Our values
What 3 words would you use to describe our lab culture?
Word frequency cloud from answers to this question (anonymous lab survey, late 2023).
Welcoming and supportive environment
We celebrate that everyone is unique and strive to maintain a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. It is our priority to uphold a laboratory environment where every individual is greeted with equality and respect. We recognise the mutual benefits of to taking an interest in each other’s research, professional development, and wellbeing.
Collaborative science
We believe that collaboration is key to achieving great research outcomes. We value teamwork, communication, and mutual respect in our research endeavours. While there can be positive forms of competition, we believe most in the value of collaboration. We strongly believe that collaborative science is the best approach to tackle the multidisciplinary challenges of our research. The best research comes from co-creation when everyone has their voice heard.
Mentorship & lifelong learning
We value the importance of mentorship and of supporting individuals at earlier career stages or with different skillsets and research backgrounds. We aim to build a strong sense of community, promoting collaboration and networking opportunities to support our members' professional and personal growth. We recognize the importance of ongoing learning and development in our field, seeking to continuously improve our skills, knowledge, and expertise.
Equality, diversity, and inclusivity
We strive to create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment that anyone would be proud to join. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity in our group, recognizing that a variety of perspectives and experiences enhance the quality of our work. We actively promote a culture of kindness, respect, and support to help bring out the best in ourselves. As a lab composed of members with diverse backgrounds, we are proud to attribute our success to an open and inclusive lab culture.
Growth mindset and leadership values
By instilling a growth mindset, we recognize challenges as opportunities for learning and growth, while also cultivating leadership values such as accountability, emotional intelligence, ownership of projects, and the ability to inspire and guide others towards success.
Open, clear, and respectful communication
Direct communication and honesty is highly valued within the group. Working in research can be filled with highs and lows and everyone is encouraged to share these moments with each other. Through open discussion, we hope to normalise making mistakes and asking for help when it is needed. We support researchers throughout their scientific journey and openly acknowledge the fact that in cutting-edge science a large fraction of the tasks we attempt will not work.
Intellectual rigor and scientific integrity
We strive for the highest level of rigor in all aspects of our research, including experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation of results. We aim to be critical of our results and recognise and address their limitations. Our word is only as good as our record. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of scientific integrity and research ethics by promoting a culture built upon honesty.
Zero-tolerance on harassment, bullying and discrimination
Everyone in the lab is treated equally and equitably. Conforming to the Equality Act 2010 of the UK, discrimination based on gender, age, race, sexual orientation, disabilities, religion, nationality, background etc. is not tolerated. As a group, we pride ourselves on respecting each other’s values and work. This has been essential in maintaining our lab’s pleasant and healthy working environment. These standards allow us to collectively be receptive if approached by anyone who has experienced any harassment, bullying, or discrimination.
Overall, we aspire to build a happy workplace by prioritising open communication, promote a healthy work-life balance, encourage collaboration and support for each other's work, provide professional development opportunities, and recognise and appreciate individuals' contributions to the group's success. A happy research environment inspires creativity and promotes innovative thinking and risk-taking, which is crucial to carry out innovative research at the forefront of its field. It encourages to learn from mistakes, rather than fear them, and fosters a positive work culture that attracts and retains talented individuals. Besides, happiness has a multiplying effect, and scientists who take joy in their work make excellent role models for others.