Working with Dr. Arvind Mukundan: A Comprehensive Guide

1) OPERATING APPROACH

As your research supervisor, I maintain an open-door policy and encourage a collaborative environment. My approach is to foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among my students. I believe in a hands-on approach, where students actively engage in their research projects with guidance and support from me. I value teamwork and encourage students to work together, share ideas, and learn from each other's experiences.

"Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much." - Helen Keller

2) MANAGEMENT STYLE

In addition to being approachable and supportive, I am also a proponent of accountability and organization. I believe in holding myself and my team accountable for our actions and the outcomes of our research projects. This accountability fosters a sense of responsibility and ownership among students, driving them to strive for excellence in their work.

"Accountability breeds response-ability." - Stephen Covey

Furthermore, I am highly organized and data-driven in my approach to research. I emphasize the importance of collecting and analyzing data to inform our decisions and drive our research forward. By basing our strategies and actions on solid evidence, we can ensure that our efforts are focused and effective.

"In God we trust; all others must bring data." - W. Edwards Deming

As a very detail-oriented person, I pay close attention to the smallest details to achieve perfection in our projects. Extensive revisions and checks will be made to ensure that the highest quality is achieved. Therefore, students should always be meticulous and careful about every aspect of their work, as even minor errors can impact the overall quality of the project.

"Success is in the details." - Zig Ziglar

3) Deadline

Deadlines are crucial in our lab, and we will establish specific timelines for each project or task. It is essential to adhere to these timelines rigorously to ensure the smooth progress of our research endeavors. If, for any reason, a student anticipates difficulty in meeting a deadline, I expect to be informed well in advance. This proactive communication allows us to discuss potential challenges and explore alternative solutions. In such cases, I will work with the student to rearrange deadlines or allocate additional resources as needed, ensuring that the project stays on track. However, adherence to timelines is paramount, and students are expected to strive to meet deadlines whenever possible.

"You may delay, but time will not." - Benjamin Franklin

4) COMMUNICATION

Communication is key to our success. We will have weekly individual or group meetings where students will report their progress, discuss any challenges they encountered, and outline their plans for the upcoming week. Reports should be submitted in a specific format at least 15 hours before the meeting so that I have enough time to take notes and prepare myself well in advance for our meeting. For urgent matters or personal questions, students can reach out to me via WhatsApp at +91-9176142628. Official communication will be always be through Line, where my ID is ZUKO_007. Additionally, I will be available for questions or doubts via Line on days when I am out for meetings or business trips, which typically occur 1 or 2 days a week.

"The art of communication is the language of leadership." - James Humes

Report Format:

1. Everyday Login and Logout Time: Students are required to log their entry and exit times from the lab daily.

2. Work Done Last Week: Students should summarize the tasks they completed since the last report.

3. Challenges Faced: Any problems or obstacles encountered during the week should be documented.

4. Future Scope of the Project and Next Week's Plan: Students should outline the next steps for the project and their plans for the upcoming week.

5. Time Allocation: A breakdown of how their working hours were spent, specifying the time spent on each task.

5) Working time in our lab

The lab timings are from 9 AM to 5 PM. While flexibility is encouraged, I expect students to maintain regular working hours in the lab. This ensures productivity and facilitates collaboration among team members. Students are welcome to discuss any scheduling conflicts or adjustments with me, and I will do my best to accommodate their needs while ensuring project deadlines are met.

"The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese." - Willie Nelson

6) Feedback

Feedback is essential for growth and improvement. I will provide regular feedback on students' work, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. I encourage students to seek feedback actively and use it to refine their research skills and enhance the quality of their work. Likewise, I welcome feedback from students on my supervision style and ways to improve our working relationship.

"Feedback is the breakfast of champions." - Ken Blanchard

In conclusion, working with me involves a collaborative and supportive approach, where open communication, adherence to deadlines, and a commitment to continuous improvement are paramount. I am dedicated to guiding and mentoring students throughout their research journey and ensuring a fulfilling and productive experience in our lab.

Hope this was helpful and, again, I look forward to working together. Y

You are all welcome to add to this document and make it a little more “authorized!” :)

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs