Scientific approach & mentoring philosophy
We believe in disruptive technology that has the power to transform our understanding of biological phenomena, break new ground, and even challenge long-held theories. However, with newer technologies that have had little precedent, we are treading on uncharted, high-risk territories. There’s a greater chance of setbacks and surprises. (But the rewards are terrific.) Navigating these territories requires you to be undeterred yet flexible, persevering yet ready to change course. Sometimes, negative and unexpected findings may mean that your Aha! moment is just around the corner. Sometimes, the most creative solutions masquerade as the most obvious and can be easily missed.
As your mentors, we are responsible for providing you with a clear research direction, training you on standardized procedures to pursue these directions, and offering feedback on your progress on a regular basis. We are also responsible for your professional development. We will maintain open lines of communication and urge you to be transparent and communicative. We strongly encourage collaboration within the ICN Labs and between our labs and other labs in the department. We will hold joint seminars, journal clubs, and social events to foster scientific exchange. Graduate students in their final years and postdocs will have multiple opportunities to pursue their own ideas (so long as they coarsely align with the research interests of the ICN Labs), mentor junior researchers, present their work on national and international platforms (funds permitting), and apply for early career fellowships. Research technicians will have the option to participate in short-term or long-term projects and the opportunity to acquire lab management skills.
We are deeply invested in your success, as the success of our labs is but a reflection of how you perform. We will strive to provide you with the best support system during your time here with us and as you prepare to move on to newer positions.
Commitment to equal opportunity
As immigrant scientists, who have lived and worked in multiple international settings, we embrace diversity. We believe that diversity promotes collective creativity by increasing the repertoire of ideas and perspectives. We will strive to increase the representation of minorities, encourage members to apply for diversity supplements on grants, and provide a conducive environment, where feasible, for religious, cultural, or parenting needs. The ICN Labs will be a safe and welcoming place for all members regardless of their gender, color, religion, or gender identity. The relationships in the labs will be founded on mutual respect, kindness, and empathy. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind.
Expectations and responsibilities of lab members
You are here because you chose to pursue a career in academic research. You are not doing us a favor by performing your duties. Work with passion and work hard.
As scientists, you have huge responsibilities to fulfill. Design your experiments carefully. Incorporate well-thought-out controls. Be consistent and rigorous in your approach, and document your findings in as much detail as possible. Ask around for constructive feedback. Do not rush your work.
We will not tolerate plagiarism or data tampering. Any research misconduct will have serious consequences.
Follow SOPs and surgical procedures carefully, as these have been standardized and published in peer-reviewed journals. Work with us while optimizing protocols. If you haven't already, schedule your post-approval monitoring for every experiment you are approved to perform in the labs. We will schedule PAMs regularly to check on items discussed in previous PAMs and ensure that the best scientific practices are implemented.
You are expected to understand the rationale behind your experiments and what you hope to glean from them. You are expected to know the principle behind how a piece of equipment works prior to using it. If you do not understand fundamental concepts, you may not be able to troubleshoot a failed experiment independently. This may result in a waste of the labs’ resources and your time. Learn the WHYs and the HOWs!
We will take resource wastage seriously. You are required to be judicious in your usage of animals, chemicals, reagents, and kits. Repeated wastages due to negligence, inattention, or carelessness will not be tolerated, and you will not be allowed to perform the experiments without scheduling a PAM with us. Following PAM, you will be held accountable for any further wastages that could have been avoided.
Clean up after your experiments, leaving the benches ready for use by the next user. The wet lab, cell culture, and surgical areas will have separate weekly cleaning and restocking schedules, and every user is expected to follow the routine when it's their turn. Supplies need to be restocked on a regular basis. Running out of reagents due to improper planning is no excuse for not performing experiments on time.
Be productive. While we have flexible working hours, you are expected to get your work done. While in the labs, be fully committed to the work relevant to your projects. You may not be involved in external activities or projects that do not directly relate to the projects assigned to you by your PIs. You will be assessed for your productivity and timeliness. Repeated lack of productivity may negatively impact your performance evaluation.
Make meaningful contributions to research. Work towards authorships on scientific publications. The lab member taking on the lead role and contributing substantially to a project can expect to be the first author on posters and papers. Members who take on a project but do not contribute to most of the findings may lose first authorship to others who have made greater contributions. On a case-by-case basis, we will consider co-first authorships and equal contributions. In case of authorship conflicts, the PIs will have the final word.
Attend all individual and group meetings. For 1-on-1 meetings with the PIs, come prepared with the results of the prior week's experiments. Use the opportunity to discuss your projects at length, troubleshoot your experiments, and obtain constructive feedback. For weekly meetings in the ICN Labs, presenters should come fully prepared to field questions from the rest of the group. Conversely, other lab members are required to be attentive, ask questions, and provide constructive criticism.
Support and respect your fellow labmates. Respect the strengths and weaknesses of others. Respect their boundaries when they are conducting experiments. Acknowledge that we are all different but are here for a common cause. Work collaboratively. Root for each other.
Lead by example. Undergraduate students and high schoolers are important assets to the ICN Labs. By mentoring them, senior members often get to hone their teaching skills. With adequate time and training, they can contribute to ongoing projects. Have students observe your work without interrupting your experiments. You may ask that they reserve their questions for the end of experimental sessions.
Stay up to date on the latest research by signing up for article updates on journal websites. Consider following expert scientists in your niche area on Twitter/X.