Social interaction: Are people distracting or encouraging?

• Are you a multitasker?

• Do you like interacting with a lot of people?

• Can you work and talk at the same time?

• Do you require interaction with others to have a good time?

Accountability: Will you keep track of your own project?

• Does high pressure make you work harder or stress you out so much you can’t do anything?

• Do you need constant reminders when a deadline is coming up?

• Will you need to be told how to do things multiple times?

• Can you take good notes?

• Will it be difficult for you to coordinate your schedule with someone else?

Research: What is the research like?

• Are you familiar with this type of research?

• Have you used these techniques or skill sets before?

• Will you need extra help getting started?

• How much time will the research require? How much time do you have?

• Do you like the research?

Thought Exercise: What’s the right lab culture?

You are in the process of finding a lab. You have narrowed it down to two options and you have talked to people in both labs. In lab A: You love the research topic and think it is super interesting but the PI is very handsoff and when they do give feedback it is often very negative. The graduate student you have been paired to work with is often very busy trying to get data for their own project and will likely not devote a significant amount of time to helping you. Generally, you do not respond well to the negative feedback that seems to characterize this lab culture, but this lab has the most interesting research project and you are confident that you can work independently. Lab B: You are somewhat interested in the research project but you don’t have a lot of background knowledge about it so you are not sure. The lab culture itself is very collaborative and people seem willing to help but you may also end up having a lot of distracting and off topic conversations. In the past you have been able to hold conversations and do work at the same time but since you will be using new techniques you are not familiar with it might take you longer to get things done. Which lab do you choose? Which factors do you prioritize?

References & Further Reading

https://www.niaid.nih.gov/grants-contracts/choose-mentor