Lab Philosophy

Our Mission

To make meaningful discoveries in behavioral neuroscience while equipping undergraduate students with fundamental behavioral neuroscience research skills.

Reproducibility

We conduct our science to the highest ethical standards, following standardized protocols. We document our methods in detail, and openly share data and other information within and outside our lab with the expectation of highly reproducible results.

Responsibility & Honesty

Everyone makes mistakes and feels confused sometimes. Be honest if you aren’t clear about something. Questions are always welcome! Tell others if you make a mistake, so we can correct the problem together. Covering up or blaming someone else for a mistake is never acceptable.

Teamwork & Communication

Projects in our lab will always be a team effort. Lab members are not in competition with one another; we work together to achieve our goals. Clear, direct, and timely communication is critical. We strive for an environment in which lab members trust each other and resolve problems effectively.

Lab Culture

Spending time in the lab should be fun, even when experiments do not go as hoped! We treat each other with kindness and respect. We expect reliability and commitment to lab work, and also recognize that everyone has a life outside of the lab. We encourage lab members to take care of their physical and mental health.

Diversity & Inclusion

We believe that diversity drives creativity and innovation. We seek to include people from various backgrounds in our lab, especially those underrepresented in STEM, and ensure equitable access to opportunities and resources. Our lab should be a space where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute to science.

Respect and care for animals

Our laboratory animals deserve our utmost respect. We have the immense privilege and responsibility of caring for them. Approved animal care and use protocols must be strictly followed, and any concerns about the welfare of our lab animals should be reported to Prof. Williams or to our vivarium supervisor.