Overall Goal

A typical PhD may take approximately 5–6 years, although the actual timeline will depend on your program requirements, research progress, and career goals.

The goal is not simply to complete experiments. During your PhD, I hope you gradually develop from someone who is learning how to do research into an independent scientist who can:

• Identify important scientific questions
• Design and troubleshoot experiments
• Critically evaluate data and literature
• Communicate science effectively
• Mentor others
• Plan and manage research projects
• Prepare for your next career step

Typical Roadmap

Years 1–2: Explore & Build Your Foundation

Focus on:

• Rotations, if applicable
• Learning essential techniques
• Exploring potential projects
• Developing good experimental and record-keeping habits
• Establishing a sustainable research pace
• Reading papers regularly
• Completing preliminary/qualifying examinations
• Identifying fellowship opportunities and applying when appropriate

During this stage, it is completely normal for projects to change or for exploratory work not to become a final thesis project.

Years 2–4/5: Build Your Research

The major focus should gradually shift toward your dissertation research.

Whenever possible, I encourage graduate students to develop two research directions/projects. Research is unpredictable, and having more than one promising direction reduces the risk of becoming dependent on a single project.

Goals during this period include:

• Developing ownership of your projects
• Generating rigorous and reproducible data
• Presenting your work
• Applying for fellowships if you have not already done so
• Writing and publishing papers
• Beginning to mentor junior lab members when appropriate

Years 5–6: Finish & Transition

The focus gradually shifts toward:

• Completing remaining experiments
• Writing and publishing manuscripts
• Writing your dissertation
• Mentoring junior lab members
• Preparing for your next career step
• Graduating

Your graduation timeline should be discussed well in advance so that research goals and career preparation can be planned together.

Graduate Student Expectations

Career & Progress Planning

Once each year, we will have a dedicated meeting focused on your long-term development rather than your weekly experiments.

We will discuss:

• Preliminary/qualifying exam progress
• Research milestones
• Projects
• Publications
• Fellowships
• Career goals
• Expected graduation timeline

You will also complete or update an AAAS Individual Development Plan (IDP) to help guide this discussion.

Scientific Communication

I expect graduate students to:

• Submit at least one conference abstract when they have appropriate work to present
• Apply for travel awards whenever eligible
• Attend scientific conferences when appropriate
• Present research within the department at least once per year
• Present regularly at lab meetings and journal clubs
• Regularly attend departmental seminars

Committee Meetings

Plan for approximately two committee meetings per year, unless your program or committee recommends a different schedule.

Committee meetings are not only program requirements—they are opportunities to receive scientific input and make sure your project remains on a productive path.

Meetings with Me

We will normally meet weekly to discuss:

• Recent results
• Problems and troubleshooting
• Upcoming experiments
• Project direction
• Writing and presentations
• Anything else you would like to discuss

Mentoring Modes

Different students need different levels of structure at different stages of training. My goal is for the mentoring style to evolve as you become increasingly independent.

Mode 1 — Structured Planning

We work together each week to develop a relatively detailed experimental plan for the following week.

At our next meeting, we review:

• What was completed
• What worked
• What did not work
• What needs troubleshooting
• What should happen next

This mode is generally recommended during the first few years or whenever you are learning a new project or technique.

Mode 2 — Independent Planning

You take primary responsibility for planning your experimental schedule.

Instead of planning individual experiments together each week, we focus on:

• Overall project strategy
• Major experimental priorities
• Interpretation of results
• Troubleshooting
• Longer-term milestones

You still update me regularly, and we revise the overall plan together.

The goal is not to choose one mode permanently. The goal is to gradually move toward greater independence as you become comfortable managing your own research.

Overall Goal

Lab Associates play an important role in both lab operations and research.

Your responsibilities will depend partly on your interests and career goals. Some Lab Associates may want to develop primarily toward laboratory management, while others may want substantial research experience before graduate school, medical school, industry, or another career.

We will discuss which path makes the most sense for you.

Lab Management Responsibilities

Responsibilities may include:

• Receiving laboratory packages
• Collecting and organizing packing slips
• Maintaining shared laboratory spaces
• Helping organize laboratory supplies and inventory
• Helping maintain commonly used reagents and materials
• Supporting other routine laboratory operations

Specific responsibilities may change as the lab grows.

Research Responsibilities

Research responsibilities may include:

• Mouse genotyping
• Routine experimental support
• Maintaining clear experimental records
• Returning results and data on time
• Communicating unexpected results or problems promptly

Depending on your interests and performance, you may also have the opportunity to develop an independent or semi-independent research project.

Your Career Direction

Early in your time in the lab, we will discuss:

What do you want this position to help you accomplish?

For example:

Research / Graduate-School Track

Your training may gradually become more similar to that of a graduate student, including:

• Developing your own research project
• Reading literature
• Presenting research
• Learning experimental design
• Contributing to manuscripts

Lab Management Track

Your responsibilities may increasingly emphasize:

• Laboratory organization
• Inventory
• Ordering
• Animal colony coordination
• Training new members
• Developing and maintaining lab procedures

Research Technician Track

Your focus may remain primarily on:

• Technical expertise
• Experimental execution
• Reproducibility
• Supporting multiple research projects

These paths are not permanent. We can revisit your goals as your interests and career plans develop.

Overall Goal

Your postdoctoral training should prepare you for the next stage of your career.

For postdocs pursuing an academic research career, major goals will typically include:

Publish papers. Obtain funding. Develop scientific independence. Practice communicating your science. Prepare for the job market.

However, academia is not the only successful outcome of postdoctoral training.

If your goal is industry, teaching, scientific administration, communication, or another career, please tell me. We can adjust your training and opportunities accordingly.

Years 1–2: Build the Foundation

During approximately the first 1–2 years, I expect to be relatively involved in:

• Developing your project
• Experimental strategy
• Troubleshooting
• Interpreting results
• Planning publications
• Identifying fellowship and grant opportunities

The mentoring style during this period may resemble the structured mentoring provided to senior graduate students.

Increasing Independence

As your project develops, I expect you to gradually take ownership of:

• Project direction
• Experimental planning
• Collaborations
• Manuscript development
• Grant writing
• Mentoring junior researchers

Eventually, you should be able to lead your project rather than simply execute a project designed by me.

Meetings with Me

Even as you become independent, I do not want independence to mean isolation.

I would still like us to meet weekly or bi-weekly, depending on your needs and the stage of your project.

These meetings can focus on:

• Scientific strategy
• Results and troubleshooting
• Papers
• Grants
• Collaborations
• Mentoring
• Career development
• Job preparation

Career Development

During your postdoctoral training, I strongly encourage you to:

• Publish your research
• Apply for fellowships and grants
• Present your work regularly
• Attend conferences
• Develop collaborations
• Mentor junior scientists
• Practice scientific writing and presentation
• Build an independent scientific identity
• Prepare early for your next career step

And most importantly:

Tell me what career you want.

My job as your mentor is not to decide your career for you, but to help you build the skills, experience, and opportunities needed to pursue it.

Mentoring is a two-way relationship. I have expectations for you, but you should also have expectations for me.

During your time in the Wang Lab, here is what you can expect from me:

1. Regular Communication

I will meet with you regularly to discuss your research, progress, problems, and future plans.

You do not need to wait until a scheduled meeting if something important comes up. If you are stuck, confused, worried about an experiment, or simply need to discuss something, please reach out.

I would much rather hear about a problem early than discover it several weeks later.

2. Scientific Guidance

Especially when you first join the lab, I will help you with:

• Developing research questions
• Experimental design
• Planning experiments
• Troubleshooting
• Interpreting results
• Reading the literature
• Scientific writing and presentations

As you gain experience, I will gradually step back and give you more independence.

My goal is not for you to follow my instructions forever. My goal is for you to eventually be able to design, evaluate, and lead your own research.

3. Timely Feedback

I will try to provide constructive and timely feedback on:

• Experiments
• Presentations
• Abstracts
• Manuscripts
• Fellowships and grants
• Career materials

For large documents such as manuscripts, theses, or grants, please give me reasonable advance notice and enough time to provide meaningful feedback.

4. Career Support

Your career does not have to look like mine.

Whether you want to become a PI, work in industry, become a staff scientist, teach, attend professional school, or pursue another career, I want to know your goals so that we can plan your training accordingly.

I will help you identify opportunities to develop the skills and experience you need for your next step.

Your career goals may also change during your time in the lab. That is okay.

5. Opportunities to Grow

When appropriate, I will encourage you to:

• Attend and present at conferences
• Apply for fellowships, grants, and travel awards
• Present your research
• Write papers
• Participate in collaborations
• Learn new techniques
• Mentor junior lab members
• Develop increasing ownership of your projects

I will try to give you opportunities that help you become more independent and move toward your career goals.

6. Transparency About Authorship and Project Ownership

We will discuss authorship, project responsibilities, collaborations, and expectations as projects develop.

These discussions should happen early and can be revisited when projects change.

If you are ever uncertain about your role in a project or how authorship will be determined, please ask me.

7. Room to Make Mistakes

Experiments fail. Samples get lost. Things break. Sometimes we make the wrong decision.

Please tell me when something goes wrong.

Making an honest mistake is part of doing research. Hiding a mistake, altering data, or allowing a known problem to affect other people's work is much more serious.

We will focus first on understanding what happened, fixing the problem when possible, and preventing it from happening again.

8. Respect for Your Ideas

You are allowed to disagree with me.

If you think my interpretation is wrong, an experiment does not make sense, or you have a better idea, tell me.

You should be able to defend your reasoning with evidence, but scientific disagreement is healthy and expected.

I may be the PI, but that does not mean I am always right.

9. A Respectful Lab Environment

I will work to maintain a lab environment where people are treated professionally and respectfully.

Harassment, discrimination, bullying, retaliation, and deliberate mistreatment of other lab members are not acceptable.

If there is a conflict in the lab that you cannot resolve yourself, you can come to me.

10. Work Hard, but Build a Sustainable Pace

I do expect everyone in the lab to work hard and take their research seriously. Research takes time, persistence, and consistent effort, and there will be periods when experiments or deadlines require extra time.

At the same time, I do not believe that working longer hours always means doing better science. I want you to develop a productive and sustainable working style that allows you to make steady progress while also having a life outside the lab.

I am generally flexible about your daily schedule as long as you are responsible for your work, communicate with the team, complete time-sensitive experiments when needed, and make reasonable progress toward your goals.

Some weeks will be busier than others. Take breaks, take vacations, and take care of your life outside the lab—but when you are here, I hope you are engaged, curious, and willing to put real effort into your work.

11. Recognition for Your Work

I will make an effort to make sure your scientific contributions are appropriately recognized.

When you have done good work, I want you to have opportunities to present it, write about it, receive appropriate authorship, and use it to advance your career.

12. An Open Door for Difficult Conversations

Not every problem will be scientific.

If you are struggling with your workload, mentoring relationship, project direction, career plans, or something about the lab environment, I would rather you tell me than remain unhappy in silence.

You can also tell me when my mentoring style is not working for you.

We may not always agree, and I may not always be able to give you exactly what you ask for, but I will listen and discuss the issue with you.

One Thing I Ask in Return

Communicate with me.

I cannot help with a problem I do not know about.

You do not need to have the solution before coming to me. You can simply say:

"I have a problem, and I'm not sure what to do."

We can figure out the next step together.