Work expectations - Mutual Expectations

We all work differently, and that’s okay. The goal is to make steady progress, learn, and grow while keeping things sustainable.

- Graduate school takes focus and hard work. Personally, I have never worked harder in my life than during my PhD. It's demanding, and I understand what that feels like.

- I generally expect people in the lab to work around 40 to 50 hours per week, with flexibility. Some weeks may be lighter, others busier depending on deadlines.

- I don’t expect you to work on weekends or to answer emails during that time. That time is yours to rest, reset, or do whatever you need.

- That said, there may be very rare occasions—like a grant deadline or something urgent—where I might ask for your help with a small task, such as preparing a figure or reviewing a paragraph. If you notice it’s time-sensitive, I’d appreciate the support, but I won’t make a habit of asking.

- I usually work flexibly at night after my kids go to bed, or sometimes on weekends, to catch up on tasks. You might get emails from me at unusual hours, but please don’t feel any pressure to respond outside your own normal schedule.

- There’s no fixed daily schedule, but you should be available for meetings and collaboration when needed.

- If you're stuck or something is slowing you down, reach out. Getting help early is always better and part of how we learn.

- Your time here isn’t just about checking off tasks. It’s about developing as a researcher and growing your independence.

Please keep me in the loop on your progress. If something is off track, we’ll figure it out together.
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to stay engaged, communicate, and keep learning.