Habit, Not Hack: Asking Questions (PI Edition)
The best questions don’t show off what you know. They reveal what you’re still eager to learn.
Let’s be honest: we’ve all whispered a question to a colleague after a talk and then said nothing during the actual Q&A.
But if you’re a PI or mentor, staying silent sends a message:
That questions are risky. That curiosity is private. That uncertainty is something we keep to ourselves.
In reality, the best science thrives on the exact opposite.
If you want your trainees to ask better questions, you don’t need to lecture them.
You need to model the habit.
Why It Matters
Many students don’t know how to ask questions because:
They think it has to be brilliant
They fear judgment
They’ve only ever seen professors ask questions to challenge, not to learn
If you ask thoughtful, grounded, or even clarifying questions in public settings, it normalizes what science is supposed to be: a dialogue, not a performance.
The Habit: Asking Well
1. Ask in Every Seminar (Yes, Even the Ones Outside Your Field)
Show students that curiosity doesn’t require mastery
Ask “outsider” questions with confidence:
“I’m not in your field, but I’m curious—could this mechanism apply to X?”Show that asking to understand isn’t a weakness, it’s engagement
2. Narrate Your Curiosity
In lab meetings or journal clubs, say things like:
“Here’s what I don’t quite get yet…”
“I’d love to know what their rationale was here…”
“Let’s come up with a few questions we’d ask the author if they were here.”
This helps students see how questions evolve from observation—not just critique.
Mentorship in Action: Teaching Them to Ask for What They Need
Beyond seminars, students also struggle with asking for:
Feedback
Resources (e.g., protocols, reagents)
Clarification in meetings
Support when they’re overwhelmed
As a PI, you can help by:
Making asking normal
“Don’t wait until things break - ask early and often.”
Demystifying professional requests
Show them how to write polite, direct requests to collaborators:
“Hi Dr. X, I found your paper on ___ really insightful. Would you be willing to share your protocol for ___?”
Being honest about your own asks
Share stories of when you asked for a reagent, advice, or help from someone you admired and how it worked out (or didn’t).
PI Habit Reflection:
After your next seminar or lab meeting, ask yourself:
Did I ask a question out loud and respectfully?
Did I model curiosity over competition?
Did I create space for my students to do the same?
Be the scientist who doesn’t just know the answers -
Be the one who keeps asking the right questions out loud.
That’s not a hack. That’s a habit.
