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The challenges are both logistical and emotional, and if training and productivity are compromised, scientific careers can be derailed.

The trouble is that if you start off without much space, your ability to produce good science is seriously compromised.

"Friendships and work relationships have different social norms, and workplace friendships are fraught with fragility and ambiguity," says organizational psychologist Rachel Morrison.

"Laughter is highly relevant to scientific inquiry because it creates a safe and playful atmosphere for intellectual development." --David Sloan Wilson

Work-related stress is an insidious health hazard, especially for workers who, like scientists, take their work very seriously.

Small chunks of dedicated time can help relieve the stress endemic in scientific lives.

September brings inevitable but manageable stress for scientists in academia.

Working longer hours doesn't necessarily mean getting more done.

Workplace gossip may have its positive effects, but it needs to be handled with care.

Dropping off an infant at daycare is very stressful for new mothers returning to work.

On returning to work, new mothers can minimize stress and maximize productivity by adapting to their new and different circumstances.

Everyone feels a bit nervous from time to time, and a little anxiety can improve performance -- but excessive anxiety can be disabling and derail careers.

When a scientist is confronted with a colleague who is struggling with personal problems, there are no easy answers.

"As I look back at my busy life, I would not have been happy giving up either—career or family," says Margaret Dalzwell Lowman.

"Conflict over science and issues can be beneficial to productivity and development. Conflict over working styles and personalities can be destructive," says John Baldoni, an Ann Arbor, Michigan, management consultant.

Shyness can easily be mistaken for aloofness, coldness, or disinterest. So make the extra effort to smile and to make eye contact to help put the other person at ease.

Given how important sleep is to your health and emotional well-being, it makes sense to monitor your own schedule and make sure you aren't operating at a loss.

"Take time for family or for whatever your passions are. If you’re mentally relaxed, your work will be more effective," says astrophysicist Charles Danforth.

You may be able to do it for days, weeks, or even months, but over the long haul, no one can continually juggle an unrealistic set of roles and responsibilities.