u/DeliciousEmphasis818

I’m currently finishing my Bachelor’s thesis and starting to question my dream of working in academia. My last two experiences in academia have been complete trainwrecks:

• Job #1 (Science Network Firm): My manager was a former academic who rose through the ranks solely based on publications, not leadership skills. She was nice, but managed to overwork half the team into months-long burnout while underworking the rest. I eventually quit.
• Job #2 (Current Thesis Lab): My direct supervisor is virtually non-existent, ignores messages, and gives incorrect instructions that have repeatedly ruined my experiments. When questioned by the head PI (my main supervisor), she threw me under the bus, claiming I work too slowly and need constant hand-holding. Meanwhile, my lab mates tell me I work with the focus of a PhD student.

My main drive is doing impactful research, and I’m genuinely stress-resilient when working toward a clear goal. But right now, it feels like everyone in academia is solely focused on individual gain rather than the science itself.

Is this toxic leadership dynamic built into the structure of academia, or have I just hit a streak of terrible luck?