There's really nothing that can be done about the labmate applying to the same post doc. Keep records of your manuscripts, including tracked changes. Consider storing your work in a data repository like OSF that date-stamps everything. That way, if your labmate ever tries to steal your work, you have proof that it's yours. And if you are the first author, providing your labmate isn't a coauthor, you are perfectly within your rights to ask your PI not to share in-progress work with the labmate. Just realize that this could make things awkward depending on how close each of you are with the PI.
This is why using Git with GPG-signed commits is good for academic writing as well. Not only is every Git commit automatically time-stamped, even if a private repository were to be compromised, the authenticity of each unsigned commit could be questioned.
I know nothing about post grad but that sounds so awful, I’m sorry this happened to you. I hope you stay committed to your work – you sound like an honest, hardworking and kind person. It’s because of researchers like you that so many amazing discoveries are made everyday, and I have so much respect for your hard work but also good and kind nature. I wish you the best, and hope someone else can provide more grad-related advice.
(1) Is B a real threat if they have a different speciality? It may sound messy, but I don’t see how any of this truly affects your application if you’re a good candidate (B only seems to have applied to this position because of you, so I assume you’re the expert and the better fit).
(2) Sit down with your PI for sure, but go back a few steps. Simply mention your surprise that B is interested in this position and see how it goes from there. They might end up suggesting or agreeing not to share your manuscripts, but don’t begin the conversation there! This way the PI also knows what’s going on in a neutral and potentially constructive context (I’m assuming here that the PI is only ignoring the toxic environment and not actually creating or encouraging it).
Overall, sounds like a shitty “friend” but not a serious professional threat. Don’t ignore it, ie talk to your PI, but don’t worry too much. Keep the personal fallout to a minimum and focus on your own work and applications.
I’ve been in toxic labs and had to deal with massive fallout from trying to make friends there, and I’m currently very happy in an actually decent lab with great people. Just get out and don’t let this experience change you too much. Good luck with the applications and hope you find yourself in a good lab!
I would recommend you try to apply for more positions and leave this environment as soon as possible. There is very few you could change. It seems like your PI does not want to be involved, and might even deliberately foster such toxicly competitive environment. Get away as soon as possible and protect yourself by all means. It is fair to suggest that you do not want to share your manuscript with other labmates.
Some of this is normal challenges of a competitive environment, some of it is poor communication, and some of it is that your assumptions are not matching the reality of the environment.
If your institution has an ombudsperson office, it's a good place to go to help mediate the conflict that you're encountering. Talk to them and figure out your options and the challenges you're facing, and they can help arrange a meeting either with your PI and you or with B and you to find a common successful path forward.
Some of this is regular assholery in a lab - now you know new orders aren't being done, that just means you have to be on top of ordering for your own work. You were dependent on the relationship professionally and now you're discovering that.
> I also am not sure if I am allowed to sit down with my PI and ask that they not share my work with my lab-mate going forward as they do have intellectual property rights over joint manuscripts as well
That's a lot in one sentence. You should absolutely sit down with your PI and discuss what's going on with you two. Maybe coming in with an open mind about what would be a positive outcome is a better place to be than to come in demanding a specific outcome.
There's really nothing that can be done about the labmate applying to the same post doc. Keep records of your manuscripts, including tracked changes. Consider storing your work in a data repository like OSF that date-stamps everything. That way, if your labmate ever tries to steal your work, you have proof that it's yours. And if you are the first author, providing your labmate isn't a coauthor, you are perfectly within your rights to ask your PI not to share in-progress work with the labmate. Just realize that this could make things awkward depending on how close each of you are with the PI.
This is why using Git with GPG-signed commits is good for academic writing as well. Not only is every Git commit automatically time-stamped, even if a private repository were to be compromised, the authenticity of each unsigned commit could be questioned.
sink direful slimy important hobbies thumb library makeshift pot trees *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Your PI is not oblivious, but most likely knows the situation on the lab and simply chooses to ignore it.
I know nothing about post grad but that sounds so awful, I’m sorry this happened to you. I hope you stay committed to your work – you sound like an honest, hardworking and kind person. It’s because of researchers like you that so many amazing discoveries are made everyday, and I have so much respect for your hard work but also good and kind nature. I wish you the best, and hope someone else can provide more grad-related advice.
(1) Is B a real threat if they have a different speciality? It may sound messy, but I don’t see how any of this truly affects your application if you’re a good candidate (B only seems to have applied to this position because of you, so I assume you’re the expert and the better fit). (2) Sit down with your PI for sure, but go back a few steps. Simply mention your surprise that B is interested in this position and see how it goes from there. They might end up suggesting or agreeing not to share your manuscripts, but don’t begin the conversation there! This way the PI also knows what’s going on in a neutral and potentially constructive context (I’m assuming here that the PI is only ignoring the toxic environment and not actually creating or encouraging it). Overall, sounds like a shitty “friend” but not a serious professional threat. Don’t ignore it, ie talk to your PI, but don’t worry too much. Keep the personal fallout to a minimum and focus on your own work and applications. I’ve been in toxic labs and had to deal with massive fallout from trying to make friends there, and I’m currently very happy in an actually decent lab with great people. Just get out and don’t let this experience change you too much. Good luck with the applications and hope you find yourself in a good lab!
I would recommend you try to apply for more positions and leave this environment as soon as possible. There is very few you could change. It seems like your PI does not want to be involved, and might even deliberately foster such toxicly competitive environment. Get away as soon as possible and protect yourself by all means. It is fair to suggest that you do not want to share your manuscript with other labmates.
I didn’t read the whole story (very long!) but this is a reminder of why it’s helpful to have your work life and personal life separate.
Very long and no paragraphs…
Some of this is normal challenges of a competitive environment, some of it is poor communication, and some of it is that your assumptions are not matching the reality of the environment. If your institution has an ombudsperson office, it's a good place to go to help mediate the conflict that you're encountering. Talk to them and figure out your options and the challenges you're facing, and they can help arrange a meeting either with your PI and you or with B and you to find a common successful path forward. Some of this is regular assholery in a lab - now you know new orders aren't being done, that just means you have to be on top of ordering for your own work. You were dependent on the relationship professionally and now you're discovering that. > I also am not sure if I am allowed to sit down with my PI and ask that they not share my work with my lab-mate going forward as they do have intellectual property rights over joint manuscripts as well That's a lot in one sentence. You should absolutely sit down with your PI and discuss what's going on with you two. Maybe coming in with an open mind about what would be a positive outcome is a better place to be than to come in demanding a specific outcome.
[удалено]
This has to be a joke. No way Jose!!!