Conflicting Priorities and Life Goals Among Members of a Lab
Author(s):
Terry Ann Krulwich
Embedded Issues:
- Graduate training in science is an apprenticeship system wherein the apprentice trains best if the project is novel, interesting, challenging but feasible, and of some potential importance in the context of the field. Such projects are most often opportunities that do not stand still, i.e. there is usually competition or at least urgency in terms of the preceptor's program needs. How can that be balanced against the often complex goals of certain students or even unanticipated problems that can arise in anyone's life? What are the fairness issues vis a vis other individuals in the lab or training program?
- Some students and some preceptors have a negative prejudice (some probably have an envy and/or positive prejudice) towards MD researchers, students who want to pursue the possibility of completing their MD credentials, etc. Such prejudices are unfortunate in an environment such as this. An exploration is worthwhile.
Professor A's Lab
Student 1 in Professor A's lab has been cutting down his hours of work in the lab to study for the qualifying exams so that he can use the MD degree he earned in his home country, and enter a residency program in the US when he finishes the PhD. The work is suffering at a time when the Prof. was hoping to bring some very exciting experiments to closure and publication; there is stiff competition.
Student 2 is another student, a PhD student with no MD degree, in the same lab. She is an advanced student, working very hard on an ongoing project, worried (aren't we all) about what kind of postdoc position will allow her to compete for a job someday.
Professor B's Lab
Student 3 is a student in Professor B's lab. Student 3 is about to have a baby; her work has not slowed down very much during the pregnancy, but she tells her Prof.that she would like to take 6 weeks off after delivery to bond with the baby, and establish some sort of child care routine before coming back. Prof. B has two busy postdocs and another student as well as a technician. A fast moving lab.
Student 4 is one of Prof. B's other students. Student 4's wife had a baby last year; he's frantically trying to finish up, spends little time with his one`year`old, and is concerned with proceeding to the next stage of his career.
Professor C's Lab
Student 5 is a student in Professor C's lab. His work is providing the initial data for a revised grant application for his young mentor. A family illness occurs; the student announces in June that he wishes to spend the summer in California to spend quality time with a seriously ill father.
Student 6 is an MD/POD student who was planning a summer rotation in Prof. C's lab, and was going to work together with Student 5.
by Terry Ann Krulwich, Dean of Graduate School
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY