Deciphering genetic data has required skills from many other scientific disciplines, but it doesn’t hurt to have a little management know-how, too.

With its robots continually in motion, James Metherall’s lab resembles a small factory. Its ability to run large experiments quickly has attracted a number of collaborative projects to his lab. Coordinating these joint ventures and maintaining all the machinery is a challenge to a researcher accustomed to concentrating on scientific experiments.

“In science, you’re rewarded on what you can do on the bench [the workbench where experiments are usually conducted],” Metherall said, but after the expansion of his lab, he had to learn how to effectively manage a staff of 10 that included technicians, an engineer and a programmer.

Metherall’s colleagues suggested that he “go learn from people who know how to do it.” At first, Metherall thought they meant learning from other professors, but he later began taking MBA courses on lower-campus. Metherall had to matriculate to enroll in more advanced classes, and eventually, he finished the entire program in three years.

“Having an MBA gives you implied authority in meetings [with campus administrators],” Metherall said, but it also has attracted other comments. One colleague suggested pulling funding from Metherall’s lab because “it appears Dr. Metherall won’t be in academics much longer” because he can attract a larger salary in the private sector with his MBA. “I’ve gotten different reactions from everybody.”