Working With Animals: Why It Is Important and How to Mentor New Students
Working with animals is a privilege. When we pursue research that requires an animal model, we accept the responsibility it incurs: to give meaning to the animals’ contribution. Given how serious the topic of working with animals is and the challenges of mentoring someone new to the trade, I was surprised never to see it discussed within the realm of academic Twitter. However, I realize that this topic is sensitive, and any attempt to broach it requires a delicate and thoughtful approach. In this post, I will briefly discuss why animal models are used in research, focusing on rodents*, and I will share my do’s and don’ts for mentoring students that are new to animal research.
Nobody likes that we need to use animals for experiments. I first started to pursue a career in biology because I love animals and the life sciences. When I began my Ph.D. work using rodents as a model system, my love for animals caused me a lot of anguish. What helped me overcome this distress was having an understanding of why animals are used for research. Scientist use rodents in research because:
· Their biology and their anatomy resemble our own in many ways. The similarity is true at both the macro and micro levels. Rodents contain the same organ systems as we do, and their biochemical make-up is comparable to our own.
· In addition to being biologically similar to us, they can be genetically modified, giving us a level of insight not easily or ethically achieved with primates
· They play an essential role in testing the safety of reagents, like vaccines! Research in non-human primates was pivotal in developing an Ebola vaccine safe for human use.
These facts bring me peace of mind and elevate the importance of our work as scientists. It may also be helpful to know that it is illegal to use animals if a suitable alternative exists. For example, in Neuroscience, we gain a lot of insight from modeling studies based on data already acquired from animals, extending their contribution to our quest for understanding.
Now, I don’t believe that anyone is under the impression that working with animals is NOT important. But the work itself can carry complicated feelings arising from many distinct factors such as an individual’s temperament, religious beliefs, and culture. As Jr scientists, we get zero training on how to mentor people new to working with animals, and unfortunately, some people are insensitive when it comes to this specific aspect of training. So, here are my Dos and Don’ts:
Dos:
· Talk mentees through procedures or protocols that involve animals so they know what to expect.
· Ask them how they feel about working with animals before starting any experiments.
· If they have concerns, share your journey with them and why animal research is important.
· Acknowledge that it is a privilege that we get to do this work and animals must be treated with the highest respect
· Let them try small scale procedures and practice animal handling with supervision
Don’t:
· Don’t mock a mentee for feeling uncomfortable at first.
· Don’t make callous remarks like “you’ll get used to it.”
· Don’t belittle working with animals.
· Don’t joke about being “numb to it” or project any variation of the desensitized attitude.
I hope this guide provides insight into the importance of working with animals in science and equips mentors with helpful tips for mentoring new students.
*Work with invertebrates is also incredibly important to the life sciences, but the laws and regulations that govern invertebrate research are different from those involving mammals.
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