Biophysical Society Bulletin | March 2021

Career Development

Getting Along with a Difficult Colleague in Academia Relationships exist in many different variations. Irrespective of the underlying

and not take constructive criticisms personally. This will require some degree of emotional intelligence. Furthermore, there are coping measures, including knowing when to walk away during a conflict and then trying to have a meaningful conversation with the difficult colleague when you both have had time to calm down. Every day is a new day, which means you may both have different perspectives after the fact. In fact, time tends to heal most relationships, especially if you can you learn more about each other and can develop mutual respect once you understand the boundaries of an academic relationship. Learning to work with difficult colleagues can start right when you join your first lab as a student. The principal investigator has an important role by making every effort to be involved in lab activities, both with the lab as well as with individual members. It is important to deal with conflicts immediately and not let them develop into something more. Most institutions have facilities or programs that allow individuals to share their emotions or deal with conflicts with an objective third party. These interactions are confidential, which is crucial for hon- est discussions and can be particularly helpful for minorities because they may feel they are not supported in an academic setting and therefore are not likely to discuss conflicts. Overall, it is important to remember that everyone in science has the same goal to advance the field and make discoveries that can help others. Therefore, it is important to see the sim- ilarities in the ones we work with instead of all the differences and that more can be accomplished when working together. — Molly Cule

circumstances, relationships are not easy and sometimes can be quite chal- lenging. Cultivating a long-lasting and meaningful relationship takes time, and if carefully managed can be rewarding. An important component of a successful academic career is the ability to interact

and work closely with colleagues in a respectful and collegial manner. Furthermore, a good relationship with mentors can be a building block for a successful academic career. Learning early on the skills to relate to others, especially mentors, can lead to success in future career endeavors where you need to cultivate relationships with collaborators, heads of departments, com- mittee members, and departmental colleagues. These skills or innate qualities include patience, empathy, and an ability to read body language. Research labs around the world are composed of academ- ics from different racial and cultural backgrounds. It is what makes science rich and exciting; different backgrounds means different ideas that could lead to exciting discoveries. There- fore, an effort to understand and tolerate different cultures is important in sustaining a good academic relationship among colleagues. There will always be conflicts due to competition for lab space, equipment, research projects, or the principal investigator’s attention. Science by nature is competitive. We are always trying to publish and get funding and make that novel discovery; therefore, we need to understand that we are all under the same pressure, and we must develop a thick skin

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March 2021

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