Borrego Laboratory Student Expectations

(this is a living document and will be modified as needed - last updated: 2023-0414)

Time Commitment Expectations

1. Fulfill your weekly hour commitment for hands-on research, group and lab meetings do not count towards this.
   • For credit based students, 1 credit hour = a minimum of 3 hours working on your research project each week.
   • Volunteer students must be able to commit to at least 6 hours per week of research

2. I do not closely monitor students research hours and I expect that students will manage their time in a way that enables the completion of their weekly project and team goals. With that said I expect the majority of that to be during reasonable working hours 8 am - 6 pm.

3. This research requires time flexibility and subjected to the timing of our research organisms. Some weeks will require more time commitment which can be offset across other weeks. Running an experiment may require a whole day which should be saved for a weekend.

4. Attend all scheduled individual and group meetings where we will discuss your project and the research teams progress and scheduling.

Meetings

1. We will meet formally each week to discuss results, progress, ideas, and relevant literature, either face-to-face or as part of a group. Please come to each meeting prepared for substantive discussion:
   • The paper you read that week, its major take-home messages, and specifics on how you will use this information
   • What you did the previous week and at least one thing you’re ready to show me (a plot, data table, etc.) and at least one question you have (which could also be formulated as a plot, data, etc.).
   • Please be ready to propose what you want to accomplish in the upcoming week. In return, I will be ready for discussion and ideas on how to improve your work and new directions that we might take.
   • Send me your presentation by the morning (8am) of our intended meeting day.
2. Once a week we will have a large laboratory meeting where one person presents a research paper and one group presents their research since the last meeting. We will discuss with others what we’ve been working on, what problems we may be trying to overcome, and similar things. I expect members to ask questions and contribute to the scientific dialogue. Please let me know in advance if you will not be able to attend that week’s meeting.

Communication

1. We use slack to communicate in my group, and it is required that you sign up to the group slack channel and install it on your phone
   • When I send an announcement/ instructions/ etc., I expect you to acknowledge it with some type of emoji within 1 work-day.
2. I will send direct or group messages at all hours of the day and I do not expect you to respond to them outside of normal working periods. The same goes for emails.
   • When I send emails, I expect you to acknowledge reading them within 1 work-day. Just replying “got it” or something similar is fine.

3. Discussion or dissemination of research (goals, experiments, results, etc.) outside of RIT is not allowed without prior approval from Dr. Borrego. This includes social media. Please ask me if you need guidance on how/ what to share.

4. I expect you to keep me informed when you hit obstacles in your research that you cannot overcome as soon as possible.

5. Please use a consistent file naming system for what you send me; include your name and date where appropriate.

6. At the beginning of every semester, please let me know of your scheduled time away from the lab, including for school holidays. I also understand that unplanned situations occur, but please let me as soon as possible so we can plan to pivot when needed.

Research

1. I expect the highest level of commitment to scientific integrity. Scientific misconduct will not be tolerated and may result in immediate removal from research group and an immediate F for any course grade. This includes:
   • Fabrication: Making up data or results and recording or reporting them
   • Falsification: Manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record.
   • Plagiarism: The appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit.

2. I expect you to keep a detailed, legible and accessible laboratory notebook. Your laboratory notebook serves as a record of what you have done and it will be used by you and other students who follow you so it must be complete and legible. Your laboratory notebook should stay in the laboratory at all times unless you are using it temporarily in another research space (e.g., greenhouse). It will remain in the laboratory after you leave the research group. Copies of any electronic files generated are expected to be left with the PI.

3. I expect students to be responsible and dedicated in caring of their plants. This includes:
   • Visiting them at least every other day including weekends
   • Watering them as needed (in the mornings to reduce rots)
   • Fertilizing them as needed
   • Immediately letting me know of insects, pathogens, lighting, or climate control issues
   • If you plan on being away from the lab, it is your responsibility to coordinate the care of your plants.

4. Please see me or a previously trained person for instruction before using a new piece of equipment. If you find you are unsure or can’t recall the details of some procedure, stop and ask me or someone again! Most of the equipment in my lab is very expensive and unreplaceable. I expect all users to exercise care in operating the equipment, and to inform me of any potential problems immediately

5. I expect all students working in the laboratory are expected to keep a tidy work area and to put things away before they leave for the day including washing of glassware and discarding of plant material. This means you must plan your time accordingly. You may plan to autoclave the glassware and sanitize the pots within the next few days.

6. Refill the supplies from A-level or 1st- floor stockrooms before the end of the day. Plan ahead and gather supplies for the evenings or weekends when needed. Informe me right away of non-stock room items getting low so I can order them before they run out.

7. I expect that you will have results, you will present your research at the RIT/ COS/ GSoLS Undergraduate Research Symposiums. Preparation for these oral or poster presentations may occur outside the normal academic year.

8. I expect you to become more independent (as a researcher) as you progress in my program, students that do not demonstrate growth may not be asked to continue for following semesters.

Laboratory culture

1. I expect everyone to be a good lab citizen. Work as members of a team, promote safe, productive, and positive environment for all laboratory members.

2. Please help each other during large experiments.

3. Respect each other and be professional, positive, productive, constructive.

4. Mentorship of less experienced students in the laboratory. I do not want the junior members of the research groups to become underlings for the senior members.

5. Ask open ended questions of each other during presentations

Open Door Policy & Asking for Help

1. I have an open-door policy and you can interrupt me with a polite knock to ask questions at any time if my office door is open. That said, I too have deadlines and research to perform, so please do your best to respect my time, as I will respect yours. If I am already meeting with another student or colleague, or on the telephone, please do not interrupt.

2. I usually pass through the laboratory and greenhouse spaces once or twice a day to check in with group members and see what everybody’s up to. You can expect me to ask if there are any questions you have, what new progress you’ve made, or for you to tell me something you’re excited about.

3. If we need to meet for longer than expected, on a shorter notice, or for more career and professional advice, please schedule a meeting with me via https://calendly.com/ejbsbi

4. I do travel for a variety of reasons, and will generally be out of touch for part or all of those times. Before my travel we will set up an amount of work for you to complete commensurate with how long I will be away.

Authorship

1. It is my hope that every student researcher who works in my group is part of a scientific publication. My policy for co-authorship is that you must contribute significantly to at least 2 of the following 4 stages of a project:
   • Help conceive original ideas and start a project (e.g. assist with proposal preparation)
   • Make laboratory measurements or process data
   • Interpret results to the point where a manuscript can be written
   • Author part of a manuscript into publishable form (e.g. write, edit, generate figures).

2. Typically, to be a first author, you must contribute significantly to at least 3 of the above stages, including doing most of the writing.

3. If you leave a project unfinished, I reserve the right to have someone else finish it and adjust the authorship accordingly. If I have to write the majority of manuscript that will be me.