2
Succeed
in starting a
lab with advice
to help you
anticipate the
challenges
The transition from being a postdoc to principal investigator (PI)
and head of your own lab can be the most challenging step in an
academic research career. Gone are the days of being intensely
focused on your research. Now you're bombarded with new
responsibilities like being a teacher, recruiter, financial
administrator, adviser and writer. On top of everything,
you're trying to do what you thought you were hired to
do: start your own research lab.
No one prepared you for this!
For most young faculty, the biggest problem
during this overwhelming transition is the lack
of guidance and career support. But what if you
were given helpful advice ahead of time? What
if those who had gone through this process
shared what they learned so you could be
better prepared?
This eBook is the result of interviews with eight
PIs from around the world who describe their
experiences, obstacles and lessons learned
from starting a lab. We hope their advice helps
you—whether you're a senior postdoc, new PI or
researcher—anticipate the challenges you may
face if you're embarking on this journey.
About this eBook
