Mentoring Matters
We take pride in both the science our laboratory produces and – equally important – the training we provide for junior researchers to become independent scientists.
Taking the time to help trainees develop broad knowledge about biology, become critical readers of the scientific literature, and think independently is essential to my approach to science.
Decades of experience as a mentor have brought me great professional as well as personal pleasure. I strongly believe that developing critical, analytical skills is essential to any scientific career path trainees choose to follow at the completion of graduate studies or postdoctoral training. I encourage students and postdocs to explore the most important questions; to take risks in pursuing wide-ranging, fundamental answers; and to continuously evaluate the larger significance of findings to the field.
Beyond educating trainees in how to conduct experiments and interpret results, our laboratory provides unique opportunities to practice effective scientific communication.
I care deeply about helping trainees to develop crucial skills in writing manuscripts, requesting funding for research, and giving presentations. Groisman lab members receive dedicated support in preparing and editing papers, proposals, talks, and graphical abstracts and in practicing for presentations and interviews.
My door is always open.
To help advance projects, lab members meet with me one-on-one at least every other week. We also hold weekly lab meetings at which one lab member presents recent findings to receive feedback from everyone. Lab members are encouraged to come share findings or creative approaches and to ask for help with conceptual or technical issues any time. Lab members also benefit tremendously by collaborating with each other to take advantage of the diverse expertise and experience that everyone brings to our work.
We change the focus of our research every few years to avoid competition with my former trainees and to explore new scientific territory – often thanks to exciting projects that the different backgrounds of our trainees make possible. When appropriate, collaborations with lab alumni continue in their new roles as Principal Investigators, and I make sure that they receive the recognition and credit they deserve. I am also happy to write reviews or opinion articles with former fellows and to provide feedback on research articles emerging from their laboratories.