Working Together in the Lab

It is recommended that before work in the lab gets under way, and during the lifetime of the lab, staff and students come together to discuss the following considerations when working together in the lab:

• Acknowledge that different team members bring different and complementary expertise. Discuss what each thinks they can bring to the table. It might be different from what you might expect from each other.
• Agree on a common terminology, and explain terms that are specific to your domain. Acronyms and expressions may not be familiar in other disciplines, but even the same words might mean different things to different partners.
• Emphasize the importance of listening. Be curious, and ask questions. How is a concept or term similar or different from the way you’ve heard it used before?
• Expect and discuss “culture” differences; E.g., differences of PHD trajectories in different departments or differences working in an academic or company environment;
• Consider scheduling (and attending) regular meetings across labs;
• Especially in the first weeks or months, plan for integrated, and if possible, in-person, activities for all PhD students in the lab. This can be decisive for cohesion later on.
• Dedicate some time to learning about and discussing psychological safety. This is the belief that one can speak up without risk of punishment or humiliation. It has been demonstrated to be a critical driver of high-quality decision-making, healthy group dynamics and interpersonal relationships, greater innovation, and more effective execution in organizations.
• Consider what kind of a culture is desirable in the lab and how to achieve it.
• Discuss personal preferences with regard to communication styles and channels, time management, tools, and conflict resolution mechanisms.