• Bi-weekly group meetings will take place to discuss research progress and general lab matters.

  • • • • All lab members are expected to attend regularly or contact me in advance if unable to attend (e.g., scheduling conflict or other emergencies).

        • Lab member will be expected to deliver a presentation of their research, including literature review on a rotational basis.

        • During the first meeting of each semester we will determine a tentative presentation schedule (changes may occur due to conference presentation practice, defense feedback, etc.).

• Weekly or Bi‑weekly individual meetings to provide update and discuss particulars of your individual work (projects, thesis, publications, etc.).

  • • • • To be mindful of everybody's committments, set up calendar meeting invite directly after meeting time/date is set and agreed upon. 

        • Prepare for meetings by creating an agenda for the topics to be discussed.

        • Discussion topics must include at a minimum:

          • • • Accomplishments for the past week / 2 weeks.

              • Plans for the following week / 2 weeks.

        • Add agenda to calendar invite and e-mail it to me within 30min of setting up the meeting.

        • After our meeting supplement the agenda with notes and action items and save the document by the end of the same day in the dedicated google drive folder (serves as meeting minutes). Use template available in the google drive folder.

        • Name the resulting document as follows ‘yyyymmdd_lastname_firstname_meeting_minutes.pdf’

• At the beginning of each semester please provide me with copy of your schedule for that semester in the google drive folder.

  • • • • Fill out the form with your prefered time to be contacted for meetings with other grad students in the google drive to encourage collaboration.

• Our lab research activities embraces experimental practices and is build on transparency and replicability. For that purpose the methods that each of you employ for conducting research are critical for the continuous progress and success of the lab activities. Therefore, all methods, detail setup and process parameters, and results (i.e., data sets, samples, protocols) must be recorded and made available me (e.g., when working with the CPlab) (and in some cases the lab group if it is relevant knowledge - this will be determined on a case by case basis) if not restricted by funding agency or export control.

  • • • • Each of you must have one shared OneDrive/GoogleDrive folder with me and create relevant sub-folders within to store information (minimum of Admin, Literature, Data, Analysis, Pictures/Figures, Thesis, Manuscripts, Presentations, etc…..)

        • At the end of every year, record all your data on a USB drive and give me a copy with name-project title-semester-year.

• When you undergo training on a new equipment or software, you are expected to create a manual that will be shared with lab members.

  • • • • Be thorough with your manual. 

        • Future lab members will appreciate that, just as much as you appreciate the manual created by our lab alumni!

• Develop a 5-year plan for your studies

  • • • • Flowchart of courses and semesters when planned to be taken (first draft due by the end of 1st semester).

        • Create a plan documenting your path to completion of your degree (e.g., in form of Gantt chart).

          • • Show milestones related to project, research, university, and personal requirements (papers, reports, conferences, quals, etc) 

            • Use it as a planing tool and update often (at least monthly).

            • Have plan available during weekly individual meetings to guide discussion.

        • Always be open minded about opportunities aligned with your goals and bring them up in our meetings or share with the group, such as: 

          • • Potential venues to publish your work: conferences and journals (e.g., suitable special issues).

            • Fellowships and/or awards in your field.

            • Training opportunities, outreach, etc.

• Create your (digital) lab poster

  • • • • Each student is encouraged to have a (digital) poster that summarizes their research and progress.

        • Upload poster in google drive lab folder that is accessible by all lab members.

        • The first poster is required by the end of the 1st semester. It should be updated regularly (generally each semester).

        • In case your project is restricted by export control or contains otherwise sensitive data the poster creation needs to reflect that.

Your purpose here is to obtain a quality education, build a network in your field, make a contribution to research in-line with lab goals, learn skills for your career, and graduate!

• Communicate your goals and plans early. They may change over the course of your degree (which is normal) but knowing wether your plan is to stay in academia, transition to industry, or become an entrepreneur will help me help you! 

• You are responsible for the successful completion of your degree and creating the foundation of your future career.

  • • • • Faculty advisors and committee members will assist you by providing guidance for your work, but you are responsible for conducting independent research required for a graduate degree.

        • Be proactive at asking questions and looking for literature that furthers your understanding of the field.

        • Engage in discussions with leaders in your field of research, inside and outside USC, the US, and internationally!

        • Always be curious! And collaborate with others – your fellow lab members are ideal candidates for fruitful collaboration! 

• You are expected to publish peer‑reviewed papers. Publications are important for your professional development + the value of research comes from sharing results, and it is our way paying back the taxpayer for the project support.

  • • • • Undergraduate students: are expected to contribute in the development of conference papers and journal articles. It is always a plus to have papers in your resume as an undergraduate. It will make you stand-out!

        • M.S. students: are expected to publish a minimum of 1 conference paper and 1 peer‑reviewed journal article before graduation.

        • Ph.D. students: are expected to publish at least 1 conference paper and 1 peer‑reviewed journal article per year.

          • • Upon completion of the Ph.D. degree a student must have at a minimum 3 peer-reviewed journal articles published (in some cases 2 published and one in the last stages of review might be acceptable).

            • The reasoning for this requirement is multifaceted: 1) it will help you gain recognition as an expert in your field; 2) it is a requirement for an academic career; 3) your defense will be less stressful having your work validated by your peers prior to the presentation; 4) our purpose is to create and share new knowledge!

• Always clean after your work/experiments every day. Store materials, tools, etc. used in designated locations every day.

  • • • • The appearance of the lab is a reflection of our work practices!

• Always acknowledge receipt of emails that require any kind of action-item/follow-up from your part, asap but at least within 2h during regular business hours.

  • • • • This lets the sender know that you have read the message and have already addressed it or have put a plan in place for that (SMART). 

        • This is good practice not just during correspondence among lab members, but across professional setting.

        • Follow-up when the action has been taken and close the loop!

        • Make sure to write emails professionally.

• Conduct yourself in a professional manner by behaving in an ethical and respectful manner in class, in the lab, and in professional settings inside and outside the university. Your actions reflect on all of us and USC. Make sure to always leave a good impression! Keep in mind, online interaction and posts are forever and can have a lasting effect on your future.