Thread by @chrmosimann

Fun fact:
most PIs themselves never had (or sought) any actual formal training for any of this. Similar for teaching or mentoring.

Frequent attitude:
"winging it" is normal/badge of honor/funny.

Don't want to say it shows. But it totally does.

Few quick additions:

"Budgeting" or lab budgets are often not that complex. Salaries are pre-defined. Reagents over time sum up to an average consumption and can be estimated. And often you get help.

I always dreaded the book keeping but it's useful and gives peace of mind.

"People management" is a deep rabbit hole that many see as "learning by doing". Some is, indeed.

But workplace psychology, supervision, progress tracking et al. is done in industry & military since decades/centuries. This has language and framework. Useful to seek out.

"Project management" is similar. The problem is that lots of science is inherently unpredictable so again a "learning by doing" component comes in.

But also here, book keeping, progress tracking, etc. are standards in other industries that provide good input.

So the info can be found. But teaching it is rarely part of any curriculum in academic training.

It doesn't have to be that way.

If you are in your PhD or postdoc and curious about these points, you have lots of online resources at your disposal to start.

But also bring these points up with your grad school, your mentors, your PIs.

Chances are they will find it liberating to actually talk about it all!