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1. Inspired by @BiophysicalFrog insightful comments about the lack of training in science in how to be a PI I wanted to share some thoughts about something that helped me a lot over the years in my own learning journey. This is a thread about PI Superpowers!
2. A lot of what is involved in doing science (stuff like experimental design, writing papers, or figure construction) is currently largely not taught in a formalised classroom/seminar setting. Instead we in science use an on-the-job apprenticeship system.
3. There are obvious problems with the apprenticeship system we currently use in science, it certainly needs to evolve to work better for all people (a subject for a different thread) but it has one massive advantage. It is extremely versatile.
4. Because the apprenticeship system is not restricted to one formal fit-for-all setting, every person in science receives training that is specifically customised to the field of science that they are in whether it is social psychology or polymer physics.
5. But what does this have to do with learning how to be a PI? Well being a PI requires a tremendous array of different skills, some of which are field specific. How then can we apply the apprenticeship system to learn how to do the job of a PI?
6. Early on in grad school I noted that a) there were numerous parts to the PI job b) no PI was good at all of them. Instead I noticed that most PIs I considered successful were so-so at most tasks but really excelled at a few of them. I started calling these “PI superpowers”
7. What are “PI superpowers”? Some PIs are amazing at writing grants, some write superb papers, some seem to always recruit the best people into their labs, some are super organised, some give mind blowing talks, some are really inspiring & motivating, some are great teachers.
8. But no PI that I’ve ever met had ALL of these “PI superpowers”, in fact I’ve seen PI’s at the top of their field who were absolutely exceptional in only one or two of these things and pretty mediocre at all other aspects of the job. But that was enough to make them superstars.
9. This realisation about PI superpowers was incredibly liberating. I realised I didn’t need to become a master at all of the PI tasks, rather I needed to achieve a certain level of broad competence and if possible find areas I can excel at & lean on those.
10. More importantly, by recognising that all PIs had superpowers I realised that if I wanted to learn a particular PI task the best way was to find a PI who was superb at that particular task and use them as a role model.
11. This realisation changed my perspective about how to use the scientific apprenticeship process to learn how to be PI. I found myself looking at PIs & wondering what I could learn from them. (sometimes by observing or by talking to their labs, sometimes by asking them)
12. In particular what struck me was that when I approached PIs (which was super hard!) & asked about their PI superpowers they were almost always thrilled to talk about them (they put a lot of effort learning those skills & they were a source of pride!).
13. Obviously there is just as much to learn by looking at PIs & realising what things not to do (“PI kryptonite”) but that's a topic for a different thread as well. Also we should certainly provide some formal training for scientists in how to be PIs.
14. But right now when asked for tips about working as PI I give the same answer: it is never too early look at the PIs around you, study them, find their PI superpowers, learn from these PIs by observing & discussing, AND when you are ready find your own “PI superpowers”.
15. When you identify your own “PI superpowers” (this can take a while, so be patient), invest in those skills, work on them, be proud of them, and most importantly, be generous, share, and use your superpowers for good not evil!
