“The Lab Turns 1” Potluck

Last weekend, Andreas and I had the pleasure of inviting current and former lab members for a small potluck and birthday party to celebrate our lab’s first anniversary. It was a wonderful occasion filled with great food, happy times, and a sense of camaraderie that made the time fly by.

I absolutely love hosting events like this. They provide a fantastic opportunity for our team members to come together and simply enjoy each other’s company. These gatherings play a crucial role in fostering happy and healthy group dynamics, which in turn helps create a positive lab environment.

It feels surreal that the lab is already one year old. The time has flown by, and while I’m thrilled with the journey, it hasn’t been without its challenges. Some parts were much harder than I had ever anticipated, while others were very manageable – but nothing was easy. I’m proud of the many things that have worked out as planned. We successfully built up the lab, welcomed our first students in March, and got our main methods up and running. However, some tasks were definitely harder and slower than I expected. Starting a group comes with a myriad of tasks, making it difficult to balance my time effectively. Securing funding to get the lab running was a significant achievement, but not all grant applications were successful. The lab is functioning well, but we still face challenges.

Reflecting on my own expectations and immediate goals often makes me nervous, especially when considering to-do lists and things I could or should have done differently. Relaxing after a day of doing my best, yet not completing everything I planned, is challenging. I tend to focus on the negatives, which is something I’m actively working on.

As a group leader, I strive to be a role model and demonstrate how science can thrive with kindness in academia. Despite setbacks and hurdles, academic kindness remains a central aim for me. On this Sunday, I was simply happy to see our team members working together, performing well, and I am excited to continue our scientific journey with them. I also look forward to welcoming new members who bring fresh perspectives.