Rotating in the Lab

Big Picture

Rotations are a two-way street – you want to know if our lab is a good fit for you, and we want to know if you are a good fit for our lab. Here’s what we care about most:

Curiosity and independent thinking. We want to see you developing your own perspective on your project: how it connects to other work in the lab and the field, and what you’d want to try next. Independent reading is the best way to build this, alongside active participation in lab meetings, seminars, and informal conversations with the team and with Mike.

Ownership and drive. Science rarely works on the first try – troubleshooting is a normal, constant part of the process, not a sign that something’s gone wrong. What we’re looking for is how you respond to that: digging into the literature, designing rigorous experiments, trying alternative approaches, and asking for help when you get stuck. We’re here to troubleshoot alongside you, and your rotation is a great chance to see what kind of support you can expect from the team going forward.

Being a good labmate. You’re responsible for your own project, but you’re also part of a team. Communicate early and often, treat people with respect, ask for help when you need it, and offer it when you can. Be the kind of person you’d want to work with.

Rotation Expectations

  1. A few weeks before your rotation starts, send Mike your anticipated start and end dates, your schedule outside of lab (classes, etc.), any program paperwork that needs to be completed, and any deadlines for end-of-rotation grades, presentations, or reports.
  2. Please follow our lab Code of Conduct and the expectations listed for Everyone and Graduate Students on the Welcome, Expectations and Conduct page.
  3. You’ll have one-on-one meetings with Mike every two weeks (or more often) – see Individual MWMs – and you may also work closely with a more senior lab member, with whom you should communicate frequently.
  4. You’ll attend lab meetings throughout your rotation, and near the end you’ll give a short (20-30 min) presentation on what you worked on.