1. 'Moving science forward' and research techniques are a part of daily conversations and weekly meetings between SR and lab members. SR meets with students and post-docs essentially on a daily basis, discussing experiments and potential issues as they arise. Current data are evaluated, follow-up experiments are constantly appraised and modified as needed, the thinking behind the experiments is fleshed out by both parties, and a mutually acceptable and optimal research path is chosen. Formal bi-weekly “data review” meetings are also held. SR believes that this iterative 1:1 process is the best way for trainees to flourish scientifically. The trainee is also required to present his/her research at a formal monthly lab meeting, where they present their data to the whole lab, receiving input and feedback. SR still retains a decent technical knowledge (or at least thinks he does), and sometimes sits with students and fellows on the microscope to gather and evaluate data.
2. Development and expansion of knowledge base is essential for success in science. SR believes that while it is vitally important to know one’s chosen field in great depth, it is also important to keep up with important advances in one’s general field (neuronal cell biology and mechanisms of neurodegeneration in this case) as well as advances in development of research tools. This is achieved through local journal clubs and seminars that the fellows are required to attend, in addition to national and international conferences where the fellow presents their research and are exposed to new information. The Roy lab also has regular local journal clubs where trainees present a paper (or discuss a topic) close to their area of interest) and is also involved in a “neurodegeneration journal club” organized between several labs at UCSD. Typically, each member of the Roy lab also attends about one national/international meeting each year, where they present their research to a larger audience.
3. Development of Professional skills is an important part of scientific training but is often ignored. Trainees in the Roy lab get several opportunities for presenting their data in small meetings as well as bigger gatherings. The monthly lab meetings and local journal clubs are a way to present data in a semi-formal environment, and the expectation is high. Journal clubs and conferences are opportunities to present data formally. Trainees in the Roy lab also write grants and papers with SR as appropriate, and occasionally also help in reviewing papers. Scientific writing is a topic that SR is quite finiky about, and he hopes to impart some of his hard-learned knowledge to his trainees.
2. Development and expansion of knowledge base is essential for success in science. SR believes that while it is vitally important to know one’s chosen field in great depth, it is also important to keep up with important advances in one’s general field (neuronal cell biology and mechanisms of neurodegeneration in this case) as well as advances in development of research tools. This is achieved through local journal clubs and seminars that the fellows are required to attend, in addition to national and international conferences where the fellow presents their research and are exposed to new information. The Roy lab also has regular local journal clubs where trainees present a paper (or discuss a topic) close to their area of interest) and is also involved in a “neurodegeneration journal club” organized between several labs at UCSD. Typically, each member of the Roy lab also attends about one national/international meeting each year, where they present their research to a larger audience.
3. Development of Professional skills is an important part of scientific training but is often ignored. Trainees in the Roy lab get several opportunities for presenting their data in small meetings as well as bigger gatherings. The monthly lab meetings and local journal clubs are a way to present data in a semi-formal environment, and the expectation is high. Journal clubs and conferences are opportunities to present data formally. Trainees in the Roy lab also write grants and papers with SR as appropriate, and occasionally also help in reviewing papers. Scientific writing is a topic that SR is quite finiky about, and he hopes to impart some of his hard-learned knowledge to his trainees.