Asking Better Questions in Science: A Practical Guide for Emerging Researchers

Dr. GPCR Podcast
20 hours ago
3 min read

Every scientist has stood in a crowded conference room rehearsing a question they’re too nervous to ask.

The expert they admire is right there, but the fear of sounding unprepared wins. Yet one well-timed question can unlock clarity, accelerate a stalled project, or even spark a collaboration.

In this episode, JB pulls the curtain back on the mindset and tactics he’s used for years—including the exact line that makes intimidating conversations surprisingly easy. It’s a masterclass in asking better questions in science, not as a skill you’re born with, but one you can intentionally build.

Curiosity as the Engine Behind Asking Better Questions in Science

JB’s story makes one thing clear: asking better questions in science starts long before the conference hallway.

It starts by noticing what grabs your attention, what sparks those quiet “aha” moments during a lecture or when reading a paper, and what you can’t stop thinking about afterward.

Throughout his training, he treated curiosity not as a trait but as a deliberate method. When an idea clicked, he paused, dissected it, and followed the thread. That discipline—paying attention to the internal spark—became the foundation of his scientific communication style and the steady confidence he brings into every discussion.

Following curiosity is the first step toward asking better questions in science.

When curiosity becomes intentional, questions become easier, sharper, and more useful.

The One-Line Icebreaker That Makes Asking Better Questions in Science Easy

At conferences, most early-career scientists freeze. JB short-circuits that anxiety with a single line he’s used for years:

“Hi, I’m JB. I’m running into a problem and I know you work on something similar — can I pick your brain for one minute?”

This opener works because it’s honest, specific, and respectful. You’re stating your purpose without hedging, signaling awareness of the other person’s expertise, and framing the conversation as short and attainable.

And once the ice breaks?

One minute becomes ten. Ten becomes an idea, a solution, or a collaborator.

This is the practical side of asking better questions in science: not the wording, but the willingness to start.

That first sentence is often the only barrier between you and the insight you need.

Overcoming the Fear That Blocks Asking Better Questions in Science

The biggest obstacle isn’t lack of knowledge—it’s fear. Fear of sounding inexperienced. Fear of asking something “basic”. Fear of wasting someone’s time.

JB dismantles that fear with a refreshing truth: not knowing something isn’t a flaw—it’s common ground.

Entire rooms full of scientists wonder the same things you do. Asking better questions in science requires accepting that uncertainty is part of the process, not a personal failing.

When you articulate a question out loud, the assumptions become visible. The problem sharpens. The path forward emerges. Silence, by contrast, protects your ego but slows your research.

As JB puts it, the cost of not asking is much higher than the cost of momentary discomfort.

Why Asking Better Questions in Science Improves the Work Itself

For JB, questions fuel the way he designs chemical probes, collaborates with biologists, and navigates technical barriers. His tools exist because he constantly asks:

What limitation is chemistry solving here?

What limitation is biology solving?

What are we missing because we aren’t looking at the system correctly?

This cross-functional back-and-forth is exactly how breakthroughs happen. In his collaboration with David Hodson, every major leap—from early ligand design to GPCR visualization tools—started with someone asking a question neither side could answer alone.

Asking better questions in science isn’t a soft skill.

It’s an R&D accelerant. It shortens feedback loops. It reveals flaws early. It stops wasted experiments. And it transforms collaborators into co-problem-solvers.

Better questions lead to better data, faster decisions, and fewer wrong turns.

Building a Scientific Career Through Asking Better Questions in Science

Late in the conversation, JB offers advice that should be printed on the badge of every first-time conference attendee:

Be curious. Ask questions. Engage with people regardless of their seniority.

This mindset shapes careers far more than publications alone. Throughout his own journey—from organic chemistry to chemical biology to GPCR imaging—every pivotal step was rooted in conversations he initiated by asking better questions in science.

Your next collaboration, job, or insight might already be within reach. It may just require walking across the room and asking one thoughtful question.