I don't know who needs to hear this but a PI's success is not measured by the number of trainees that go on to pursue academic careers. A trainee's success is not measured by their ability to obtain a TT position. Please stop perpetuating this mindset.

As #NewPIs, when we hear things like this, we may hear that- by some arbitrary metric- we are only successful if we hire and train students/PDs who have an interest in and then go on to pursue a career in academia- which is highly impractical and likely not what's best for *them*

Not to mention, it trickles down and drives trainees to think they must convince us as PIs that they *want* to pursue this as a career track, even if it's not what they are truly interested in, bc otherwise how will they get accepted to and complete a PhD or PD in our labs?

And let's face it, if you're a trainee hearing that your PI's success depends on *your* ability to get a faculty position, but you don't really want to go into academia, you might think you're disappointing them. I'm here to tell you this is not. even. close. to the truth.

My success as a PI is measured in what I do in my job. Some labs don't even train PhD/PDs. Are these PIs "unsuccessful"? For those with trainees, we can foster their training and wellbeing, and help them realize their own interests and skills.

And their success is theirs, not mine. Their success is whatever they define it to be, and it's not for me to impose my belief structure/aspirations on them. I can help them get where they want to go, but they are not me. Success is measured in different ways to different people.

Academia may not be where they want to be, where they feel comfortable or energized. Academia is not a monolith of wonder and meritocracy, either; it's steeped with white supremacy, sexism, discrimination, often relying on code switching. Don't even get me started on "fit."

I my job as a PI and I that I can be a part of someone's path to success, wherever that might lead. Do I think my trainees would enjoy doing my job? Maybe. Do I think they'd be good at it? Absolutely! But they will be great at other jobs, too, if that's what they want to do

My job is to help those in my lab build skills, strengthen their foundation as scientists, to be their champion + coach, and help them find and pursue their own path, wherever that may lead them.

In the words of Toni Morrison:
Whatever the work is, do it well.
You make the job, it doesn't make you.
Your real life is with your family.
You are not the work you do, you are the person you are. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/06/05/the-work-you-do-the-person-you-are