Diversity is a powerful asset of teams, not individuals, that has become a cornerstone of modern society. Our lab welcomes all, regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender or gender identification, nationality, or religious belief. We are a unified group of researchers who share a fascination for proteins, while also recognizing and respecting the backgrounds of those around us.

Unconscious biases can be present, but we are committed to recognizing and ameliorating them through increasing our awareness and understanding. In order to create a psychologically safe and open environment, it is important that everyone be encouraged to speak up if such biases appear. As we spend a great deal of time in the lab together, we must prioritize establishing an atmosphere of acceptance and inclusivity.

Our goal is to permanently improve in every aspect of life, including our work. Having good mentors is essential for success. To help others achieve their goals, we must get to know them and understand their objectives. Formal mentoring in the lab, in lab meetings, and through individual development plans is essential, but informal chats over a cup of coffee or tea, or while grabbing lunch together, are just as important. The goal is to create a bespoke mentoring experience that meets the specific requirements of each person.

Every lab member has their own projects which they shape and direct. During weekly lab meetings, everyone presents their progress. This keeps everyone informed on the lab's research and enables timely feedback and team-based problem-solving. Additionally, everyone in the lab will become familiar with all the techniques used, even if they are not directly applicable to their own research. 

Staying focused on the big picture is just as important as carefully analyzing each experiment. To promote the development of intriguing stories, every lab member has the opportunity to present their overarching progress about three times a year in separate lab meetings. These progress reports serve as opportunity to reflect and adjust research directions if needed.

TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More

Every lab member works on their own projects, which come together to form our group's vision of an integrative understanding of protein physiology. We work together as a team to make this vision reality. There is no competition within the lab and lab-internal collaborations are explicitly encouraged. We foster a friendly and supportive atmosphere and strive to ensure everyone enjoys their experience in the lab. Science is fun! When we have fun doing our work, work itself becomes a joy. This feeling is multiplied in a team where we cheer each other on and celebrate achievements together. 

Scientists are humans too and thrive in communities. Our smallest community is the lab, and we often socialize during lunch, spontaneous lab outings, or retreats. These activities are intended to offer team-building events and diversions from work. Sharing experiences outside of the lab increases the team sense.