I have been fortunate to have excellent mentors in my career from whom I have learned a great deal. Know that mentoring is important to me—both for myself and for you. Here are some expectations so that we’re both on the same page:
My responsibilities as an advisor:
Collaborate on project design and development to build something tractable but support student ownership of the research
Discuss future goals and provide professional development and networking opportunities appropriate for your goals
Meet one-on-one regularly to discuss research progress and hurdles
Make every attempt to ensure financial support throughout your graduate program
Listen to concerns and feedback and be empathetic during difficult times
My expectations for students working with me:
Be eager to learn, collaborate, and expand your skill set and knowledge base
Be an active member of the community (attend department seminars and lab group meetings)
Work hard, but not to your own detriment
Be a team player in the lab and department, ask for and provide support for each other's research—get to know peers in other labs, you can learn from each other
Be rigorous, ethical, and serious about the quality of your science
Work on your communication; if writing is a challenge, get help from college resources before you're under pressure to complete your thesis
Listen to my concerns and feedback, and be understanding of the fact that I, too, will have difficult times
Complete a thorough project of publication quality in a timely manner, with organized data and code
I would encourage potential lab members to reach out to undergraduate and graduate students in the lab to better understand the types of projects and lab environment from a student's perspective.