NAVIGATION
Please schedule regular check-in meetings with me. If you prefer more hands-off mentorship, we can make the meetings shorter or less frequent, but I’d still like to make sure you have reliable access to me. These meetings are informal and anything relevant to your well-being is on the table. We can spend the time getting to know each other, reviewing academic deadlines, discussing your experience in the program, sharing the best place for fries in Louisville, etc.
If you want to meet outside our regular meeting time, please schedule meetings with me via Fantastical (no need to ask beforehand). Fantastical will automatically send a calendar invite to the email address provided (usually your university email). Please make sure you know how to access events on your calendar and check calendar invites for location and other meeting information. If you need to meet urgently (within the day), text or call me.
I keep at least one day a week free of any lab or individual meetings so (1) the lab has a schedule closer to a four-day workweek (though I can’t control what people outside the lab will ask of you) and (2) minimize the number of meetings the lab has in general. This is also my writing day, so it’s how I ensure I’m spending sufficient time on research weekly.
I try to stay on top of my deadlines as much as possible, which means if I miss a deadline, something is wrong—maybe your email went to spam or I got lost in Cherokee Park. If you need something from me (e.g., feedback, letter of recommendation), let me know as soon as you can and include a deadline in your request. If possible, also indicate if it is a hard deadline, so I can prioritize accordingly. Tasks without a deadline are relegated the end of my to-do list by default, so conversely, if the thing you need can wait, then no deadline is fine. If a deadline lapses and you haven’t heard from me, email or tell me when you see me. Please hold me accountable for missing a deadline.
Please ask for help from me as much as you want—I value being a part of your professional journey, and I care about supporting your development and progress. You will never be asking for “too much.” It is my responsibility to say no if you ask for more support than I can provide at a given time point or if you ask for something beyond my area of competence, but it’s not your job to regulate my schedule.
If you need a letter of recommendation, let me know as soon as possible because they will take me some time to write. Include the deadline, detailed instructions for submission (i.e., step-by-step instructions), description of role or context of the letter, your CV, and any other relevant materials (e.g., other parts of your application packet). If I’m not confident that I can write you a strong letter (e.g., you’ve only been in the lab for 2 months), I will let you know.
I aspire to be a supportive mentor who will do my best to make your graduate school experience as enjoyable and educational as possible. To that end, I strive to:
Be available in person and virtually, including having frequent meetings and providing timely feedback. You can talk to me about anything related to your professional development—even outside of research—including navigating conflicts with supervisors, imposter syndrome, making career decisions, etc. I see one of my primary roles as “unblocking” you, so if I’m ever holding you up (i.e., you can’t proceed with a task because you’re waiting on me), please let me know and I will make your project a priority.
Support your career goals and prepare you for them. Although this lab is primarily research-focused, there are many ways you can realize your professional values. Whether you want to go into academia, private practice, industry, or live out of a van, I want to help you develop the skills you need to be successful after graduating.
Provide regular and constructive feedback, especially in reference to your goals. Feedback may take the form of comments on your writing, suggestions on how to refine study ideas, or direct communication about areas to work on. My feedback is colored by my own experiences and impression of academic expectations and I see it as a starting point of discussion, rather than a non-negotiable directive.
Support your emotional and general well-being. You are always welcome to reach out if you are struggling—the sooner, the better. Even if I cannot resolve the issue, I can listen, normalize, validate, and connect you with resources that may be more helpful. Your well-being is more important than your productivity.
Respect your boundaries. I will rarely expect you to work during evenings or weekends (barring the occasional last-minute deadline) and definitely not while you’re on vacation or unwell. I’m a proponent of work-play balance and encourage you to find that balance for yourself.
Be responsive to feedback. Humans are wonderfully fallible; I will mess up at some point, and probably again and again. I welcome feedback in the service of fostering a healthier lab environment and supporting your development.
Be transparent around decision making. I want you to know why things are structured the way they are, and more important, I want to know if they don’t make sense. So if you don’t know why a certain policy is in place or why I have a certain expectation, please ask.
There are times when I won’t be able to give a satisfactory answer. There are two situations where I see this happening. First, the decision is outside my control, so even if I can explain the supposed rationale and it’s completely irrational, it will continue to be frustrating. Second, I’m professionally or ethically obligated to keep information confidential, such as when students are involved.
If you have any problems or issues with me and are comfortable doing so, please speak to me directly. I am committed to listening and considering how I can be most responsive to your feedback. I would love to get your input on what adjustments will resolve your concerns, though it is not your job to problem-solve for me.
If you’d prefer to talk to someone else, approach a faculty member you trust or refer to the ‣ page for resources. I strive to make the lab an inclusive and supportive environment, and the system must change if that is not the reality for everyone.