Lab Philosophy

Come and ask (big) questions

Science is about asking questions, and every question is valuable. The saying is, “There are no silly questions; the only silly thing is not to ask.” We try to answer questions through the mutual collaboration of different disciplines, valuing that everybody has their own strengths and weaknesses. Our research is becoming increasingly multi-disciplinary, with unfamiliar methods, vague concepts, and constantly changing definitions. Therefore, we all remain students – at every level of the profession – from the intern and undergraduate student to the lab head! We thus embrace a lab culture where everybody contributes his/her own view and expertise because we are deeply convinced that we are each other's teachers and students. This also means that it is okay to make ‘mistakes’ and to be corrected for them. We deal with mistakes openly and constructively. In fact, science and innovation are much about learning from one’s own and other's mistakes to get to the core of things. There is always a way of doing it better! Only by occasionally stepping back and taking a broader perspective can we effectively assess whether what we do still aligns with the questions we aim to explore and how they connect with other disciplines.

We value diversity

We have created an environment that welcomes and relies on our diverse backgrounds. By including different perspectives, we enrich learning, promote innovation and an inclusive community. Together, we create a culture grounded in mutual respect, collaboration, and equal opportunity for everyone. Our lab maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against harassment or any form of discrimination.

We foster academic freedom and collaboration

Our philosophy of being each other's teachers and students and our appreciation of diversity make collaboration within the lab and with other labs key. We hope everybody finds a sense of community within our lab and feels encouraged to collaborate and ask for help. We encourage everybody to pursue collaborations also beyond our lab. Collaborating with different people will expand your and the lab’s perspective, enhance our skill set, and, over time, likely contribute positively to your primary research mission. We are advancing science and directly contributing to the workforce that will improve patient care and healthcare delivery.

We value different career paths and ambitions

Most of our lab members work on specific individual research projects. There is a great responsibility to the funders, the institution and the public in general to ensure high quality research and to complete the research projects successfully. Whilst this requires a focus on the project, we also encourage everyone to research and experiment beyond the scope of their specific projects. Working in science is about finding a balance between scientific and personal goals. We try to support our members in their career development and life planning through our culture of collaboration within the lab and fostering collaboration with other labs and partners outside of academia. We believe that the academic world is not a “one-way street”. Therefore, we welcome people moving back and forth between academia and non-academia.