Horrible bosses can cause misery in any kind of business, but in science, they wield uniquely destructive power. In a recent survey compiled by the journal Nature, a number of young scientists reported that they felt pressured to find "particular results" that would presumably please their bosses, as opposed to the truth. That's a problem for society at large, since it degrades the integrity of research that we're supporting.
Earlier this month, a number of experts weighed in for a special section of the journal devoted to the interconnected problems of bad laboratory leadership and compromised research integrity. One reason some experts see more integrity trouble now is that there's a growing power chasm in science. So many young people train to be scientists that only a small fraction of those earning Ph.D.s will be able to get the most coveted jobs — tenure-track academic positions. And those who do may still have to spend years in low-paying, insecure post-doctoral fellowships. It's a source of cheap labor, but with a hidden cost.
In an ideal situation, people should be able to pick their bosses and colleagues based on character, said C.K. Gunsalus, who heads the National Center for Professional and Research Ethics at the University of Illinois. It's tricky to pick your bosses in fields where there's a prevailing sense that you're lucky to have a job at all.