What you should expect from your advisor:

• Availability: I will make myself available for regular meetings and informal conversations. I encourage you to seek my guidance and support whenever you need it. I will work tirelessly for the good of the lab group; the success of every member of our group is my top priority.
• Graduate program of study: While you are responsible for keeping up with deadlines and requirements for your graduate program, I am available to help you interpret these requirements and select appropriate coursework. I will also guide you in selecting committee members for your Ph.D. training.
• Complementary skills: I will facilitate your training in complementary skills needed to be a successful scientist/engineer, such as oral and written communication, grant writing, and mentoring. I will encourage you to see opportunities in teaching and to gain practice in mentoring undergraduates.
• Scientific/professional meetings: I will encourage you to attend scientific/professional meetings and will make an effort to fund such activities. You can generally expect to attend at least one major conference during your graduate studies when you have material to present. If you register for a conference, I expect you to attend the scientific sessions and participate in conference activities during the time you are there.
• Data ownership and authorship policies: We will discuss data ownership and authorship policies regarding papers. It is important that we communicate openly, regularly, and early about them. Do not hesitate to voice concerns when you have them.
• Mentoring and career development: I am committed to mentoring you, even after you leave my lab. I will provide honest letters of evaluation for you when you request them. I will try my best to understand your unique situation and mentor you accordingly. I view my role as fostering your professional confidence and encouraging your critical thinking and creativity.

What your advisor expects from you:

• Be honest, ethical, and enthusiastic in your work.
• Learn how to plan, design, and conduct high-quality scientific research, and keep up with the literature to guide your work.
• Present your work at meetings and seminars, and publish scientific articles that effectively communicate your findings to others in the field. We have an obligation to complete and disseminate our research, so I will push you to publish your work throughout your training, not just at the end. Doctoral students should aim to be the lead author on at least two journal paper submissions.
• Be a team player, actively engaging with our research group and the broader research community on campus.
• Attend and actively participate in all group meetings and seminars, providing support to others in the lab through shared insight. Foster a climate of engagement and mutual respect.
• Be a good collaborator, engaging in effective communication, mutual respect, trust, and shared goals with collaborators within and beyond our lab.
• Treat your lab mates, lab funds, and equipment with respect. Take part in shared laboratory responsibilities, use resources carefully and frugally, and maintain a safe, clean, and organized laboratory space. A lab that is disorganized and messy can make it difficult for you to conduct your research and can lead to decreased efficiency. Additionally, working in an unkempt environment can be demotivating and impact your overall productivity.
• Take ownership of your educational experience, being knowledgeable of the policies, deadlines, and requirements of the graduate program, the graduate school, and the university. Actively cultivate your professional development using available resources.
• Communicate clearly, regularly meeting with me to provide updates on your progress and results, share new ideas and challenges, and respond promptly to emails from lab members. If you need time to gather information, acknowledge receipt of the message and indicate when you can provide the requested information.
• Discuss policies on work hours, sick leave, and vacation with me directly, notifying fellow lab members in advance of any planned absences.
• Maintain a work-life balance, recognizing that vacation time is essential for creative thinking and good health

Yearly Evaluation:

Every year, we will have a meeting to review your progress and goals. During this time, please feel free to let me know if there is anything about your graduate student experience that is making you unhappy. As your advisor, I am here to support you and can assist you in resolving any issues you may be having with other students, professors, or staff. Likewise, if you have any concerns about my role as your advisor, please don’t hesitate to bring them up. If you feel that you need more guidance or support, let me know. During this meeting, I will also provide you with feedback on your progress and let you know if you are on track to graduate by your target date. If there are any areas where you need to improve, I will explain them to you so that you can take the necessary steps to address them. This meeting is an opportunity for us to address any potential problems before they become major issues.