The primary mission of our lab is to do good science. Our team cultivates the highest degree of care at all stages of experimental planning, execution, analysis, interpretation, and communication. No one is expected to learn how to do good science on their own.

It is my responsibility and privilege as a mentor to walk alongside you on your path to independence. I will help you to keep the destination in mind even as destination changes, and I will help you to avoid pitfalls that will delay your journey. When you are stuck, I will give you resources that help you find your answers and get unstuck. When you need direction, I will provide advice wherever I can, and direct you to resources that can help you where I cannot.

I will ensure an inclusive team culture. I will ensure that the team has resources to support all members and their projects. I will respect your time and help you to protect your time. I will find a way for you to be productive in the lab while pursuing your passion and advancing your career.

The process of personal growth and professional development through collaborative science is different for every individual. Even for one individual, the expectations between mentor and mentee vary over time—especially as the mentee becomes more independent. It is therefore vital to the success of the team and to the success of the individual to maintain clear and frequent communication.

Expectations of all lab members:

  • Support and respect our team, our space, and our resources. Everyone is working towards individual goals and team goals. Our successes and our failures are shared.

  • Uphold the principles of ethical research. Our objective is to discover, learn, and push the boundaries of what is possible. There is absolutely no justification for falsification, fabrication, or plagiarism.
  • Maintain organization, cleanliness, and recordkeeping. Pay attention to detail. Anyone—including your future self—should at all times be able to navigate your data, protocols, and analysis, as well as follow the history of your progress, problems, and plans.
  • Prioritize safety above all else. Never cut corners for expediency without approval. Ask for advice, training, and assistance whenever in any doubt.
  • Recognize when you need help from others, and be ready to offer help when needed by others.
  • Reflect deeply on your reading and your data. Give care to your analysis, visualization, and interpretation. Always come prepared with your own explanations—even if speculative—and a plan for further progress.
  • Meet your deadlines or adjust your work habits.  If your workload is too much to handle, communicate your struggle, and we will adapt a flexible plan for your success.
  • Make mistakes. Learn from them. Explore your creativity and take advantage of all the resources we can provide. Give grace for others’ mistakes, and be kind to yourself as well.
  • Find your passion, and share it with us. Research is often relentless rejection and failure. We must draw upon intrinsic motivation to persevere, build resilience, and maintain positivity towards ourselves and our team.