As scientists, we move around a lot. Insights from scientists who have navigated these waters and what important lessons they took away.

I am a current postdoctoral researcher investigating resistance to cancer immunotherapies using machine learning methods. This is my 6th position in a research setting as chemical engineering and bioengineer. My undergraduate research experiences were diverse in their science fundamentals and applications, including optimizing inorganic materials for solar energy conversion, comparing technical instruments for their accuracy in measuring distribution of platinum nanoparticles, and investigating a peptide for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. For my doctoral work, I initially began in the polymer biomaterials space, but I transitioned to a different lab, where I developed machine learning techniques to analyze large amounts of data from single-cell sequencing methods and infer cell-cell communication networks.

Luckily throughout my undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral career, I have had dedicated, supportive communities and mentors through programs made to support people like myself: first-generation, child of immigrants, queer, Latino, and low-income. These include California Alliance Minority Participation (CAMP) program, Leadership in Engineering Advancement, Diversity, and Retention (LEADR), and the McNair Scholars program at UC Davis. During my graduate career, I built community through the Competitive Edge program and the First-Generation Graduate Student Council (FGGSC). Finally, during my postdoctoral training, I am part of the Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) network at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.

I’ve jumped from field to field, and I’ll touch on various topics, including switching to new labs and scientific fields. I will highlight the main things I’ve taken away from my experiences that form the foundation of my advice, and whose advice stems from the amazing communities, mentors, and peers along my journey.

1. First, be comfortable with the idea of being uncomfortable. Because in a new information environment, things are scary and overwhelming. It’s crucial that you sit with this feeling. You can let it take over, or you can lean into it, recognizing how much you are going to learn in a short period of time. Traditionally, you have been taught what is important to learn in the classroom and by an instructor or teacher; but in a research setting, you decide what literature to use and what concepts you need to grasp. However, you are not alone; everyone in the lab, including your advisor, has been where you are. The key thing to realize as you move forward in your new setting is that these feelings are extremely valid and do not mean you don’t belong there. These feelings simply tell you what you need to learn. Of course, lean on those around you.
2. The second main lesson is that a key part of being in a new lab or environment is asking questions. Being in a new research setting and field can feel daunting. You won’t know what techniques are used in the field, who is well known in the field, or even where to find the pipettes. As a recent postdoctoral researcher, I realized that the undergraduates in my new lab knew more than me initially. That is completely okay! You are not expected to know everything, but what skill is crucial in a research setting is identifying the knowledge gap. That is key. You need to know what you do know and what you don’t know, and create a plan to bridge that gap. This is a mix of asking others questions and doing your own research—reading, finding context, preparing talks, watching YouTube videos, reading blogs, etc. But ask questions to your labmates, cohort, advisor, and others in the field: What resources did you use to help you learn? I don’t really understand this concept—can you help clarify? Hey, I think I have a grasp of this method or technique—can I walk you through it? Ask questions. There are no dumb questions, especially if you are switching fields.
3. The third thing is to practice writing and presenting fairly soon after joining a new lab. Writing, discussions, and presentations about your research are a big part of understanding your project and field. It feels impossible at first to complete these tasks when just joining, but it’s instrumental to you feeling confident about your new role in the lab. But the more you discuss your work, the faster you progress. That is where you teach someone, either in written form or aloud. This process helps create a story in your head. Sometimes the ideas can be abstract when you are focusing on an extremely specific technique and don’t communicate your research in various modes. But when you write it down and present it, you start to form the story of the project and field: what are the main goals of the study, what has been done before, what is the gap you are filling, what are you doing in the field, and what do you need to do next to identify the research questions you are interested in?
4. My last main point for navigating a new lab and field is that you must stand up for yourself and define your own experience—not just what others around you expect. Not only do you have responsibilities to your advisor, your peers, and your mentors, but you also have the same expectations of them. You must speak up and tell others what you need, what you don’t need, and how to help you better. This might mean you need to meet once a week and not twice with your advisor, that you want to have a more collaborative group meeting instead of a one-hour long presentation, that you are overwhelmed having two graduate students to mentor, or that TA work is very important to you and you want to spend dedicated time throughout your Ph.D. to teaching. Those around you have no idea how you are feeling if you don’t advocate for yourself. No one can read your mind and tell you how you are feeling. You have to help them help you. You must be able to communicate clearly and state what would be the biggest help. Do you need help, advice, support, time, less structure, more structure? You decide what you need.

All of my experiences have taught me that the path is never linear, but the ability to adapt, ask questions, write, and advocate for yourself are the keys to not only surviving but thriving in a new lab and a new field.