DCHAS-L Archives, Aug 6, 2019 - Re: [DCHAS-L] Thoughts?

I expect most of this has already been said but I would start with a mini root cause analysis of PI behavior regarding WHY he/she behaves in the manner that

causes the concern... The course of action you take (really the institution takes if lasting success is what you want - dean, dept head, research administration)

is based on the cause...are they making a conscious decision to overlook issues or be non-supportive vs not getting the job done for other reasons. ? Neither is

acceptable but the course of best corrective action may be different..

One important point I'd like to add is the students of this PI, or others like him/her, may be getting a heavy dose of negative mentorship,

which is tragic, and something the faculty chain of command needs to hear about, and I think can really catch their ear.

Getting input from the lab staff, confidentially if necessary, is key.

We had one example of a PI with a chronically horrible lab with respect to housekeeping have his lab change dramatically due to the efforts

of two new graduate students who really took control of conditions in the space. He was very pleased and supportive of their efforts. Not a bad

guy, just not taking earlier responsibility in getting the job done.

I agree that this represents a small percentage of the research staff but we like to point out once in a while that it only takes one to cause the institution

a world of hurt, aside from the injured party or property.

I'm also glad to discuss further if you like.

Ken

NC State University / Box 8007 / 2620 Wolf Village Way / Raleigh North Carolina 27695-8007

Email: Ken_Kretchman**At_Symbol_Here**ncsu.edu / Phone: (919).515.6860 / Fax: (919).515.6307

On Sat, Aug 3, 2019 at 5:24 PM Wade Johnson <twadejohnson1**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com> wrote:

As a non-renowned academic, who does research and is not really involved with CH&S as my job, shutting a labis certainly effective but not likely to win friends in the department. Academics have to listen to department heads and Deans because of the immediate leverage over the academics researcher's daily life. So, winning the hearts and minds of those administrators is probably a better place to start. I would suggest with leading with personal and university liabilities including recent examples. Administrators, by their nature, are risk averse and, if presented correctly, can be led to developing a safer culture in the lab.

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