At The Helm: A Laboratory Navigator

Kathy Barker

ISBN 10: 0879695838 / ISBN 13: 9780879695835

Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Pr, 2002

Good condition. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Seller Inventory # E20L-00216

Synopsis:

Newly appointed principal research investigators have to recruit, motivate, and lead a research team, manage personnel and institutional responsibilities, and compete for funding, while maintaining the outstanding scientific record that got them their position in the first place. Small wonder, then, that many principal investigators feel ill-prepared. In this book, a successor to her best-selling manual for new recruits to experimental science, At The Bench, Kathy Barker provides a guide for newly appointed leaders of research teams, and those who aspire to that role. With extensive use of interviews and a text enlivened with quotes and real-life examples, Dr. Barker discusses a wide range of management challenges and the skills that promote success. Her book is a unique and much-needed contribution to the literature of science.

Review: I wish this book had been available when I was setting up my lab! Packed with tips on the practical aspects of getting a lab up and running, it also carefully considers all of the emotional and philosophical issues critical to managing a successful laboratory. From offering advice on how to configure lab computers and strategies for time management, to suggesting wise ways to select lab personnel and avoid lab conflicts, Kathy Barker has taken a no-nonsense approach to all of the issues facing the starting principal investigator. Although I've run a lab for 7 years, I found numerous points that could improve our existing organization. Barker's humourous, readable style made this book a pleasure to read; I found myself nodding in recognition at the multiple quotations from current principal investigators. For those starting a lab, hoping to improve their own lab management, or simply interested in hearing what others in their position have gone through, this book is a terrific resource. -- Sally Kornbluth Duke University Medical Center This book clearly lays out guidelines for those making the transition from their training and bench work as graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to running their own labs. Written in a straightforward style, the book provides vital information needed to avoid common mistakes and get off to a good start... The chapter Choose Your People was particularly telling. Advice about the hiring process is covered comprehensively... What surprised me most about the book was that it was not just a list of basic management mantras. Each chapter in At the Helm includes anonymous voices from many researchers around the country expressing candid opinions, anecdotes and ideas. These quotes include real solutions to some of the unusual problems that one might encounter as a new principal investigator... I believe experienced managers will also find some useful advice in it to help keep their labs running smoothly. Nature Medicine

Bibliographic Details

Title: At The Helm: A Laboratory Navigator
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Pr
Publication Date: 2002
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Good