A true success of an academic lab, and mine as a mentor, lies in the advancement and excellence of science and long-term well-being of each lab member. This holistic approach where scientific discovery is valued equally to personal fulfillment cultivates a more vibrant and innovative scientific community where everyone can thrive – all while pursuing ambitious scientific directions.
Values and Philosophy
What matters most in science? The people. It’s always the people.
Our passion for learning and scientific curiosity has brought us to the bench and thus – we should all thrive while doing what we love. In our lab, we recognize that everyone brings their own unique experiences, dreams, goals, and expectations. To support these aspirations, we strive to tailor our training and mentorship programs to meet the diverse needs of our team members. By fostering a supportive environment that encourages personal and professional growth, we can advance our scientific pursuits and ambitions together.
Freedom to Act Boldly
“Multipliers invoke each person’s unique intelligence and create an atmosphere of genius—innovation, productive effort, and collective intelligence.”
― Liz Wiseman, Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter
As a leader I encourage everyone to explore their interests, passions, and talents. Working on projects within individual strengths brings empowerment, independence and productivity, which then fuels – or multiplies – curiosity and innovation. A recognized expertise within the team builds positive relationships, cultivates collaborations, streamlines learning and contributes to positive lab culture. It also builds mentees’ sense of ownership and responsibility, which promotes mental well-being, a sense of belonging in science and self-confidence – which altogether lowers the barrier to growth into new, challenging, and unknown scientific theories.
Mentorship
Mentorship is woven through the fabric of my own career as a lifelong commitment to training the next generation of scientists. In addition to learning essential skills including effective written and oral communication, data analysis, ethics, scientific integrity, and collaboration, I also aim to help my mentees to become thoughtful leaders in their future roles.
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Respecting Individual Career Paths
Recommended reading: Supporting nonlinear careers to diversify science
By Anna L. Vlasits, Monique L. Smith, Maria Maldonado, Simone Brixius-Anderko
https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002291
As a PI, I recognize that my mentees’ careers are their own and that non-linear paths in academia are increasingly common. My primary job is to listen actively, identify and fully support the unique goals of each team member, avoid hurtful comparisons and unnecessary roadblocks so that each person can freely pursue their own paths to success.
The Harmony of Life and Work
We recognize that achieving work-life harmony is essential for fostering both productivity and well-being. Success in the lab is closely tied to our well-being at home, and vice versa. By creating an environment that acknowledges and supports personal needs, we build a sustainable and thriving research culture that helps prevent burnout and keeps us excited about science. We promote schedule flexibility, regular vacations, and the understanding that we all have days when we’re not operating at 100%. This holistic approach enhances individual performance and contributes to a more innovative and collaborative environment.
Communication
I aim to foster effective and respectful communication through leading by example and steering discussions gently towards the lab’s core values, whenever needed. This involves being engaged with the team, adopting an open-door policy, and hosting lab meetings that span both data, ethics, integrity, and open discussions of current DEI and policy topics.