Science Needs Rigor, But Also Joy

Watch Episode 166

When’s the last time you argued in the lab about injecting GTPγS?

Ben Clements has. And that moment, silly as it was, says a lot about how he sees science.

Lab Culture Isn’t Just About Productivity

Ben and his colleagues work hard in the lab. Four hundred plates of assays, concentration-response curves, and mutagenesis screens are standard. But every day also includes squirrel-themed trivia and impromptu debates about obscure molecules. Why?

Because joy matters.

“Science is fun. And we need that to do our best work.” – Ben Clements

Mentorship Is the Engine of Science

Ben chose his current postdoc lab for its people, not just the science. He was drawn to a team that balances rigor with levity, values mentoring, and encourages young scientists to speak up.

When undergraduate students enter the lab, Ben doesn’t just teach them how to pipette, he teaches why they’re pipetting. And in doing so, he reminds himself to question assumptions, explain concepts clearly, and revisit the fundamentals.

“Explaining pharmacology to a new student makes you relearn the basics. It sharpens everything.”

What Makes a Great Scientific Home?

• Leadership that supports academic career paths

• A team that communicates under pressure

• Space for curiosity, humor, and human connection

For anyone searching for the "right" postdoc or PhD lab, this episode is a playbook for what to look for and what to build.

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Keyword Cloud: GPCR scientist network, GPCR training program, mentorship in science, GTPγS assay, lab culture