How to Pick a Lab

A few days ago, I had a wonderful discussion with a post-doc in my lab about the importance of good mentorship. I realized I am joyful when heading to the lab every day because I feel valued and cared for. Unfortunately, after speaking to some other graduate students on social media, I realized how I feel is rare. More people should feel the way I do. Therefore, I decided to write this article so more people would prioritize the lab environment and supervisor over projects and research interests. As someone who is quite happy with my lab and the choices I have made, a good supervisor knows how to motivate you and mentor you. Loving the lab environment and the people you work with on a daily basis cannot be learned, but you can learn to love your project and what you do. Therefore, the lab you pick after your rotations will be among the most important decisions you make in graduate school. 

Here's my list of pointers I recommend you consider before joining a lab

1) Learn more about YOUR strengths and weaknesses

Graduate school is an exciting time, but it will be more enjoyable if you reflect on your past experiences and who you are. Learn more about what you excel at and what challenges you. This will help you communicate effectively with your mentor about your needs and evaluate if those needs could be met in the labs you seek to join. Consider that knowing these intimate aspects about yourself will instill a sense of confidence in you to seek what you truly want. 

2) Learn more about your learning style and the type of mentorship you desire

Students have different learning styles; some prefer to read many papers, whereas some like watching lectures, as just two examples. Understanding your learning style helps you learn in a way that is more effective for you. This leads to you knowing what type of mentor you would like to have. An ideal supervisor is aware that one shoe does not fit all and will adapt to your learning style to the best of their abilities. Remember that you also need to actively put in the effort to meet with your supervisor and communicate your needs as a student. Do you prefer a more hands-off supervisor or someone who closely follows your experiments? Would you prefer a mentor who comes to you and checks in with you, or would you rather have the freedom to see your mentor when you need them? Do you prefer sending your mentor minor updates on what you have been doing, or would you rather wait until you have a significant update to show your mentor? I recommend you take your time to reflect on your answers and ask your potential supervisor about their mentoring style. This will likely be the most significant professional relationship you will enter for the next two to six years, and you need to align with a supervisor who you believe can help you navigate graduate school. While demanding, it is important to remember your supervisor will be involved in every step you take and consider your compatibility as a chief concern when deciding where to conduct your studies. 

3) Choose an environment that fosters your curiosity

In your early stages as a scientist, you learn by asking questions and being curious. A healthy lab environment encourages you to think about the important questions and guides your curiosity toward productive aspects like experiments, presenting, and/or communicating science. Labs that promote active learning through thoughtful discussions will teach you how to think critically about your project, fostering the intellectual creativity that will serve you well in your studies and beyond.

4) Your labmates are important

They are the people you will interact with the most, so getting along with them and enjoying their company needs to be a critical factor in your decision-making process. You will feel less motivated to be present in a lab every day and do your experiments if you do not enjoy the people around you. Consider you will rely on them to guide you through the initial stages of your studies, and they will be the audience to your successes and failures. 

5) Your supervisor WILL make or break your graduate school experience

Make sure you choose a supervisor who values you as a human first and as a student second, keeping your well-being in mind and not overwhelming you. Instead, they will help you build confidence and learn the skills necessary to become a successful future scientist. A supportive supervisor will invest time in getting to know you and your future goals. They are interested in who you are outside of your experiments and encourage you to have hobbies and goals beyond your research. For example, they would encourage you to attend workshops and seminars that will help you flourish as a person and advance your interpersonal skills.  

6) Motivation is key

Graduate school can be a demanding experience. There will be days that you are less motivated to go to the lab and get your work done for various reasons. It's important to acknowledge that your experience is valid and that motivation naturally cycles. As a student, you might need to take a few days off to focus on yourself and your mental health. Find a lab that is okay with you prioritizing this. Additionally, find ways to energize yourself when your motivation is not fully there. We are not always motivated to complete our work. It is sometimes necessary to find something external or internal that will motivate you to push harder even when you don't feel like it. Ensure your future lab supports the external factors that motivate you. Some examples of external motivations are, sharing papers that you are reading with your labmates to motivate yourself to read more or setting up regular meetings with your mentor, so you are more encouraged to get your work done.

 7) Be open-minded

Be open to making your learning adventure unique. Your graduate school experience often is what you make out of it. Be open-minded about learning new ideas, incorporating feedback, and working in a team environment. Be willing to put in the effort and learn new things about your project and about yourself. Let your graduate school experience surprise you and take you to places you've never explored before. Let yourself love new research topics and concepts. If you can, rotate in at least one lab outside your comfort zone. You never know you like something unless you try it.  

Saya Sedighi is a MoGen graduate student in the lab of Anne-Claude Gingras at the LTRI. Saya is also the Communication director (GRC) and PSME committee representative and international student liaison for the MoGen Graduate Student Association.