Undergraduate Student Expectations - GremerLab/Resources GitHub Wiki

Gremer lab undergraduate expectations

Please review the general Gremer lab expectations. This document will provide additional information specific to undergraduate students, interns, assistants, and researchers in the lab.
What we expect of you:

Be an engaged member of the lab and contribute to our collaborative and inclusive lab environment. Treat each other with respect and courtesy. Provide feedback on each other’s ideas, experiments, presentations, and drafts.
Be curious, ask questions. That’s what research is about. We’ll try to teach you what we can, but we will most certainly not do so perfectly. So please ask questions about the background of the research, methods, theory, anything!
Honor your commitments. We understand and encourage you to put your studies first and recognize that unforeseen situations and emergencies may arise, but we expect you to show up when and where you agree to. Be on time and prepared, and respect that we are counting on you. If something does arise, we ask that you communicate proactively with your supervisor and/or team members as soon as possible.
Meet deadlines or timelines. It is your responsibility to turn in forms, timesheets, assignments, etc on time. Be proactive about letting us know if you will have trouble doing so.
Do not come in to the lab or shared spaces if you are not feeling well.
Understand the “why” as well as the “what” and “how” of the work you are doing.
Leave things as good as, or better, than you found them. This goes for the lab space and equipment, as well as data and samples. Do not leave a mess in the lab for others to clean up, and put away or store equipment, data, and samples carefully and where they belong before you finish up for the day. Treat samples, data, equipment carefully- they are often irreplaceable and delicate, and always important.
Secure space and belongings. Keep doors locked if the lab is empty or you can’t see the door/entry way, don’t let strangers into locked rooms or buildings, and report any lost keys immediately.
Attend lab meetings and other events when possible. We recognize that it is difficult to accommodate everyone’s schedule, but attend events when you can.
If you make a mistake, tell your supervisor. Mistakes happen, we get it, and we would much rather be aware of mishaps than not know about them or be confused about what happened. This is also critical for our shared goal of conducting strong, reproducible, and ethical science.
Keep a lab notebook for your work in the lab. Record what your activities were, as well as why and how you did them. Note down anything and everything that seems out of the ordinary. You can also use this to keep track of new ideas that may arise as you make observations. Leave this notebook in the lab when your work is completed (note: you can scan your notes to take them with you!).
Post electronic copies of all records, including data, protocols, field and lab notes, budgets, papers, presentations, and R scripts, on Box before the end of the term in which the research was conducted (your supervisor will guide you through specific protocols for using Box)
Provide information for references. Jenny and/or your direct supervisor are happy to provide a professional reference if you need one. If you do, please send a message that indicates 1) what the position or reference is that you need and information on the position or program, 2) when the reference is due, 3) a current resume/CV, 4) an up-to-date transcript, 5) any other relevant materials such as applications or essays, 6) instructions for how to submit the letter or reference or how we will be contacted, and 7) who your other references are. If a letter of recommendation is needed, please provide as much notice as possible, and at least one month of notice before the due date of the letter, particularly if it is the first time we have written a letter for you. Our schedules get full and giving us plenty of notice will make sure that we can block off time to put together an effective letter for you. Remember that we are essentially writing a 1-3 page essay about you. That takes time and we need to schedule that time into our calendars. Also, send reminders about 7-10 days ahead of deadlines to make sure we have everything we need to submit the letter for you. We are happy to do this for you! But it does take some planning and preparation to do so.
Consider developing ideas for independent research with us. We welcome you to conduct independent research with us. Approach your supervisor or mentor about opportunities and to work out expectations and next steps. Note that there are many excellent fellowships and programs to support undergraduate researchers at UC Davis, and we are happy to sponsor applications to them.

**Also note that lab computers and printer(s) are for lab use only. Use of lab computers for personal purposes may be permitted only in special circumstances with prior permission