More Ph.Ds are starting to think like brands. And they should.
We’ve been working closely with academics who are stepping beyond the lecture hall and into the digital spotlight. They’re building personal brands that showcase their smarts to build trust, drive opportunity, and turn their research into something more visible and valuable.
Understanding how to run a successful research lab is the center of that personal brand.
A research lab reflects how you lead, how you solve problems, and the level of care you bring to your science.
When done well, it can even become the foundation for a thriving business.
So if you’re a scientist looking to turn your research into a real business — one that builds your credibility and expands your reach — you’ve got to start thinking about your lab as more than just a lab. You’ve got to run it like a brand.
Here’s how to do that well — and where most people get it wrong.
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Proactively Manage Staff
You’ll already know you’ll need quality staff to run a successful lab.
Don’t just hire people and let them have at it, though. It’s worth being proactive with your management to make sure everything’s being done the way it should be. This can take a bit of time and effort, but it’ll be more than worth it.
That way, you shouldn’t have to worry about whether everyone’s doing what they need to be doing. The trick to this is avoiding micromanaging as much as you can.
This could cause employee resentment and even negatively impact productivity, so it’s worth avoiding.
Source Quality Supplies
Your laboratory could end up needing quite a few supplies for your research and experiments.
These can span a wide range of areas and chemicals, like sulbutiamine powder. While many of these could end up being expensive, it shouldn’t mean you should find ways to cut costs.
You’re much better off actually investing in quality supplies. They could help with the quality of experiments and other areas quite a bit. Though this often means spending a bit more, it should be more than worth it.
You wouldn’t want substandard supplies compromising the integrity of your operations, after all.
Think Creatively
Any successful laboratory will inevitably run into issues or challenges as time goes on.
This can even be seen in the experiments themselves. It’s natural for many lab technicians and owners to feel a little stumped with these occasionally. Thankfully, there are ways to make this easier to manage and overcome.
By being able to think creatively, you shouldn’t have a problem overcoming any challenges. It can help you find better ways to overcome issues and even run your lab much better. While that could mean making a bit of change to your thinking, there’s no reason it shouldn’t help.
Trying to run a successful lab can be a complicated and stressful experience. It’s easy to see why it gets the best of so many people. That doesn’t mean it has to be impossible. You just need to know what you’re doing from the start. The right tips can help quite a bit.
By focusing on these from as early as possible, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t see a noticeable impact. Your laboratory should see the benefits more and more as time goes on.
It’ll be more than worth putting the effort into.
Ready to Run a Successful Research Lab to Increase Your Influence and Impact?
A great lab doesn’t happen by accident.
It takes smart hires, high standards, and the guts to think differently when things get tough.
But if you get those things right, your lab willbecome a core part of your personal brand. A reflection of your leadership, your values, and the kind of science you stand for.
Start strong. Stay sharp. Build something bigger than just experiments.
Build a legacy.
