Expectations

1. Professional Conduct

• Treat the lab as a shared scientific environment, not a classroom.

• Wear a lab coat in the analytical lab. Wear PPE where appropriate.

• Maintain clean benches, organized equipment, and properly stored samples.

• Arrive prepared, focused, and ready to participate.

2. Reproducibility & Documentation

• Record every procedure, observation, and measurement in your lab notebook.

• Complete daily checklists, water-quality logs, and equipment entries accurately.

• Never delete or alter data; mistakes must be documented, not hidden.

• Follow SOPs and protocols carefully. Consistency is part of our identity.

3. Communication & Teamwork

• Ask questions early. Waiting too long causes avoidable errors.

• Share mistakes openly. This is how the team learns and improves.

• Communicate schedule changes or absences ahead of time.

• Respect others’ time and workspace; kindness is part of professionalism.

4. Learning & Growth

• The lab is a training environment; your goal is to learn and grow as a scientist.

• Take initiative: read background materials, understand the why behind every procedure.

• Seek feedback and be open to improvement.

• You are encouraged to think independently and propose ideas.

5. Safety & Wellbeing

• Follow all safety guidelines, including PPE, chemical handling, and RAS procedures.

• Report injuries, accidents, or near-misses immediately.

• If you are overwhelmed academically, mentally, or personally; Talk to the PI or a senior member.

• We prioritize people over productivity: Your wellbeing matters.

6. Responsibility & Reliability

• Show up on time for scheduled shifts and experimental duties.

• Complete assigned tasks thoroughly and communicate when issues arise.

• Respect the animals, equipment, and shared resources.

• Own your work; accountability is a key part of scientific integrity.

7. Culture & Values

• We practice quiet professionalism: no hype, no ego, no performative science.

• Our strength comes from steady work, clean data, and mutual respect.

• We collaborate, not compete.

• Everyone in the lab contributes to the culture; your actions shape the environment.