Lab Policies:

By adhering to these policies, we contribute to a collaborative, respectful, and productive environment in the Malone Disturbance Ecology Lab.

Collaboration and Teamwork: Your success is intertwined with the success of the lab. We function as a team, and while individual projects are essential, collaboration and mutual assistance are expected.

Communication is Key: Keep your PI informed about your ideas, projects, and collaborations. Collaboration is encouraged, but it's essential to maintain a balance with individual research pursuits.

Intellectual Ownership: Collaborate with your PI when working with or developing new ideas. Understand the history behind ideas to avoid conflicts. Effective communication is crucial to navigate intellectual property within the lab.

Respect and Professionalism: Treat everyone with respect and fairness. Zero tolerance for bullying, gossip, harassment, discrimination, or disrespect. Maintain a comfortable and non-hostile environment for all lab members.

Realistic Research Expectations: Align your research goals with your work ethic. Communicate your work schedule, including any absences due to travel or illness, with your PI.

Lab Citizenship: Clean up after yourself, avoid eating or drinking in the lab, and be considerate of others. Use lab resources responsibly, report equipment issues promptly, and follow university and environmental guidelines, including recycling.

Learning Etiquette: When someone teaches you something, take notes, and actively engage by asking questions. Continuous learning is essential for personal and collective growth.

Data and Code Management: Store all data and code on the lab server. Include a README file in your directory explaining how to use the scripts.

Lab Materials and Information: Consult your PI before taking any action involving lab materials, data, ideas, or equipment. Respect the confidentiality of lab information and adhere to university and funding body regulations.

Meeting Participation: Attend all lab meetings, relevant weekly project meetings, and participate in other lab activities. Regular meetings with your PI will be scheduled to review research progress and address challenges.

Professional Conduct: Represent the lab, department, and university professionally in all interactions, including conferences, seminars, and communication with other researchers, professors, and participants.

Privacy and Security: Do not allow friends or family to hang out in the lab. Keep your lab access code and computer account information confidential.

Seek Help When Needed: Request guidance, support, and mentoring when needed. Silence is not encouraged; ask for help to ensure your success and the success of the lab.

Research Integrity and Ethics

Malone Disturbance Ecology Lab places a strong emphasis on research integrity and ethical conduct to foster a collaborative and ethical research environment. While instances of gross misconduct are rare, encountering ethical issues in your academic career is almost inevitable. Often, such situations stem from inadequate communication rather than malicious intent. Therefore, honing communication skills is crucial to minimize the occurrence of ethical challenges.

Avoid Assumptions:

  • Never make assumptions; instead, seek clarification.

  • Even if you believe you have a clear understanding, consult your PI for confirmation.

General Lab Policies:

  • Inquire with your PI about overarching lab policies, including procedures for authorship, data collection, lab notebooks, collaboration, and vacations.

Clarify Project Roles:

  • Explicitly discuss your role in each project with your PI and collaborators.

  • Clarify expectations, responsibilities, and the scope of tasks such as data collection, analysis, and writing.

Ownership and Regulations:

  • Acknowledge that work conducted in the lab is subject to lab, university, and funding regulations.

  • Consult your PI before involving lab-related documents, ideas, data, materials, or equipment in any external activities.

Ongoing Communication:

  • Maintain consistent communication as projects evolve, personnel changes occur, and research interests shift.

  • Regularly discuss ideas, research progress, and authorship plans with your PI and collaborators in a transparent manner.

Overcoming Communication Challenges:

  • Address potential discomfort or anxiety in direct conversations about these issues.

  • Recognize the impact of factors such as national origin, culture, gender, and personality on communication preferences and limitations of assertiveness and comfort zones.  You may have to step outside of your comfort zone to overcome aversions to open and direct communication by embracing assertiveness.

Tailored Communication Style:

  • Choose a communication style that aligns with your personality, whether it's scheduling meetings for in-person discussions or using email for written communication.

  • Maintain a written record of discussions, decisions, and agreements for clarity.

Addressing Credit Concerns:

  • If you feel your contributions are not duly credited, have a gentle but assertive discussion with your PI and collaborating investigators.

Avoiding Possessiveness:

Explicitly communicate and avoid assuming ownership of projects or concepts.

Keeping the PI Informed:

  • Regularly update your PI on your work, understanding their unique perspective on grant details, project components, and equitable work distribution among team members.