Research Group Culture - patrick-shamberger/PHATE_Lab_Handbook GitHub Wiki

Workplace Conduct

We aspire to an inclusive work environment, in which all members can thrive and achieve their goals.

Conduct in group meetings: The PHATE Group meets weekly throughout the academic year. We expect all group members to attend whenever possible, and have a strict ban on use of devices (laptops and phones) as a matter of respect for presenters. We aim for an atmosphere where people feel comfortable asking questions regardless of seniority. Questions should be asked in a respectful and friendly tone, and criticism should always focus on the research rather than the individual.

Work interactions: Many of our desks are in “open plan” offices. Be considerate of people around you who may have different needs/preferences, and follow basic open plan etiquette (for example, avoid distracting noises or spilling out into adjacent spaces). Longer and louder discussions should take place in dedicated meeting rooms or a social area. Meetings via online video platforms can be draining and distracting for those around you. We encourage members to balance the benefits of these platforms against the downsides, and appreciate that the needs/preferences of others may differ.

Inappropriate behavior: We expect all group members to contribute to a positive atmosphere grounded in mutual respect. We do not tolerate bullying, harassment, or discrimination. If you feel you have been subject to harassment, contact your PI or an appropriate university official (graduate advisor, etc.). If you witness or suspect someone else is being subjected to inappropriate or unwanted behavior, discuss it with them confidentially or raise it with a PI or graduate advisor. For relatively minor cases (e.g. inconsiderate interactions that stop short of bullying), you can speak to the person who is behaving inappropriately if you feel comfortable doing so. Teamwork is critical. Treat your team members with respect.

University resources: University Statement on Harassment and Discrimination, Title IX Office, TAMU HR Resources

Work and Wellbeing

Looking after your long-term wellbeing is crucial to being able to achieve your full potential.

Setting expectations: A key aspect of being happy in your career is having clearly articulated and agreed expectations. However, it is often difficult to predict how long a given task or step will take. Agree on target project timelines, but remain flexible, and be understanding when timelines slip. Communication is key to managing expectations and setting work boundaries. If you feel your workload is impacting your wellbeing, you should discuss it with your PI .

Working hours: In general, we do not dictate expected working hours, we identify expectations for research output. You will benefit a lot from working in the lab, but group members are not required to spend their whole working day there. Researchers should find a schedule and approach that works for them, discuss this with their PI , and raise concerns if they are struggling to be productive. You should not feel obliged to reply to emails, slack messages, or other communication platforms outside of your own working hours, and should respect the working hours of your colleagues. I encourage you to identify time periods in which you are most productive at writing and to reserve those times for writing activities. If you are more productive writing in the library, in a local coffee shop, or in another location, take advantage of that productivity.

Work-life balance / Time off: A healthy work-life balance helps to manage the stresses of academic research. This means making time to do things you enjoy, for necessary personal activities, and for family commitments. Beyond adopting daily working hours to sustainable levels, the general expectation for graduate students is to take ~a week of vacation around the holidays, and ~a week over the summer period. Timing for your holidays is generally up to you, but you may need to work around other constraints or deadlines. You are free to adjust timings or combine vacation periods. Please arrange these timings ahead of time with your PI. International students generally have unique needs (visa requirements, fewer trips for longer periods) which can be accommodated.

University Resources: Living Well at TAMU

Equality

We are firmly committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates the diversity of our group members and promotes equal opportunity. By cultivating a culture of inclusivity and respect, we strive to create a sense of belonging which supports the innovative work of our group.

The Personal & The Professional: Every group member represents a unique intersection of experiences and identity, and should feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to work. We aim to nurture this by understanding how our differences interact with both our professional and personal lives, and influence our individual aspirations and needs.

Good Citizenship

Our success is largely down to individual members pitching in to help each other.

Being a good citizen: As a member of the group, you are strongly encouraged to get involved with some form of lab service. This kind of “good citizenship” ensures the smooth day-to-day running of group activities and ensures that the burden does not fall unfairly on a few individuals.

What constitutes good citizenship? Anything that primarily benefits the lab rather than you personally. Examples include teaching, instrument calibration and maintenance, advising colleagues or junior researchers, group admin, reading draft manuscripts or listening to practice presentations. Note, there is no expectation that everyone does all of these activities.

Finding a balance: Good citizenship activities can be time consuming. It is important that they do not significantly impact your research progress. We also recognize that not everyone has the capacity to take on additional work. We recommend discussing any potential activities that may take time away from your main research with your PI.