Mentoring

Lab Culture

To me, maintaining a healthy and cordial environment for every lab member is a top priority. My lab maintains a culture of support, awareness, and positive communication. Experiments can often fail, which can be be stressful, and is especially so, for those with additional challenges. In my lab, I promote a culture of reasonable work-life balance, to ensure that lab members with diverse external pressures can flourish. I ensure that all members feel comfortable to engage in scientific exchange, irrespective of their background and experience, and that their effort is highly valued. I want you to feel comfortable to communicate with me about any issues that arise during your time in my lab, and I will assist you in whatever way, most helpful to you. 

What to expect from me

•I will meet with you on a regular basis (at the minimum every week) to discuss your research progress and help troubleshoot and plan your experiments. However, more frequent or as needed meetings can also be scheduled. 

•I will mentor you to develop research and professional plans individually tailored to your scientific interests and career goals. Usually in the summer, I will have lab members fill out an individual development plan (IDP) so we can develop a plan for the upcoming year that will keep you on track with your goals both scientific and professional.

•I will support you throughout your career by introducing you to other researchers in the field, writing recommendation letters for you, nominating you for awards and honors, and providing you with opportunities to attend scientific conferences.

•I will be available to discuss any aspect of your career and life. I realize we all have lives outside the lab, and want to work with you to achieve a good work-life balance.

What I expect from you:

•Work smart, work hard. This doesn’t necessarily mean working long hours, but take pride in all you do. Don’t take short cuts, whether in protocols or efforts. Take this job seriously, but find the work-life balance that works for you.

•While everyone will be working on individual projects, please be supportive of your lab mates. The success of one is the success of all. There will be times when people in the lab will need your help to think about research projects, collaborate, to fix equipment or work on other parts of the lab that are not direct research experiments, please be a team member.

•Share your experience and knowledge. Exchanging knowledge, techniques and know-how with your lab mates is how we all get better, improve and enhance our ability to perform research.

•Communication is key, whether it is about science, lab operations or any other issue that may come up. Don’t assume anything, ask someone in person or on Microsoft Teams which we use.

•Respect everyone. It’s not that hard to be nice to each other. There will be times when you may disagree with someone in the lab, but please be professional and respect each others’ strengths, weaknesses, differences, approaches, beliefs and personal space.