AI Insight
This is a career advice column, not a research article. A PhD student is experiencing stress from conducting animal research on mice, despite enjoying other aspects of their research work. The piece addresses ethical distress in laboratory animal research and discusses options for managing this challenge while pursuing scientific training.
Why it matters
This highlights the psychological and ethical challenges faced by early-career researchers who work with animal models. Mental health and ethical concerns in laboratory settings can significantly impact researcher wellbeing and career trajectories in life sciences.
Understand the Science
Nature, Published online: 14 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01128-0
A PhD student loves research, but not the realities of experimenting on animals. What are their options?
Source: My research on mice is causing me stress. How can I become more resilient?