Funding, Facilities, and Choosing a Lab

The blogger at Tales of the Genomic Repairman discusses why he chose his graduate lab, and offers tips for other scientists choosing where to work. Genomic Repairman's lab, he writes, "fostered an environment where everyone is familiar with everyone else's projects without being too nosy." Those who are going to choose a research environment, he suggests, should consider the size of the lab first. "Do you like small intimate groups or can you blend into the herd?" he writes. Next, scientists should consider the PI and lab members — specifically, whether they think they could get along with them and if they "do great science," the blogger writes. It's not a good idea to "pick a lab because someone seems nice," however. Trainees should also consider the lab's funding and facilities. "Check [out] their funding situation and track record on NIH RePorter. Are they consistently getting money? Good. Are [their] grant dollars slowly winnowing away. Bad sign," the blogger writes.