Nonetheless, the NIH was still fertile ground for an informal person such as myself\u2014as there were no students and most labs were staffed primarily by postdocs, it was perfectly natural for everyone to be on a comfortable first name basis. After all, it would seem silly for everyone to be walking around calling each other \u201cDoctor This\u201d and \u201cDoctor That\u201d. You aren\u2019t going to make an impression on anyone when 95% of the people there are all \u201cdoctors\u201d…<\/p>\n
The more dramatic increase in formality occurred in accepting my current position at a US medical school. Jeans and running shoes are the exception rather than the rule, and ties are frequently worn by males in the upper echelon. However, my current colleagues did put their faith in me despite \u2018under-dressing\u2019 for my original interviews (hopefully I\u2019ve not disappointed them).<\/p>\n
Emphasizing my embarrassment with formality and titles is the following anecdote shortly after my arrival in Nebraska 7 years ago. It must have been the first or second day in my new lab, when I was busy unpacking boxes and wondering whether I\u2019m really in the right job. One of the administrators down the hall called out \u201cDr. Caplan\u201d. I was extremely puzzled, and looked behind me trying to figure out what on earth my pediatrician father from Canada could be doing here in my new lab in Nebraska. Yes, it probably took me a good half-minute to realize what was going on…<\/p>\n
On the serious side\u2014and I pose this to all my fellow scientists\u2014is there a case for more formal attire in the lab? Should principal investigators dress more formally than their students and postdocs\u2014does this promote professionalism?<\/p>\n
I will argue that true leadership cannot be imposed artificially. Soldiers will follow an officer whose abilities are respected, not because they are forced to call him \u201csir\u201d. A scientist\u2019s leadership derives from work ethics, an unbiased quest for the truth and impartial skepticism as scientists, knowledge, the ability to deal with crises and to mentor students, postdocs and fellow colleagues, the ability to motivate and stimulate intellectually (and many other factors)\u2014and not by whether he\/she is called \u201cDr.\u201d, or by what he\/she wears.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/irregulars\/files\/2010\/12\/IMG00028-20101230-1644-e1293750235217-939x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>My kids could not resist poking fun by having me "caricatured" with a tie (poor likeness, by the way...)<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
While I feel compelled to address various \u201cweighty\u201d issues in science, after a long year (well really, they\u2019re all the same except for leap-years, but it feels like it)\u2014I think I will opt for the lighter side at this time. … Continue reading