Research experiences are not only resume-boosters for scientific jobs, but they’re also becoming almost necessary for getting into graduate schools and medical schools. Students’ experiences in these research experiences often depend on their relationship with their research mentor. Students with marginalized identities can struggle to feel understood and respected by their mentors, especially if their mentors don’t share their identities. One group that may particularly struggle with a cultural disconnect from their mentors is Muslim students. Most academic scientists are not religious, and specifically less than 1% of science professors identify as Muslim. This secular culture in academic science may prevent Muslim students from feeling comfortable bringing their religious identity into research spaces. In a recent essay published in CBE-Life Sciences Education, a research team of Muslim mentees and non-Muslim mentors describe how one can navigate this cultural gap. The research tea...