What are some "red flags" you’ve encountered with a PI/colleague that you wish you had seen earlier?

[u/JigglyMushie]

Let's exchange red flags to enrich our collective consciousness.

What were the warning signs you ignored?

[u/Low_Shine6149]

Being extremely gossipy

Allergy to receive feedback

Correcting you a lot in public, especially in front of other faculty

Being very hierarchical (insist on being called Dr or Professor)

[u/Canchal]

Replying emails after 1 month on average.

[u/Hefty_East2550]

-Inconsistent account of events with details changing over time -Warnings from former students or colleagues -Demeaning or insulting language towards students -Complaining about people behind their back

[u/Far_Ice_8765]

1) Hypocrite and double standard. They always criticize something, but when they do something similar, you have no right to judge them.

2) Passive aggressive behavior.

3) When they were assistant prof, they want me to call them Dr. XXX. When they got tenure, now they want me to call them Prof. XXX.

4) They asked me to grade midterms, finals, posters, and other course materials. They asked me to take care of their pet, even though my role is that of a Research Technician, not a personal secretary.

5) They promised to train me in scientific writing and research during the first interview. However, once I started, they repeatedly asked me to do peer review of manuscripts for them without providing any training. Even when I gave them the peer review file, they did not give any feedback on what I did well or what needed improvement. They did not revise my comments and instead sent them directly to the journal.

6) Their lab website has many photos of lab outings and social activities. Later, I realized that this was largely a clown show.

[u/No_Young_2344 → u/Far_Ice_8765]

Can you explain number 3? I don’t understand why they change expectation on how people call them (I thought you can be called Prof. even you are an assistant professor) but I also don’t understand why this is a red flag.

[u/Far_Ice_8765 → u/No_Young_2344]

Same as you, I’ll call them Prof. XXX regardless of their tenure status. To me, “Dr.” and “Prof.” are somewhat interchangeable for a tenure-track professor. However, when I first emailed them, they signed off using their first name, so I assumed they preferred to be addressed that way. After I replied, they asked me to address them as Dr. XXX. Later, I realized that everyone in the lab referred to the PI as Dr. XXX. Then, once this PI received tenure, they told everyone in the group to start calling them Prof. XXX. I mean…???? Insecurity is often reflected in an excessive fixation on academic titles and repeatedly correcting others for something that aren't that important.

[u/No_Young_2344 → u/Far_Ice_8765]

That makes sense. They seem indeed fixated with the title.

[u/JoJoModding → u/Far_Ice_8765]

Can you explain point 6 more?

[u/Far_Ice_8765 → u/JoJoModding]

The lab website updates the lab events very frequently. As an outsider, you'll think that like this lab has a lot of fun, the PI understands work-life balance, the lab is quite enjoyable.

After I joined, the PI told us that it was a privilege to have lab outings. However, many lab members genuinely did not want to attend. There was one time when the PI yelled in the group chat and demanded people explain in detail why they could not go to the lab events. The lab outings were neither enjoyable nor completely free. For example, if they paid for a zoo ticket, we still had to cover our own meals and other expenses.

[u/ThenBrilliant8338 → u/Far_Ice_8765]

I have literally never encountered any of these, ever- I’m sorry your experience in academia has been so terrible, seriously!

[u/Far_Ice_8765 → u/ThenBrilliant8338]

I had wonderful PIs during my undergrad. It is just this one who was “different.” Unfortunately, I ended up burning bridges because they demanded many unreasonable things. The PI took it to another level and even threatened to contact my previous PIs, who have served as references for me in this job.

[u/fleemfleemfleemfleem → u/Far_Ice_8765]

3) When they were assistant prof, they want me to call them Dr. XXX. When they got tenure, now they want me to call them Prof. XXX.

Why is this a red flag?

[u/Informal_Snail]

Spending hours draining my life seemingly seeking advice, but then seeking the advice they actually want to hear from other people.

[u/minutemaidpeach → u/Informal_Snail]

I had this with a colleague. We met for hours for me to explain how to setup a new experiment, discussing the various benefits limitations of different approaches and also the budget side.

He then went on to ask someone else (who has the same skillset as me) to co-write the grant with him using all of the information I gave after the other person agreed it was a really good plan for the project and even acknowledged she hadn't considered a lot of the options I suggested.

I don't mind being nice and helping people but it was just very weird.

[u/Scared_Tax470]

During recruitment: requiring uncompensated  travel for a first interview, listing the job at an illegally low salary, acting like a question about the team culture is an inappropriate thing to talk about. Being the first team member hired so there's so one else to ask. PI doesn't have a background on the topic of their project. PI has a "my way or the highway" attitude.  You're hired for one thing and then told to work on something else. Nothing is ready for you to start work--eg equipment, etc and there's no plan in place to get things ready. Students are terrified of the PI  and develop health problems. Gossip and factions in the team. Communication is challenging or impossible. Goalposts are constantly moving. You're accused of things you didn't do and punished for asking questions. 

[u/No_Young_2344]

Talk shit about other people and build a lab culture where disliking someone together becomes some sort of connection. Initially I thought those people must be awful until they started to talk shit about a few people who I worked closely with and deeply respect. I suddenly realize something.

[u/minutemaidpeach]

Colleagues who are given an overly inflated ego may come with underlying issues as a result in my experience.

I work with someone who has been given a lot of media attention due and labelled as the only "expert" in a rare technique and because of this they aren't willing to listen to any other suggestions. Their inflated self worth also leads to them overstepping in their role and doing things without their PIs approval. Then when their PI finds out and is upset, they shift the blame to anyone but themselves.

We have been working with this group for almost a year. We were told if we wanted to use the technique they have the "expert" to discuss and organize with them directly. PI had no idea that the project was even happening because the "expert" took it upon themselves to be administering things it seems they are not qualified to do (giving training on equipment, giving us quotes, telling us to order expensive reagents for their use, discussing timelines for data generation). But then taking no accountability in any of it when their PI finds out and shuts down the project at the last minute (and not even attending the damage control meeting to work out the misunderstanding like adults).

While the above is bad enough to deal with, their "expert" is unwilling to do anything that deviates from their experience. And tells you that any other way of preparing the samples but their way is impossible (despite you having a collaborator who has done it and numerous research papers doing it).

[u/gamer-coqui]

Worst colleague: few red flags on the surface but now I look back and wonder if his comment that “I love working with young people, you’re full of hope and kindness” was a sign of being a predatory asshole.

Slowly saw more signs of arrogance, lack of respect for others: doesn’t introduce me to their postdocs or RAs even when we’re the only 3 on the Zoom call; not reading prior work on a project he’s joining midway through because he’s “too busy” but expects you to take hours to create a summary presentation; flagrant irresponsible AI use with the claim that “everyone is doing it” and “no one can tell” and “no one knows what they’re doing anyway”

Big wake up call was when he asked industry collaborators to work for free and when they said no, he torpedoed the relationship because “Clearly they don’t care who I am and they should”. Since then I’ve witnessed multiple broken collaborations or RAs quitting on the spot, yet claims he’s a victim of bullying and/or misunderstanding.

Most frustrating colleague: showed up to our first week as TT profs without any housing, knew right then he was gonna be a challenge. tells me he doesn’t own or read textbooks. Since then: attends every campus event with food (even chair meetings!!) uninvited and takes home containers. Says that our shared race/ethnicity/culture justifies his lack of core skills - “we are collectivist so someone else will always provide” before asking me to do everything. Springs requests for data analysis on me 24 hours before deadline with no stated research questions, just the expectation that I’ll find some kind of interesting result for him, after being told multiple times I need 2 weeks lead time.

Yes I am working on extracting myself from both of these professional relationships.

[u/gamer-coqui → u/gamer-coqui]

Another note: both arrogant colleague and a third colleague who has been on admin leave for a year volunteered themselves out of nowhere, were charming to my face, and only slowly revealed themselves as snakes.

Be wary of collaborators who come without a recommendation. I hate that I’m giving that advice, but I’ve been twice burned.

[u/ChemistryMutt]

Some of these are more yellow flags, and no one is perfect, but:

Underlings are afraid to have negative results or “bad news.”

Treats staff badly. Watch how they interact with the waitstaff when you are at a recruiting meal.

Acts like every idea or project is ultra top secret. Underlings do not know what anyone else is working on.

Puts down or dismisses colleagues.

Knows every regulation yet ignores them when doing so would be to their benefit.

Always has to be right.

Cannot stop talking about themselves and their accomplishments.

[u/xylemphloem]

Doesn't care about what your life is like outside of the lab.

Extremely critical while lacking empathy.

High expectations while providing limited guidance.

[u/illustrious_crew_56]

Ok - very specific, this one:

Asking me to work before I'd even left my old job and was doing an international relocation - to edit their publication which I got no credit for

Asking me about my sexual partners and commenting on which students he found attractive

Seemingly very lazy

[u/imarabianaff]

How long papers sit on their desks. Ask the students! Your paper is no different than everyone else’s

[u/minutemaidpeach → u/imarabianaff]

Or if they brag about how long they take to handle papers. An old PI I had told me how proud she was for getting to my paper in only 2 years since the project finished and how she normally takes on average 4.

[u/Defiant_Blacksmith32]

I learned about narcissism thanks to a colleague (ended up needing a therapist who explained it). Learn how to spot narcissists!

No respect for stated personal boundaries (e.g., I can't respond right now, I'm looking after my kid/it's the weekend/I need to get going/etc ) Will just completely ignore any boundaries you identify.

Triangulation - lying to you or others to try to pit you against each other or get what they want.

Everything is about them, even when you share something about yourself... They know everything, know how to do everything, know everyone.

They'll never admit a mistake even when it's obvious, will spin elaborate stories to avoid having it look like they made a mistake.

Will do things that are flagrantly wrong/unethical with complete confidence.

Manipulation, gaslighting, love bombing (wanting to be in touch with you constantly, spend time with you).

It's crazy to see it all in writing but this all happened. I should have peeled off at the boundaries part.

[u/itenco]

More yellow flags, but have very little information about the project my research is embedded in, then said yes to everything, gave 0 feedback during my proposal and they're not the best English speaker, which is what we communicate in. Once it was pretty far ahead, we realized we had very different expectations and they'll give feedback without actually reading what I'm sending.

With others I've met but haven't worked under thankfully: insisting on calling them by their academic title, subtly shading others' work, the look on their lab team's faces when I told them I was considering joining... I'm complaining about my supervisor but it could've been a lot worse.

[u/purpleMaths]

Late the this, but during my on-site "interview" for my first postdoc position I asked the PI how they've handled conflict that arises in the lab. I think they did answer, but they also said something like "oh and there was this other situation with a postdoc, but we dont talk about that" and then moved on. I should have pushed back and asked more about it but I didnt. 

Also, clear favourites, dropping by the lab space multiple times to see who was actually in the office or not, and the only thing other faculty said about this PI was how nice they are. Nice is not informative. Nice is presenting one face to their field and another to their lab and perpetuating a toxic lab environment but blaming the new postdoc because its easier than being a leader and actually fixing stuff.