On Mentorship, Lab Environments, and Job Applicant Disclosure: An Interview with Chemistry Professor Jen Heemstra

Q: What should someone look for in a mentor or advisor in a STEM field? Are there particular areas where compatibility is especially important?

Compatibility of research interests is critically important. Beyond that, I think the most important thing to look for is someone who cares about you and your future career. Great mentors want to see you succeed, are committed to helping you throughout your career, and want to see you live out your own career aspirations, not just replicate theirs.

It is also important to make sure that their expectations match what you want from your experience. For example, if you want the freedom to explore your own ideas, don’t choose a mentor who will want to micromanage you and your project. When seeking out information about expectations, ask both the advisor and current or former members of their lab. The lab members will often give you a more accurate picture of what it is like to work in that lab.

Q: As we are in an era where news of the mistreatment and harassment of graduate students in STEM fields makes the news (such as Inside Higher Ed or The Chronicle of Higher Education) on an almost daily basis, what are some things that autistic students, female and male, who are particularly vulnerable to such harassment, can do to protect themselves?

In STEM fields, a student’s experience is largely determined by their research advisor, so choosing a mentor who is supportive and respects the uniqueness of each individual is a key step to having a positive experience. Students can also seek out departments and universities that are mindful of inclusiveness and have systems in place to address harassment. As an example, many universities or programs have a designated ombudsperson who students can go to for help if they are in a dispute with their advisor or are being mistreated.

Q: What is a typical STEM lab environment like in terms of social interaction? Do colleagues become friends? Are they expected to engage with each other outside of work? Conversely, is it a more competitive environment, where you are expected to do what is necessary to make sure you, as an individual, succeed?

Laboratory environments vary widely, and this is another important factor to consider when choosing a program and research lab. In some labs, group members are highly focused on their own projects and interact minimally with their colleagues. Other groups are highly collaborative and group members talk with each other multiple times a day. Graduate school is stressful, so it is common for students to form friendships either with their lab-mates or with colleagues from another lab, as this support network can be helpful for persisting through the difficult times. This often leads to social interactions outside of work, but these interactions are not viewed as expected or required. It’s also important to note that there is a wide variety of formats for social interactions – while parties are common, it’s also common to go to the gym together for a more individual activity such as swimming laps. Thus, there are ways to connect with others that fit with a variety of social styles and preferences.
Graduate school can be viewed as competitive, as securing a job afterward is largely dependent on what you accomplish and are able to put on your CV or resume. However, I would argue that collaborating and helping others often makes everyone more successful, and thus competitiveness and collegiality are not mutually exclusive. In competing for jobs, you will be competing against everyone in the world, and so working together with your lab-mates or other students in your program can be greatly to your overall benefit.

Q: When on the job search in a STEM field, do you think it is to an autistic job seeker’s benefit to disclose their status or not? How can they tell?

This is a very tough question with no straightforward answer. On one hand, disclosing too early could create bias that eliminates you from the competition. On the other hand, disclosing provides context that can help you have a more successful interaction with a future employer. The difference here is the attitude of the employer – whether they are looking to cut people who don’t “fit in” or if they are looking to create a diverse team that respects each individual and provides everyone with the environment they need to be successful. In the end, you really want to be in the latter type of group, and thus being cut from consideration because of your status could actually be saving you from a toxic situation. However, you also have to contend with the reality that this ideal environment may not be an immediate option, and you need to be savvy about securing the opportunities that you need to advance your career.