MENTORING, EXPECTATIONS, AND LAB CULTURE
SCIENCE DOESN'T HAPPEN IN A VACUUM
We are lucky to have some of the most exciting jobs in the world! We get to make discoveries about the biological world, we get to invent things, and we get to engage with new theories and ideas.
At times science can also be frustrating. Experiments will fail, things will break, there will be bugs (so many bugs). Science happens within the social, personal, cultural and political contexts that shape us. That stuff doesn't go away when we pick up the pipette.
Our mission as a lab is to do great, impactful, and meaningful work that will push the boundaries of inquiry forward. It is also to put our values and ethics to practice in our own lab culture, the scientific community broadly, as well as how we confront societal issues and injustices.
There is no one right way to be a scientist, but there are core values and practices that I expect all of my fellow lab members to uphold:
WHAT WE CAN EXPECT OF EACH OTHER
Communication. Teams work best when communication is open. Communicate early and often with your fellow lab members. Above all, I expect you to tell me what you need to thrive.
Open science. Preprints, readable code, reagents -- our science makes greater impact when it is shared and used! Comment your code. Keep a better lab notebook than I do (not hard).
Accountability and respect for each other. This extends outside of the lab too -- acknowledge all the folks, scientific and beyond, who make our work possible. Listen, be humble.
Respect for the organisms we study. We acknowledge our responsibility to care for and maximize what can be learned from the organisms or samples we use.
Pay it forward. Work together, help each other, teach what you know. Part of becoming a leader is developing the skills to transfer what you've learned to someone else. Being a mentor is a privilege. Mentor the next rising stars and take pride in their successes.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM ME
No matter your career stage, my job is to support you as you develop your scientific vision.
You can expect me to show up for you as a mentor, ally, and advocate. You can also expect me to ensure that we all work in a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment.