The Giraldez Lab Goals

We are here to do good science, to advance our knowledge in the field of biophysics and neuroscience. To this end, we must perform well-designed experiments, concisely analyze and interpret data; communicate our findings to the scientific community and to society; contribute to training a new generation of scientists.

To all lab members

Most of all, I expect everyone to bring out the best in yourselves, to aim high, to work happily and with passion. This means:

• Open and fluid communication. Honesty is key.
• Maximum respect for all lab members.
• Positive mental attitude.
• Hard and sharp work.
• Carefulness in experimental execution.
• Scientific rigour.
• Maximum efficiency.
• Steady motivation.
• Common sense (this comes in very handy).
• Active effort in maintaining a fun and productive lab atmosphere.
• Active effort in obtaining independent funding (when possible).
• Being aware of the ethical and social aspects of what we do and how we do it.

I will not tolerate:

• negative attitude.
• behaviours that clearly harm the lab morale or good atmosphere.
• actions that harm the reputation of the lab or any lab member.

Important things to know about the lab:

• Spanish and English are our informal languages. English is our professional language. This applies to all presentations, PhD dissertations, lab meetings, anything that is written in the lab, even the preliminary figures.
• Assistance to and participation in lab meetings is compulsory.
• We work in the most collaborative way. Although all students and postdocs ideally should have their own project, this is a small lab. We all share and move forward as a whole. So I ask everyone to be generous and aware of what everyone else is doing, joining efforts
  whenever is needed.
• Even within our own team, we welcome a friendly competition. This is not only part of the students´ training, but also a way to ignite all of us towards higher standards.
• Working in Tenerife: we are here because we want to enjoy life and work to the maximum. But you must know that working here has serious drawbacks. These include isolation, an environment where research is not a main institutional goal, a big latency for products and equipment to arrive, and the terrible assumption from most of the world that this is a vacation land. Many people will tell you “you are in the beach all day?” We are obviously not…but the truth is that it is always there at the end of the day :) ! I need you all to be aware of these pitfalls and do your best to overcome them as a team.
• We must be a happy but also a productive team. Having free time and venting out the frustration is important, but we all must learn to make our time extremely productive. This implies dedication. You must embrace your project and do whatever it takes to make it work. That means that we must plan well, think smart and talk about everything we do. Ask people in the lab. Talk to your PI and other mentors. Go for it!
• We are a team, but unfortunately we are all human, so conflicts will sometimes arise. Be respectful, and talk about it, the sooner, the better.
• We do try to make a difference. Our work is funded by public money. In Spain, students and postdocs are funded by scholarships or grants (public money). We must be aware of our duty and work hard and responsibly. We must also give back, publishing papers, presenting our data to the scientific community and also to society. We constantly participate in science outreach programs or activities.

To Post-Docs

I expect you to do your absolute best and pursue a productive and honest scientific career. I need you to:

• Communicate your needs to make the most out of your projects.
• Be independent. Lead your project with firm and positive attitude.
• Be a role model for the students in the lab. Mentor and inspire them.
• Keep an organized lab book that can be reached at all times, that will stay in the lab and help future members.
• Grow as a scientist and as a person. Move towards your independence and develop more skills that will help you to become a principal investigator in the future.
• Write papers, grants, give talks.

To Graduate Students

I need you to be:

• Knowledgeable of the work done in the lab, even before you came.
• Enthusiastic and curious, to the verge of obnoxiousness.
• Hard worker.
• Organized. You must keep an organized and actualized lab book.
• Super participative.
• Super positive.
• Super receptive towards advice: Listen-and-learn attitude.
• Open-minded.
• Humble.
• Respectful to the post-docs in the lab (believe me: they do know better).
• Respectful to Science. To the scientists that you will meet along your way. Respectful to the Academic career and the contributions of so many before you.
• Eager to read, study, and over all, think.
• As independent as you can, with the guidance of the postdocs and your PI.
• Helpful to the maximum extent in the lab.
• Be the first to organize and propose fun things to do outside the lab :)

To Master Students

Master students are common and in principle temporary members of the lab. They usually have little lab experience (or none) and diverse backgrounds, generally not very strong in biophysics or neuroscience (this is a problem of our University programs, not their fault). I think their contribution is important to the lab, and I commit to provide them with a feasible project that they can fulfill in a few months. But I also will expect from them the same that I do for PhD students: hard work, lots of respect, extremely high tolerance. Over all, COMMITMENT. If you come to our lab, it is because you want to have things done. There is no other way.

To Lab managers

You are my Hand of the King :) . I need you to be:

• Flexible.
• Helpful and generous (with your time and your knowledge).
• Patient.
• Organized and well-informed.
• More communicative than anyone else in the lab.
• Do the work that keeps us up-to-speed: revise protocols, place orders, talk to vendors, help in projects that need an extra hand, etc.
• Be sure that we will work together to define your line of work, according to your will, dedication and your skills.

Teresa

I am here to help you:

• See the big picture.
• Write grants, papers, communicate your work.
• Keep the lab afloat with constant funding, to make sure you can do your experiments.
• Support your travel for meetings and conferences as much as I can, either with the lab funding or helping you with specific applications.
• I am here to listen to your concerns and support you when things go awry; I will help you to face the music.
• I will be there to cheer and celebrate your success!

I count on all of you to help me to be a good PI.