5  Lab meetings

Lab meetings are a central part of the research environment in this lab. They provide a regular space for discussing ongoing projects, developing research skills, sharing challenges, and building a strong intellectual community. These meetings are an opportunity to receive feedback, learn from others, and engage in the collaborative process that underpins rigorous scientific research.

Attendance at lab meetings is mandatory, unless you have a class that conflicts with the meeting time. If a conflict arises, please let me know in advance. Active participation in lab meetings is a key part of your training. These meetings are also an important venue for staying connected to the broader work of the lab. Use of laptops, phones, or other devices during lab meetings is not permitted, unless explicitly required (e.g., for presenting) and approved by me for the meeting. The goal is to create a focused and respectful environment for shared discussion.

Lab meetings are typically held weekly or biweekly during the Fall and Winter semesters and take place in our lab space. The structure and frequency of lab meetings may vary depending on my teaching schedule and the current composition of the lab.

5.0.1 Pod meetings

Pod meetings are smaller, more focused gatherings organized around individual projects. These meetings allow for detailed technical discussions, project planning, and mentorship within a more targeted context. Pod meetings are meant to complement—not replace—full lab meetings, and you are expected to attend and engage with both formats. Pod meetings may occur more frequently than regular lab meetings depending on the needs of individual projects and lab members.

5.0.2 Journal club

Graduate students will take turns leading journal clubs, with a primary focus on methodological topics, statistical approaches, or metascience articles. This focus helps ensure that discussions are broadly relevant to all lab members. Occasionally, we may discuss a more targeted article that relates directly to a project in the lab.

Each journal club presentation should be prepared in collaboration with one or two undergraduate lab members. This provides an opportunity for undergraduates to deepen their understanding of scientific literature and for graduate students to develop their mentorship and leadership skills.

Presenters are expected to give a brief overview of the paper, including the research question, methods, results, and key conclusions. A few discussion questions should be prepared in advance to help facilitate the conversation. The purpose of journal club is not to critique for the sake of criticism, but to build a deeper understanding of the literature, develop critical thinking skills, and practice communicating research ideas clearly and constructively.