GoKawiilThe problem Dear Nature, I’m a PhD student whose research involves euthanizing healthy mice, usually by cervical dislocation, which means essentially breaking the animals’ necks as quickly and painlessly as possible. I love my field, and I knew animal work would be part of the job when I started my doctorate. I try to give my mice the most comfortable life that I can. And of course, it helps to think of the big picture and how this work will eventually help people who are ill. But I get anxiety before specific days when I know I will have to kill many mice, and I’ve lost weight because the constant smell and sight of blood ruins my appetite. In routine work, I might kill two or three mice a day; however, if we discontinue a specific lineage it might be 50 or more. I’m rethinking things about my relationship with animals — including my own dog — and the repeated practice of these procedures is starting to feel automatic. It’s difficult for me to open up to other researchers about the psychological stress this is causing me because of the fear of being mocked or called overly sensitive. Once, a student at my university cried during a dissection, and I overheard senior researchers privately call it ridiculous. On my university campus in Europe, mental-health professionals aren’t easily available, so I have never reached out to talk about my feelings, but I perhaps would have if they were more accessible. I hope I can cope in the long term. Is it normal to become accustomed to euthanizing research animals? And do you have suggestions for coping mechanisms? — A student starting out in animal research (Adapted from Reddit and correspondence with the Reddit user, with permission.)
The advice
Animal research is often misunderstood and stigmatized by the public, fuelling a vicious cycle of secrecy in science. This can place extra stress on early-career researchers, who are already dealing with high pressure and uncertainty in their working lives. A 2021 Spanish study identified PhD students as a vulnerable group; they had the lowest scores for professional quality of life among six categories of people working with laboratory animals1. The groups comprised technicians, welfare staff, veterinarians and several types of researchers, and the study compared their responses about working with animals.
Nature spoke to three scientists who offered suggestions for caring for yourself, your career and your animals.
Connect with others
Many researchers who work with animals have similar experiences, especially when they’re starting out, says Fernando Gonzalez-Uarquin, a postdoctoral researcher at the University Medical Center Mainz in Germany. He can relate, having worked with rats as a master’s student in Colombia, and with chickens as a PhD student in Germany. Your reactions are valid, he stresses.
Moreover, you’re not alone in feeling alone. “The difficulty in discussing these feelings openly is also a systemic issue,” observes María Laura Gutiérrez, a biologist at Argentina’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) in Buenos Aires. “In many research environments, there is still a culture that discourages vulnerability, particularly around animal experimentation. This can lead to isolation and prevent researchers from seeking the support they need.”
So, the problem is with the research environment, not you. “When students are mocked for showing emotion about animal research, that reflects a problem with the research culture,” Gonzalez-Uarquin says.
The age of animal experiments is waning. Where will science go next?
Ideally, you would be able to share your feelings with your principal investigator, but that’s not always possible. In a study by Gonzalez-Uarquin and his colleagues, roughly one-quarter of animal-handling early-career researchers surveyed in Germany reported poor communication with their supervisors2. “One of the most important factors is communication within the whole research group,” Gonzalez-Uarquin emphasizes. Otherwise, researchers “tend to internalize the stress”.
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