The phrase "to lead a lab" means being in charge of managing and guiding a group of people who are conducting scientific experiments and research in a laboratory. Full definition
She is a clinician - scientist who leads a lab comprised of 6 postdoctoral and clinical fellows, 6 graduate students and 5 research assistants / associates. (agbt.org)
In many ways, the staff scientist position offers the opportunity to grow and learn while preserving the high points of research that can get lost in the grind of leading a lab. (sciencemag.org)
Shore, who leads a lab in U-M's Kresge Hearing Research Institute, is a Professor of Otolaryngology and Molecular and Integrative Physiology at the U-M Medical School, and also Professor of Biomedical Engineering, which spans the Medical School and College of Engineering. (uofmhealth.org)