Philosophy

Singh Lab Mission

The mission of the Singh lab is to create and share new knowledge in evolutionary genetics and to cultivate a culture of curiosity and rigorous scientific exploration. Central to our mission is the development and maintenance of a diverse and inclusive environment that fosters interaction and productivity.

Singh Lab Values

The Singh lab embodies a mutual purpose best characterized by a core set of values. In this lab, we value:

• Safety                                     • Community
• Communication                    • Reproducibility
• Transparency                        • Rigor
• Curiosity                                • Respect
• Diversity                                 • Equity
• Inclusion

Singh Lab Code of Conduct

We have collectively defined a set of guidelines that allow us to align behaviors with our values.

Safety

• We label all solutions and store all reagents appropriately
• We do not eat or drink in the lab
• We are mindful that we work with organisms, and take every precaution to handle them appropriately
• We dispose of all chemicals, reagents, and organisms in accordance with UO safety standards
• We report all injuries, accidents, or unexpected events (lab floods, fires, etc.) immediately to Nadia Singh (202-341-7642), regardless of whether they seem small, knowing that we will not be criticized
• We all participate in safety training as a standard component of onboarding
• We consult with Nadia in advance should we wish to bring friends/family/others to the lab
• When in doubt about best safety practices, ASK!

Community

• We attend all lab meetings, seminars, and other events associated with being members of IE2 and the Department of Biology
• We refrain from wearing headphones so as to foster an interactive, engaged environment
• We are collegial with colleagues both locally and broadly
• We support our colleagues by providing thoughtful feedback on seminars, papers, posters, and projects
• We are committed to the success of our colleagues, and are willing to help others on their projects if asked
• We take care in using all laboratory equipment because these items are community resources. We make sure freezer/fridge/incubator doors are closed, CO2 is off when not needed, microscope lights are off when not in use
• We take pride in mentoring others, as teaching and training are the foundations of the scientific community
• We recognize that wherever we go, we represent the Singh lab, IE2, and UO
• We bring our best every day, with the hope of inspiring and elevating one another
• We recognize that what ‘best’ means on any particular day will vary, but whatever ‘best’ looks like, we will bring it

Communication

• We acknowledge that communication is the foundation of our community
• We are open, honest, and professional in our communication
• We are willing to listen, and we allow ourselves to be changed by what we hear
• We recognize that ours is not the only research going on in the lab. We communicate with our lab mates about needs for equipment use, including high-activity needs, to ensure our progress is not coming at the expense of someone else’s
• We recognize there will be an occasional need to move reactions/stocks/etc. from another party. We will do so carefully, store things appropriately, and communicate clearly to our labmates what was done
• We welcome constructive criticism on our research and respectfully offer the same to our colleagues

Reproducibility

• We maintain clear and detailed lab notebooks. Wet lab experiments are documented in spiral bound notebooks with sufficient detail that another individual could reproduce the experiment exactly. Each page/experiment is dated, and outcomes are contained in the notebook itself
• Fly scoring sheets are kept in 3 ring binders, with sufficient detail for an individual not associated with the experiment to identify the experiment from which the sheets came
• All scripts are clearly commented so as to be understandable to another user. This includes not only what each step is doing, but what expected inputs and outputs are.
• The methods sections of all of our papers are written with sufficient detail that another individual could reproduce the experiment and analyses exactly
• The raw data associated with publications are deposited into repositories so they may be accessed by anyone
• All figures and tables should have clear traceability to original data
• All code associated with publications is hosted on github
• All strains originating in our lab are available on request
• All data are backed up on a daily basis to two separate storage devices in two separate locations
• Lab notebooks reside in the Singh lab, even after we ourselves depart the lab

Transparency

• We do what we say and say what we do
• The methods sections of all of our papers are written with sufficient detail that another individual could reproduce the experiment and analyses exactly
• The raw data associated with publications are deposited into repositories so they may be accessed by anyone
• All code associated with publications is hosted on GitHub
• PDFs of our manuscripts are hosted on our website

Rigor

• We are thoughtful in our experimental design. This includes including when appropriate power analyses, redundancy, repetition, and/or comparative frameworks
• We employ appropriate statistical tests and models to test hypotheses. If we are not sure what approach is most appropriate for our data, we consult with statisticians
• We are mindful of ascertainment bias and how it might affect our inferences
• We are mindful of confirmation bias and design experiments to combat this
• We recognize that error is pervasive in research, and we take pains to appreciate all potential sources of error, how these errors may affect our results, and test the extent to which our findings are robust to such errors

Curiosity

• We are always questioning
• We think critically about alternative explanations for our findings
• We devour the literature
• We observe data (especially our own) with an objective eye

Respect

• We acknowledge that time is one of the most important resources we have. We are respectful of other people’s time. This manifests in part by showing up on time for all scheduled events and meetings
• We are respectful of our labmates’ space and resources. We don’t use others’ reagents, stocks, or consumables without asking. If given permission, we treat this space and these resources with care, as though it/they were our own
• We are mindful that we are all individuals with our own lives, and we take care to respect whatever might be going on in someone’s life outside of work
• We recognize that everyone has their own point of view, and we listen with an open mind to all perspectives
• We do not judge others for their beliefs or choices

Diversity

• We recognize diversity as an asset
• We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from one another and benefit from the experiences and expertise of our labmates and colleagues
• We value individual differences

Equity

• We do not tolerate discrimination, period. This includes, but is not limited to discrimination based on: ethnicity; race; gender; gender expression; age; ability; language; political beliefs; job title; religion; or sexual orientation.
• We encourage participation of others in conversations
• We do not dominate discussions
• We ensure equal access to equipment and resources for everyone in the lab

Inclusion 

• We are committed to creating a welcoming environment for all
• We introduce ourselves to people in the lab we have not as yet met
• We do not tolerate harassment of any kind. This includes, but is not limited to harassment based on: ethnicity; race; gender; gender expression; age; ability; language; political beliefs; job title; religion; or sexual orientation. Harassing behavior includes, but is not limited to: derogatory comments related to any of these axes; visual insults including sexual imagery in the workplace or presentations, derogatory posters or cartoons; intimidation; stalking; physical interference with normal work or movement; unwanted or unsolicited photography or recording; lewd comments or propositions; unwelcome physical contact; or unwanted sexual attention
• If we are being harassed or notice harassment of others, we reach out to Nadia, knowing she will support us.
• If Nadia is the cause of the concern, confidential resource reporting information for employees and graduate students can be found at: https://investigations.uoregon.edu/employee-resources#employee-confidential and for undergraduate students at: https://investigations.uoregon.edu/student-resources
• If we are asked to stop harassing behavior, we will comply immediately. If the behavior persists, we know we will be asked to leave the lab
• We recognize that everyone makes mistakes, and that individual differences in culture and/or experience may lead to differences in understanding of what is and is not appropriate. We are committed to bettering ourselves and educating others.