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Although hard for me to believe, this autumn marks 10 years since I began leading my own research group and 20 years in the lab. As someone I care deeply about is soon to embark on her own PI journey I thought that I would share a few thoughts on my experience 🤓(1/12) #newPI
1. There will be times when you will go and cry in the toilets. You will seriously consider giving up, often (even now). That’s ok. It is hard in ways that you don’t expect but hang in there and remember why you love science - beyond all the frustration, 💩and politics (2/12)
2. Enjoy the time you get with your PhD students. They are your legacy. Seeing their evolution and growth is still the favourite part of my job. Tell them that you are proud of them and their achievements (big and small) in public and in private - it is so important (3/12)
3. Now that I sit on grant panels I know that sometimes the difference between getting a grant or not can be tiny. Sometimes it will be your turn to be fortunate and sometimes you will just miss out. It is hard but try and learn from each one and get progressively better (4/12)
4. When you write a grant assume nothing - the reviewers may not be in your direct field (in the UK the grant panel members almost certainly won’t be). Have explicit contingency plans. Make the reviewers job easy. Be clear. Write in educated lay language. (5/12)
5. Go to conferences. I am very introverted and struggle with the enforced social interaction, even now. I know that I am not alone in this. It is important to get your name and face out there so when your grant or paper crosses someone’s desk they know who your are. (6/12)
6. The more invited seminars, lectures, and conference presentations you do it does get easier, particularly when you are talking about data you are proud of. However, I still get nervous and have to use visualisation and channel my inner Beyoncé (7/12)
7. If someone tries to persuade you to take on a role and says “it will look good on your CV” (as the main selling point) try and avoid it. If it needs to be said then chances are it won’t be that beneficial. (8/12)
8. On a related point, university service activies and citizenship are important and while you should always do your best don’t let these activies dominate your time. No one ever got a grant or promotion by being the best ever chair of the radiation safety committee (9/12)
9. Professional jealously is hard. On the surface some people seem to have it easy, get promoted quickly, and get lots of papers/grants but you can bet they are struggling with all the same challenges. Don’t compare yourself to others but focus on how far you have come (10/12)
10. Be kind - to yourself and others. Help people but beware of those who don’t reciprocate. Protect your time. You can learn a lot about grantsmanship and writing by proof reading other people’s work. Be constructive and empathetic in all of your peer reviews (11/12)
11. Rest & family are vital. I don’t work on Saturdays. Don’t miss family events for work - in the years to come you won’t remember why you missed the school play. Work is important but love & friendship are more important. A scientist is part of who you are not all of it (12/12)
