Laboratory mission:

Cultivating an inclusive, collaborative community of scientists to define mechanisms driving robust regeneration in the planarian model.

Note: Mission and text below generated collaboratively by R-G lab members and approved by vote in 2023.

In order to fulfill our mission, we strive to:

Invest in holistic training to develop scientists; use and develop innovative techniques to understand regeneration and stem cell biology.  Strike a balance—individually and collectively—of rigorously pursuing scientific questions about planarian regeneration, sharing knowledge with others, and training/mentoring/advocating for other scientists.  

Outcomes that help us know if we are fulfilling our mission:

Short-term expected outcomes that will help us know if we are fulfilling our mission: 

  • Each laboratory member creates and maintains an individualized, holistic training plan (IDP, etc.).

  • Each laboratory member creates and maintains an individualized scientific plan (short- and medium-term lists of experimental goals).

  • Each laboratory member completes planned experiments in a timely manner.

  • Each laboratory member regularly provides help to others through feedback, training, support/encouragement, and assistance with troubleshooting.

  • Each laboratory member regularly receives help from others through feedback, training, support/encouragement, and assistance with troubleshooting.

  • Each laboratory member contributes publication-quality data toward projects.

  • Each laboratory member shares their findings (works-in-progress) through group meetings and/or written works. 

  • Each laboratory member finds their own way(s) to contribute their skillset to outreach, teaching, mentoring, advocacy, and/or other activities.

  • Each laboratory member monitors their work/life balance (and work/work balance) and discusses with the mentor any need to adjust this balance.

  • Laboratory mentor provides regular and individualized support to help each lab member achieve the above outcomes and to develop toward their long-term goals.

  • Laboratory mentor provides funding, vision, and other large-scale planning to support the group’s work.

  • Laboratory mentor provides training and support on rigor, reproducibility, and other ethical standards.

Long-term expected outcomes that will help us know if we are fulfilling our mission: 

  • Publications of our work in preprints and peer-reviewed publications.

  • Presentations of our work.

  • Development and adaptation of new techniques.

  • Laboratory graduates who have received holistic training and who possess necessary skill sets to pursue career plans in STEM or related fields.

  • Laboratory members and group mentor (collectively and individually) contribute regularly to outreach, teaching, mentoring, and advocacy activities.