From Student to Mentor: What Alessandro Nicoli Learned About Leading in Science
- Dr. GPCR Podcast
- Aug 14
- 2 min read
Mentoring in science is more than supervising—it’s about shaping the next generation.
In this podcast episode , Alessandro Nicoli shares how becoming the first PhD student in a new lab shaped his view of leadership, teamwork, and scientific growth.
Starting From Zero: Growing With a Mentor
When Alessandro joined Prof. Antonella Di Pizio’s lab, there was almost nothing—no team, no culture, not even proper desks. But that experience gave him a unique sense of ownership. As the lab grew, so did his responsibilities: from building computational models of GPCRs to guiding interns, master’s students, and even giving lectures.
“I remember my first day—we were even sharing the desk. Over the years you see the lab establishing, and for both of us, of course, growing.” —Alessandro Nicoli
Delegating Is a Process
Learning to delegate was not easy. Alessandro admits he struggled at first with handing over parts of his projects, fearing mistakes.
“It’s a process that is still going on. At the start it was difficult, because you see all these projects and you think, ah, I don’t know… but then with time, of course, it’s a lot of investment.” —Alessandro Nicoli
He discovered that investing time in people pays off. Mistakes are part of learning—and guiding students through them is more valuable than doing everything alone.
Leadership as Shared Growth
For Alessandro, mentorship is not about control but about growing together. Students bring fresh perspectives, and in teaching them, he also sharpens his own skills.
“You can guide them to learn the technique and go over it. But at the same time, you pass the same struggle before… you shape the new generation too.” —Alessandro Nicoli
This two-way growth has turned mentoring into one of his favorite parts of PhD life.
Ready to mentor—or to be mentored? Join the GPCR scientist network and connect with peers shaping the next wave of discovery.
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Keyword Cloud: #Mentoring #ScienceLeadership #PhDmentorship #GPCR
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