top of page

A Day in Bisson Lab

This statement is a glance of our mission and intellectual philosophy. For more details on how our lab is managed, we keep available an updated version of our BISSON LAB MANUAL.

The Bisson lab foundation is supported by three core values:

1. Transparency and Collaboration

We value the free exchange of scientific ideas and open discussions about data and what it represents. Questions about your project, thesis and data are welcome at all times. We believe honesty and explicit expectations are essential for fruitful collaboration and scientific advancement. It is important that everyone knows what others in the lab (and elsewhere) are working on, why and how they are doing it; outside perspectives and constructive criticism fuels growth. We believe collaboration stems from conflict of ideas, which requires direct and clear communication:

"Politeness, Francis Crick said over the BBC at the time he got the Nobel prize, is the poison of all good collaboration in science. The soul of collaboration is perfect candor, rudeness if need be. Its prerequisite is parity of standing in science, for if one figure is too much senior to the other, that's when the serpent politeness creeps in. A good scientist values criticism almost higher than friendship; no, in science criticism is the height and measure of friendship. The collaborator points out the obvious, with due impatience. The collaborator stops the nonsense".​​

Clifton and Nelson (1992)

We all share the love for science and all of us, from the most inexperienced member to the most knowledgeable, are subject to making mistakes at any given moment. In the Bisson Lab you are expected to:

  • Avoid assumptions - ask questions​

  • Be respectful and kind​

  • Give (and accept) constructive criticism​

  • Be transparent about your mistakes and misconceptions


2. Leading by Example
 

We aim to create an environment where we engage in creative, innovative science fueled by curiosity. While science can be hard at times, it is also a privilege to make a living as professional scientists.  Therefore, we must honor the trust from peers, taxpayers, and private foundations, and I expect everyone to work hard. Taking pride in our work elevates our individual and the group spirit. This includes:

  • Being thorough with your data and experiments.

​

  • Keep up-to-date and organized logs of your experiments and protocols.

​​

  • Respect the time and resources invested in collecting data and analyze it carefully, creating polished, intelligible plots/slides/manuscripts.

​

  • While content will always be priority, shape and form carry their own importance. It is part of communicating your work so others can learn from it.

​

  • Keep a clean and orgabnized lab space. Our lab and equipment are an extension of our work ethics.


3. Intellectual Freedom

We aim to train scientists comfortable in an interdisciplinar, curiosity-driven environment where expertise is as valued as the ability to learn new skills outside our fields. This requires a horizontal mentorship structure. Every lab member is expected to serve, formally and informally, as mentors to others. To honor these expectations, Alex spends as much time in the lab running experiments. This creates a group leader who continues to be a technical and intellectual reference rather than a project manager. This approach also saves time in understanding what is possible and what to do to accomplish our academic and scientific vision.

Our group welcomes physicists, computer scientists, chemists, and engineers as much as biologists. Our lab supports scientists to have the freedom to pursue (and fail) in projects they are passionate about, including new technical and intellectual directions.

"Haruki Murakami was a mediocre student. Like a lot of people who go on to high achievement later in life, the future novelist had trouble paying attention to what the teachers told him to pay attention to, and could only study what he was interested in. But he made it to college, and a few credits before graduating he opened a small jazz club in Tokyo. In 1978, Murakami was at Meiji Jingu Stadium in Japan watching a baseball game and drinking a beer. The leadoff batter for his team, the Yakult Swallows, laced the ball down the left field line. As the batter pulled into second base, a thought crossed through Murakami’s head: “You know what? I could try writing a novel".

​​​

“The Surprising Route to the Best Life Possible” by David Brooks 

bottom of page