Leadership in laboratory environments often develops through responsibility rather than title. Individuals who take ownership of safety, organization, and team support help create the conditions that allow scientific work to progress reliably and responsibly. At its highest level, laboratory leadership reflects stewardship—an ongoing commitment to people, processes, and systems that sustain both research quality and workplace well-being.
The Lab Manager Leadership Excellence Awards, presented annually, recognize professionals who demonstrate strong leadership and meaningful impact across laboratory environments. As the program’s highest honor, the Overall Lab Manager Excellence Award recognizes a winner who exemplifies the traits, knowledge, and skills needed to successfully run a laboratory.
Eugene Oga, research scientist at Singularity Energy Technologies and PhD candidate at the University of North Dakota, is this year’s recipient of the Overall Lab Manager Excellence Award. His leadership reflects a systems-oriented approach grounded in accountability, collaboration, and a commitment to safe and reliable laboratory practices that support both scientific progress and professional development.
Michelle Gaulin, associate editor at Lab Manager, spoke with Oga about his leadership philosophy, integrating safety and operational priorities, and the practices that have shaped his approach to laboratory stewardship.
Q: What does receiving a 2026 Lab Manager Leadership Excellence Award mean to you at this point in your career?
A: As a PhD candidate, receiving the 2026 Lab Manager Leadership Excellence Award for Overall Lab Manager Excellence is a deeply humbling honor. I am still in the early stages of my career, and I view myself primarily as a learner who has benefited greatly from the mentorship, trust, and support of those around me. This recognition means a great deal to me because it reflects the collective environment and support system that has shaped my development, rather than individual effort alone.
Throughout my graduate training, I have tried to approach laboratory management with a sense of responsibility and care, recognizing that safe and well-organized laboratories are essential for both scientific progress and the well-being of everyone who works in them. I have focused on maintaining clear documentation, supporting safe work practices, and contributing wherever possible to help ensure that our laboratory operates reliably and collaboratively.
This award encourages me to continue growing, learning from experienced laboratory leaders, and contributing positively wherever I have the opportunity to serve. It reminds me that leadership is not about recognition, but about stewardship, accountability, and supporting others in their work. I am sincerely grateful for the mentorship and opportunities that have allowed me to develop in this direction, and I remain committed to continuing that growth.
Q: Your leadership spans people management, operations, safety, sustainability, and community engagement. How do you integrate these priorities into a cohesive leadership approach?
A: I try to integrate these priorities by recognizing that they all stem from the same foundation: responsibility for both the people and the environment in which scientific work takes place. My approach begins with creating a laboratory culture where safety, organization, and mutual respect are part of everyday practice rather than separate initiatives. When these principles are consistently reinforced, they naturally support effective operations, sustainability, and positive collaboration.
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In practical terms, I focus on establishing clear systems that promote consistency and shared accountability. This includes maintaining organized documentation, ensuring that safety considerations are incorporated into routine workflows, and supporting operational practices that allow research to proceed efficiently and reliably. These structures help create stability within the laboratory and make it easier for everyone to contribute confidently and responsibly.
I also view sustainability and community engagement as natural extensions of responsible laboratory stewardship. Supporting colleagues, sharing knowledge, and contributing to a collaborative environment strengthen the laboratory as a whole, while maintaining efficient workflows and being mindful of resource use contribute to sustainability in a meaningful way.
Overall, I try to approach leadership as a form of stewardship, being attentive to the needs of people, maintaining systems that support safe and reliable work, and contributing to an environment where scientific progress can occur responsibly. I continue to learn from mentors and colleagues and remain committed to improving in these areas over time.
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Q: You have held leadership roles within scientific organizations alongside your research work. How have those experiences shaped the way you lead in laboratory settings?
A: Holding leadership roles within scientific organizations alongside my research has helped me better understand the importance of service, accountability, and communication in supporting a shared mission. These experiences have shown me that leadership is not defined by position, but by the willingness to take responsibility, listen carefully, and contribute to the success and well-being of others. They have also deepened my appreciation for collaboration and the importance of creating environments where individuals feel respected and supported.
Through my involvement in organizations such as the American Chemical Society and student-led scientific groups, I have learned the value of clear communication, thoughtful organization, and consistency in maintaining trust and continuity. Whether coordinating activities, supporting peers, or contributing to organizational initiatives, I have seen how structure and reliability help create stability and allow teams to function effectively. I have carried these lessons into the laboratory by emphasizing clear documentation, dependable workflows, and open communication, helping ensure that research activities can proceed safely and efficiently.
These experiences have also reinforced the importance of leading with humility and a mindset of continuous learning. Working alongside dedicated scientists and mentors has shown me that effective leadership often involves supporting others, anticipating needs, and contributing steadily over time. I remain grateful for the opportunities I have had to serve in these roles, and they continue to shape how I approach laboratory leadership with a focus on stewardship, collaboration, and responsibility.
Q: How do you define effective leadership in a laboratory environment, and how has that definition evolved?
A: I define effective leadership in a laboratory environment as the responsibility to help ensure that scientific work can be conducted safely, reliably, and with integrity. To me, leadership involves supporting systems and practices that allow research to progress in a structured and responsible way, while also being attentive to the well-being and development of the people involved. It means contributing to an environment where expectations are clear, safety is prioritized, and individuals feel supported in their work.
Earlier in my academic training, I associated leadership primarily with technical expertise and scientific productivity. As I gained more experience and responsibility within the laboratory and scientific organizations, my perspective evolved. I came to understand that effective leadership also involves consistency, dependability, and attention to the systems that support continuity, such as clear documentation, organized workflows, and open communication. These foundational elements play a critical role in ensuring both safety and the long-term reliability of scientific work.
I have learned that leadership is often expressed through everyday actions, maintaining accountability, supporting colleagues, and contributing to a collaborative and respectful laboratory culture. Leadership is less about directing others and more about helping create conditions where everyone can work safely and contribute effectively.
I continue to view leadership as a responsibility that develops over time through mentorship, experience, and reflection. I remain grateful for the guidance I have received and am committed to continuing to grow in ways that allow me to contribute positively to the laboratory and the broader scientific community.
Q: What leadership habit or practice has had the greatest impact on your team’s success?
A: One leadership practice that has had the greatest impact on my team’s success is maintaining clear, consistent, and traceable documentation as part of everyday laboratory work. When procedures, safety considerations, and observations are carefully recorded, it creates continuity, reduces uncertainty, and allows research to progress more reliably. This structure supports reproducibility and ensures that knowledge is preserved and accessible to others over time.
Equally important is creating an environment where team members feel comfortable asking questions, sharing observations, and discussing challenges openly. Supporting clear communication and approachability helps concerns be addressed early and collaboratively, strengthening both safety and operational reliability.
I have also learned the importance of listening carefully and remaining open to continuous learning. Leadership is not about having all the answers, but about being attentive, dependable, and willing to improve systems over time. Small, consistent practices such as maintaining accurate records, supporting open communication, and reinforcing structured workflows have a meaningful and lasting impact on both team confidence and scientific integrity.
I continue to reinforce these practices through my own work and by leading through example, recognizing that a strong laboratory culture is built through consistency, trust, and shared accountability.
Q: What advice would you offer to early-career scientists who want to build leadership skills alongside technical expertise?
A: One of the most important lessons I have learned is that leadership begins long before formal roles or recognition. As an early-career scientist, I initially focused on developing technical skills, but over time, I came to understand that leadership is expressed through everyday responsibility, maintaining clear documentation, prioritizing safety, and contributing to an organized and dependable laboratory environment. These habits build trust and continuity and form the foundation for effective leadership.
I would encourage early-career scientists to be attentive, dependable, and open to learning from mentors and colleagues. Observing how experienced leaders communicate, organize work, and support others provides a valuable perspective. Taking initiative in small but meaningful ways, such as helping maintain laboratory structure and supporting colleagues, can gradually build both confidence and leadership ability.
My own growth has been shaped by opportunities to contribute beyond my individual research, including supporting laboratory systems and participating in scientific and professional communities. These experiences helped me understand that leadership is less about authority and more about stewardship and service.
Most importantly, I would encourage early-career scientists to approach leadership with humility and patience. Leadership develops over time through experience, reflection, and a genuine commitment to supporting both people and scientific integrity. Even small, consistent efforts can have a lasting impact and often become the foundation for future leadership.
