Kahne Lab Compact
“Diversity is essential to diversity of thought” - Professor Daniel Kahne
This compact not only outlines our research and work philosophy but also sets our expectations for lab members. We will periodically review and update the compact as we learn and grow together. This document contains our philosophy regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Our commitment to DEI is presented below as a guiding ideal.
Research Philosophy
The scientific questions we’re exploring are big and complex; answering them requires the collaboration of many people with different perspectives, backgrounds, and skill sets. We stress the importance of discussing ideas and scientific problems with others inside and outside of the lab. Most importantly, we believe it’s essential that everyone feels comfortable asking for help. Sharing knowledge, insights, and expertise moves science forward. We work to make sure that every lab member can comfortably and respectfully question others’ hypotheses and conclusions. Just as experiments and bench work are essential for driving research forward, an attitude of continuous curiosity is crucial for developing scientific researchers. Our main priority is that students and postdocs learn how to think about difficult scientific problems.
Expectations
Human beings can only work for so many hours in a day. We recognize that maintaining good health and work-life balance is essential to maximize one’s productivity in the lab, and that science is not a nine to five job. Rather than hold an expectation of how many hours should be spent at the bench, we value deep intellectual engagement with our science: careful planning of experiments, time spent reading literature or refining our models, and thorough analysis of our data and their implications.
All lab members are expected to present their work on a regular basis, and objective discussion of data with mentors and other lab members is always encouraged. Individuals can feel vulnerable when sharing their data and hypotheses, so we expect criticism to be both respectful and constructive. Disagreements are inevitable and a welcome part of scientific advancement, and no one should feel uncomfortable voicing a different point of view about a hypothesis, model, or conclusion.
Science is a collaborative effort, and while all researchers will have the chance to develop and push forward their own projects, lab members will find areas of overlap in their work. The expectation is that researchers use this as an opportunity for communication and collaboration rather than competition. Cooperation extends outside of the lab and outside of Harvard as well - we encourage group members to pursue fruitful partnerships with other scientists to advance both the investigation of the questions at hand and build a diverse and supportive network of peers.
Everyone in our group is dedicated to their work and has a passion for scientific research. We will not tolerate any behavior which would limit the ability of an individual to fully engage with their research or which would make our researchers feel unsafe or unwelcome.
Well-Being
Above all, we prioritize the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of every lab member. We recognize that people have different needs and unique personal circumstances outside of the lab, and thus will have different limits. We also acknowledge how easily graduate students, postdocs, and lab staff can feel socially isolated. We work to mitigate feelings of isolation by looking out for one another and creating an environment where personal wellness is valued above all.
Graduate school and post doc positions are stressful and can be overwhelming. Undue stress and anxiety, in particular the chronic low-level stress that can accompany an unsupportive atmosphere, are not conducive to developing as scientists or as people. We strive to keep our lab environment challenging but supportive, with reasonable expectations and open communication. To build camaraderie within the group, we host activities outside of research such as game nights, hikes, swimming, and group dinners (put on hold to prioritize safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, of course). We encourage any member feeling overwhelmed to take advantage of the mental health options available through the Counseling and Mental Health Services at Harvard.
Mentorship and Career Development
We believe that mentorship is fundamental to science. Though institutional hierarchy dictates a set of mentor-mentee relationships, we also foster mentorship from peers and collaborators. Daily communication allows senior members of the group to educate and advise newer members, and we encourage newer members to seek guidance during their development as scientists.
Everyone’s time in our lab must come to an end. As lab members leave, they will go on to apply the skills they have learned to new problems. Each lab member will have their own career goals and aspirations. To this end, the lab aims to encourage and assist members in attaining the skills, connections, experiences, and confidence they need to pursue the career of their choice.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We strive to make our lab the most inclusive, diverse, and equitable space it can be. We acknowledge the inequities that exist within STEM, within academia, and beyond. We hold ourselves accountable for continuously recognizing and working against these inequities. We know that there are differences in the level of training, knowledge, personal circumstances, and aspirations of lab members. As such, our goal is to provide each member with an academic space that not only acknowledges but also supports and celebrates these differences.
We believe that the training and work of scientists is inextricably linked to the concepts of diversity, equity and inclusiveness. Answering difficult and interesting scientific questions requires ideas borne from diverse thought. Diversity of thought is developed when there is a diversity of people working equitably and inclusively. We have established a rotating DEI committee tasked with fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, enacting programs to actively combat the history of inequity and lack of diversity, and educating the lab about DEI-related issues. Each person in the lab will serve on this diversity committee at some point during their tenure in the lab; this requirement allows every lab member to develop skills, to contribute ideas, and to learn about the resources available to encourage diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Resources
While our lab strives to be a space where people feel safe and welcome, we acknowledge that people want and need other communities in order to feel fully supported. We’ve compiled a (non-exhaustive) list of resources that might help members of our community feel more at home here:
Links to other lab compacts which inspired our own: