Lab Culture

Below highlights EHBOL's culture and guiding principles. Our full Lab Manual can be found on the EHBOL Trello board.

EHBOL Culture:

EHBOL is a collaborative workspace (both physical and virtual) where team members work together.

 ● Dr. Fong (Principal Investigator[PI]/ Lab Director) is hands on at first, but she expects independence overtime. 

● Dr. Fong has an “open door” policy where all questions are expected and welcomed. 

● The EHBOL is a dry lab that uses shared laboratory space (called “User Groups”) in the School of Kinesiology Building – NeuroSuite (4th floor) and Clinical Research Suite (1st floor) and clinical spaces at the Rogel Cancer Center (1500 E Medical Center drive, Ann Arbor 48019). The EHBOL is open to other colleagues within and outside of the U-M and with collaborators from other institutions such as Rutgers Cancer Institute, Purdue University, and Cedars Sinai Hospital.

Guiding Principles:

We are a team and depend on one another for success. As a result, the expectation is that we: 

● Hold ourselves accountable. To grow as researchers and as people, we need to take responsibility for our actions. Within EHBOL, there are many moving parts, maintaining a proactive atmosphere of accountability will ensure smooth operations. We encourage taking ownership and striving for excellence in all lab-related activities. 

● Strive for scientific innovation and personal excellence. Dr. Fong encourages all members to try something new to shift current scientific paradigms. 

● (Double, triple) Check our work and data for accuracy and completion. In concordance with the U-M Standard Practice Guide, we are stewards of research data. All data (including all code, data collected, study instruments etc.) must be kept intact, stored on the EHBOL Dropbox and shared drives on U-M issued devices, and always be accessible by Dr. Fong (i.e., Dr. Fong serves as the “owner” role). PHI must only be stored on HIPAA-compliant drives and in concordance with U-M policies. Personal devices can be used as secondary back-up sources for non-PHI and anonymized data only. 

● Work as a team. We try our best to help one another out. Be patient with one another and don’t be afraid to ask for help! When you run into a problem that you cannot solve despite multiple attempts, ask the lab for help. 

● Be independent where possible. To develop as an independent researcher, it is crucial to demonstrate initiative, establish both short-term and long-term goals, and adhere to the deadlines you set for yourself (source: Dr. L. Lepley’s lab manual). Always communicate honestly, even when it is difficult. Over communication is preferred. It’s better to actively get your message across than to make assumptions. Clear communication is pertinent for all lab operations. 

● Be an active member of the lab. Work towards proficiency with your respective technologies and applications. Advocate for your needs, including personal and career goals. 

● Respect and celebrate each other’s strengths, areas of improvement, differences, and beliefs. EHBOL fosters a culture of inclusion, acceptance, and respect for diverse perspectives and identities, strongly opposing ableism, racism, and sexism. All team members are expected to interact with others—including research participants, staff, students, collaborators, and community partners—in a way that aligns with this culture (source: Dr. Miller’s job description).