Expectations

Expectations of lab members

A large part of fostering a healthy work environment is taking care of our mental well-being:

• Lab members are not expected to sacrifice personal or leisure time in service of projects.
• Working long hours without interruption can lead to burnout, exhaustion, and overall impedes the type of atmosphere we are trying to develop.
• Lab members are encouraged to take anual breaks and vacation time. This is particularly important after periods of high stress (exams, thesis defense, qualifying exams, workshops, etc). Please let Leo know when you will be away.

We strive to be a part of the intellectual community at our host universities. As such, lab members should endeavor to be good university “citizens”, including:

• Participating in department seminars, meetings, and other academic activities.
• Collaborating with individuals from other groups/departments around campus.
• Fostering new collaborations, both internally and externally.

As lab members, Leo expects you to:

• Follow the lab Code of conduct and general Open science guidelines.
• Be proactive in communicating your needs and desires (guidance, equipment, personal time, career plans, chance of project/mentorship, etc).
• Be present and working regularly during term time. Please let Leo know if you are busy with other commitments (personal or academic) and won’t be working on your project for a time.
• Keep on top of your own deadlines (assignments, reports, conferences, etc). Leo will remind you if he can but the responsibility for keeping to your deadlines is yours. Remember to give Leo at least 1 week (but preferably more) to give feedback on any piece of work.
• Care for the physical environment of the lab, including lab computers, books, coffee kit, etc.
• Maintain a healthy, constructive, and positive atmosphere in the lab.
• Be curious and self-motivated about your project and your studies. Remember that the project is yours and you must read widely and think deeply about it.
• Take the initiative in writing your papers, dissertations, and thesis. Leo will not write these for you but will help you get started and teach you how to do it.

The expectations above are the same for all lab members. Some expectations also vary according to your level of study.

Undergraduate students

• Prioritize your studies. While work on your project is important, it should never come at the expense of your studies. Your grades can matter for entry into graduate programmes and obtaining scholarships in the future.
• Be present in the lab at least once a week. This will help you stay connected, even during busy times. More experienced lab members can also help you study!

MSc students

• Dedicate to learning everything you can about your project. It’s common to start an MSc in something you don’t quite master yet but you should be an expert by the end of your degree.
• Try things for yourself before coming to Leo for help. Thinking deeply about a problem is a requirement for true understanding. You should not deny yourself the opportunity to grow by asking for help immediately when you encounter a problem.
• Be mindful of your time. The 2 years of your degree will pass very quickly and it’s important not to lose track of your project and deadlines.

PhD students

• Be independent in coming up with your research topics and ideas for what to do next. Many of these will be tied to the lab’s ongoing projects but this is the time to start thinking for yourself.
• Help junior members in their research and studies.
• Study broadly, beyond your research topic. A PhD is a wonderful time to explore different topics, research fields, career pathways, and ideas. Good ways to do this are watching seminars (both in and out of the department), talking to your fellow PhD students, reading papers/blogs from other fields, and attending talks/posters at large conferences.

Postdocs

• Lead your project and be on top of any logistics and organization that is required to undertake it. Postdocs are independent researchers and taking on responsibilities like this are very beneficial for getting an academic position later on.
• Mentor junior lab members and complement the support that Leo provides.
• Help in teaching and outreach efforts of the lab. This does not mean teaching a full course or replacing Leo in any capacity. It means providing a lecture or two about your expertise in a course, leading a short workshop, helping Leo organize outreach, etc. All of these are very good things to have on a CV when applying for an academic job.

What you can expect from Leo

Mentoring is a two-way relationship. These are things that you expect from Leo:

• Lead and set directions for the group’s research efforts.
• Prioritize and support your career progression and well-being, providing the required training and resources for your particular needs.
• Be willing to listen to criticism and suggestions for improvement.
• Adjust the style of mentorship to what works best for you (please let me know if something isn’t working well).
• Respond to your messages and requests within a reasonable time, which is around 1 day to 1 week depending on urgency and Leo’s schedule.
• Respect your personal time and not ask for things to be done during evenings, weekends, holidays, and vacation time. You may get a message at these times due to Leo’s own working hours but you have no obligation to respond.
• Seek funding to support lab activities, purchase equipment, scholarships, and conference attendance.

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Credit and terms of reuse: This manual is based on the excellent Lab Carpentry blueprints, with material adapted from the Data Intensive Biology Lab and the Data Exploration Lab. The manual contents are available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.