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WHY DO YOU NEED A LAB HANDBOOK?

Imagine that a new researcher is joining your team. Without clear guidance on how the group operates on an interpersonal level, they begin to form their own impressions. The researcher assumes based on prior experience that they are expected to work long hours; they worry that they should not actively share their ideas with colleagues; and they feel obligated to attend an upcoming conference despite challenging personal caring responsibilities. Yet none of these assumptions have been communicated explicitly and do not necessarily match those of their new team.

WHAT IS A LAB HANDBOOK?

A Lab Handbook is a flexible document that addresses these challenges by describing how your team operates. It aims to outline your groups ethos: the culture, expectations, and opportunities for individual members. This can include a description of the roles and expectations of researchers at different career stages (and in different positions), the culture and atmosphere that your group aims to cultivate, and how your lab supports the professional development of its members.

How does a Lab Handbook help your group?

A Lab Handbook facilitates how your group communicates and operates. It ensures all team members receive a consistent message and have a reference for holding their colleagues accountable for their behaviour. It provides a basis to understand how your group works, and encourage dialogue for change. It promotes wellbeing by explicitly communicating what is expected of everybody.

How can I get started?

Check out this article to learn more about Lab Handbooks and how they can support your group. To help you create your own Lab Handbook, you can find writing resources here, including a Lab Handbook Template. Watch this video to get a brief overview of our initiative, or check out our podcast here.

EXAMPLE LAB HANDBOOKS (BASED ON OUR RESOURCES)

What do our colleagues say? 

(Writing a Lab Handbook) reminds me of writing the methods to a scientific paper. Until you describe in detail how you do things and put it into words, it is easy to fool yourself that you are doing things sensibly – but it can often be vague or open to interpretation. When you write it down, it clarifies any ambiguities – Professor of Neuroscience, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford

(Our Lab Handbook) has made many of the ways in which our group runs more explicit, it has prompted important discussions about our lab culture, it has highlighted areas where people were not happy and helped us to discuss how to improve things – Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford

(I was surprised to read in my Lab Handbook) that we shouldn’t keep working long nights and every evening and make it a habit – Doctoral Student, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford

Our Lab Handbook initiative has been recognised in the University of Oxford Vice Chancellor Awards (Highly Commended, Research Culture Category) and been included in Imperial College London’s Academics Success Guide

Contact

To enquire about our work with Lab Handbooks, please contact Benjamin Tendler (benjamin.tendler@ndcn.ox.ac.uk) or Karla Miller (karla.miller@ndcn.ox.ac.uk).