Beyond the Bench: The Business of Running a Lab
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You asked and we listened- this is our 4th annual mini-course designed with future faculty in mind!
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This mini-course will address some of your most pressing concerns as you consider the practical aspects of starting your own lab. Each of the four 1.5 hour sessions will be a moderated panel discussion, structured around 5 questions that each panelist will answer. Upon registering for the event, you will be prompted to submit questions for consideration.
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Course Capacity: 24
Course Fee: $10
Dates & Times
Tuesday Feb 25 — Budgeting and negotiating your start-up package
Wednesday Feb 26 — Acclimation for the new PI: learning the ropes and managing your time
Tuesday March 10 — Getting your first grant & grant management
Wednesday March 11 — Hiring, firing, and lab management
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All sessions run from 12:00 – 1:30 pm. Lunch will be served at all sessions. Participants are expected to attend all four sessions.
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Participating Faculty
Erin Adams Professor (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) & myCHOICE PI
Bobby Kasthuri Assistant Professor (Neurobiology)
Maureen Coleman Assistant Professor (Geophysical Sciences)
Bana Jabri Professor (Medicine)
Yamuna Krishnan Professor (Chemistry)
Jeff Hubbell Professor & Deputy Dean for Development (Institute for Molecular Engineering)
Yoav Gilad Professor (Human Genetics)
Kay Macleod Associate Professor (Ben May Department for Cancer Research)
Moderator
Abby Stayart myCHOICE Program Director
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Session Descriptions
Session 1: Negotiating and budgeting your start-up package
Everything is negotiable, but you have to know what’s reasonable. Things that are negotiable: start-up funds, salary, administrative help, teaching load, physical space, equipment. Know yourself: are you a hoarder or a spender?
Questions from last year’s session:
- How do you determine the amount of start-up funding to ask for?
- What was your strategy for spending start-up funds?
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Session 2: Time management and acclimation for the new PI
It’s your first day as a PI. You’ve just moved from a different city, from a very successful postdoctoral position. You’re now the lowest man on the totem pole, where your success or failure seems to be in the balance with every decision. What next? Identify a strategy for success. Find a mentor within your department and develop relationships with other new faculty.
Questions from last year’s session:
- What was the greatest difference in your time management strategy as a postdoc and as a new PI?
- Do you have any implicit or conscious time-management strategy that you feel has been important to your success?
- How much say do you have about which course/s you teach? What percentage of time do you spend teaching vs researching?
- Any advice for making a practical career plan?
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Session 3: Getting your first grant & grant management
Make sure that you’re looking at all types of grants, get examples of successful grants, and talk to your program officer.
Questions from last year’s session:
- Do you have a process that you’ve developed that helps you get from writing the first words through to the end?
- Is there anything proactive you can do when your grant gets rejected?
- How do you manage the money if you have multiple grants?
- How do you handle finances when your R01 is up for renewal?
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Session 4: Hiring, firing, & lab management
Listen to your doubts. Consider hiring people with skills that complement your own. Don’t forget to contact previous employers. Use your external network as a way to recruit the right people.
Questions from last year’s session:
- How many people should you hire at the beginning of your lab? And who should you hire first: grad students, postdocs, or technicians?
- Do you recommend any formal training in management?
- Do you have any recommended books for running a lab and managing employees?
- What informal opportunities can we seek to gain skills in running a lab?
*Note, if you are unable to register through the GRADGargoyle/Symplicity system, please email us and we will register you for the course.