diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 565b0c301..03ec80e5b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
     - Allow dlc without pre-existing tracking data #973, #975
     - Raise `KeyError` for missing input parameters across helper funcs #966
     - `DLCPosVideo` table now inserts into self after `make` #966
+- Common
+    - Don't insert lab member when creating lab team #983
 
 ## [0.5.2] (April 22, 2024)
 
diff --git a/src/spyglass/common/common_lab.py b/src/spyglass/common/common_lab.py
index c5a6fbc00..de2ad8079 100644
--- a/src/spyglass/common/common_lab.py
+++ b/src/spyglass/common/common_lab.py
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ def insert_from_nwbfile(cls, nwbf):
             # each person is by default the member of their own LabTeam
             # (same as their name)
 
-            full_name, _, _ = decompose_name(experimenter)
+            full_name, first, last = decompose_name(experimenter)
             LabTeam.create_new_team(
-                team_name=full_name, team_members=[full_name]
+                team_name=full_name, team_members=[f"{last}, {first}"]
             )
 
     @classmethod
@@ -193,9 +193,10 @@ def create_new_team(
         member_list = []
         for team_member in team_members:
             LabMember.insert_from_name(team_member)
-            query = (
-                LabMember.LabMemberInfo() & {"lab_member_name": team_member}
-            ).fetch("google_user_name")
+            member_dict = {"lab_member_name": decompose_name(team_member)[0]}
+            query = (LabMember.LabMemberInfo() & member_dict).fetch(
+                "google_user_name"
+            )
             if not query:
                 logger.info(
                     f"Please add the Google user ID for {team_member} in "
@@ -203,7 +204,7 @@ def create_new_team(
                 )
             labteammember_dict = {
                 "team_name": team_name,
-                "lab_member_name": team_member,
+                **member_dict,
             }
             member_list.append(labteammember_dict)
             # clear cache for this member