In the Costa Lab, we prioritize the professional training and growth of team members by fostering an environment that encourages continuous learning and development. One specific practice we believe in is revealing the hidden curriculum of academia, recognizing that navigating academia involves more than just conducting research. By intentionally informing team members about the reasoning behind the choices made in the lab, we aim for everyone in the lab to be aware of the unwritten rules, norms, and expectations that shape the trajectory of the lab and its members.

We also emphasize the importance of building peer networks and professional relationships by encouraging trainees to attend conferences, workshops, and seminars. These opportunities educate team members about current research trends and methodologies but also facilitate networking with colleagues and experts in the field. We actively support team members in presenting their research at conferences and provide guidance on how to effectively communicate their findings to diverse audiences. Additionally, Dr. Costa facilitates collaborations and encourage team members to engage in interdisciplinary research to broaden their skill set and perspectives.

In terms of skill development, we provide hands-on training in state-of-the-art techniques and technologies relevant to our research focus, such as advanced neurophysiology and neuroimaging methods, molecular biology techniques, and computational modeling of neural activity and behavior. Team members have the opportunity to work closely with senior team members and other experienced researchers in our professional network to gain practical experience in all of these domains. We also encourage all team members to take initiative and pursue independent research projects, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

We have a simple philosophy: when one team member succeeds, everyone in the lab succeeds. We prioritize mentorship and actively invest time and resources in training all team members, providing them with opportunities to develop critical skills and pursue independent research projects. We are not possessive about ideas or techniques, and Dr. Costa emphasizes that team members are always free to pursue intellectual ideas they have developed in lab. Additionally, we advocate for equitable recognition and credit distribution within scientific collaborations, ensuring that contributions from all team members, regardless of their seniority, are acknowledged and valued. This helps to mitigate the disproportionate emphasis on individual achievement and promotes a culture of teamwork.

To proactively mitigate conflicts, we establish clear expectations and guidelines for behavior and collaboration within the lab. For example, whenever a new team member joins the lab, they complete a mentoring questionnaire that is sent in advance of a conversation that ends in Dr. Costa and the team member drafting a mentoring agreement. That agreement, which is a living document, outlines expectations for conduct in the lab. This is one practice we have adopted to minimize the likelihood of conflicts arising.

But conflicts do happen and we approach their resolution with a collaborative and solution-oriented mindset that tries to avoid assigning blame. We employ evidence-based mediation techniques. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of learning and growth from conflict resolution, encouraging reflection and feedback to continually improve communication and collaboration within the lab.