What Kind of Scientist Are You?

What is the archetypal researcher personality? Are there some personalities that are better suited than others to a scientific career? To provide insight into this issue, The Science Advisory Board created the first-ever psychological profile of life science researchers, the Scientific Personality Assessment. The assessment is meant to help scientists better evaluate their strengths and assets as well as confront the particular challenges they face in their everyday work life. The goal is not to suggest that one personality type is better than another or that having specific character traits will engender more professional success, but rather to encourage people to align their professional aspirations with their own particular blend of expertise and skills. A summary of results based on recent participants has been posted on the Science Board website. It might not be surprising that the largest percentage of participants (32%) fell into the Organizer category, while the smallest percentage of participants (16%) fell into the Enthusiast category, defined as those who like to "interact with and please others." You can try the test yourself at the Science Board website.