Lab Dynamics

Scientists are trained in scholarship and technical skills but not, typically, in how to deal with their peers, supervisors, or staff who report to them. Yet even a first-rate research project can fail or flounder if the people concerned can't get along. Lab Dynamics is a book about the challenges of doing science and dealing with the individuals involved, including yourself. The authors, a scientist and a psychotherapist, draw on principles of group and behavioral psychology but speak to scientists in their own language about their own experiences. They offer in-depth, practical advice, real-life examples, and exercises tailored to scientific and technical workplaces on topics as diverse as conflict resolution, negotiation, dealing with supervision, working with competing peers, and making transitions between academia and industry. This is a uniquely valuable contribution to the scientific literature, on a subject of direct importance to lab heads, postdocs, and students. It is also required reading for senior staff concerned about improving efficiency and effectiveness in academic and industrial research settings.