Lab Philosophy

Science/Research Philosophy

Our group focuses on combining protein design with biophysical tools to engineer functional proteins which can 1) guide our understanding of natural protein structure and function, and 2) enable the development of materials and biologics for a host of environmental and health applications. Our goals are to do great, methodical science and contribute to the field: This means we are rigorous and critical in our approach! We do the best science we can with the techniques we have available...sometimes we end up being wrong or contradict the literature (and ourselves). That's okay! We work to find the truth and sometimes admitting that we are wrong is part of it. We will never cut corners and manipulate data in our pursuit of the truth. And we will be open and transparent about the science in our lab! 

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

In our lab, we respect the basic dignity of every lab member and visitor regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic background, physical ability, family status, or age. We are all humans living in this beautiful world and we must treat each other with kindness, empathy, and compassion. We bring our unique backgrounds and experiences to the table: We should celebrate who we are as individuals and the diversity of the greater community. We take responsibility for our actions and words and look to improve ourselves and our community. 

We openly acknowledge the systemic biases in our communities and will actively speak out against these injustices. in the lab, we will cultivate a culture that is welcoming and safe for all lab members. We must realize that our own experiences in science may not be what others have seen or felt. We must be able to empathize with others, open our eyes to the adversity that others endure, and push ourselves to fight against these inequities. In order to foster a culture of equitable education and inclusive excellence, we need to know and understand the challenges facing our new generation of scientists. Achievement of a culture of inclusive academic excellence requires that we clearly address issues of race and racism, sexism, and ableism in the sciences and our communities. The benefits of diversity and inclusion extend well beyond the bench: by upholding these values, we embrace new generations of scientists and innovative ideas. The hope is for aspiring scientists of all genders, races, backgrounds, and creeds to see themselves as they are: scientists.