Welcome to the lab! Whether you’re just starting or already deep into your thesis, I’d love to share a few thoughts with you. These principles are our golden rules for effective collaboration and continuous improvement.
Want to build a solid research foundation? Start by reading high-quality journal papers. Check out publications from reputable sources like Elsevier, Springer, ASCE, arXiv, or IEEE. Steer clear of casual sources like blogs or random articles from the internet. Aim to collect and study at least 20 solid papers related to your topic. Take notes, identify patterns, and connect the dots.
More importantly, talk about what you are reading. Bring it up during meetings. Share what you found interesting or confusing. This is how ideas evolve, and your observations might help others see things in a new way.
Our lab is a shared space, so let’s all work together to keep it clean and organized. Please clean up after yourself, keep the volume low, and don’t turn your desk into a storage locker. We all need our workspace and equipment to be available to everyone who needs them. If you’re not around or not using your space for a while, we may need to reassign it to someone who needs it more urgently.
Communication is super important! When composing emails, particularly to external recipients or your advisor, ensure clarity and maintain a respectful tone. Don’t feel like you have to be super formal, just thoughtful and professional. These little things show that you care and that the whole team cares.
It’s great to start thinking about your research direction early. Feel free to come up with your own topic ideas and chat them over with me. But remember, the final decision needs to align with the lab’s research goals, what we have available, and any potential industry collaborations. When choosing a research topic, it’s important to strike a balance between your curiosity and what’s practical and relevant to our lab’s focus. We’ll work together to find a direction that works for both you and the team.
You don’t need to be a coding wizard, but don’t shy away from the technical stuff either. Tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot can be your time-saving sidekicks and help you write better. Get to know them like the back of your hand. Additionally, it is crucial to consider software such as EndNote, Mendeley, and proper formatting tools in Microsoft Word. These may seem like small things, but they can really make your thesis shine!
When you take on a task, make sure to follow through. No disappearing acts, no endless delays. Just give it your all and complete it to the best of your ability. Before meetings, take a few minutes to prepare a short summary of what you’ve done, what you plan to do next, and any questions you have. After the meeting, send a quick recap email to keep things moving forward.
No one expects you to figure everything out in a week. Research can be a bit of a rollercoaster. You might get stuck, then pivot, and suddenly find some cool insights. That’s all part of the adventure! Be patient with yourself and don’t get discouraged if things don’t go as planned right away. Remember, the goal is to learn how to think, not just to rush through things.
This laboratory is strictly academic in nature. While affiliated with this lab, students are expected to dedicate themselves fully to research activities. Preparation for technician licensing exams or any form of professional certification is not permitted during the research period. We’re all about real research that requires curiosity, persistence, and creativity. If you’re just looking to meet basic requirements, this might not be the best fit for you.