The entire book is fantastic! Each chapter offers insights I wish I’d had when I was first starting out. Many thanks to the editors @chadedwards.bsky.social, Autumn Edwards, and Patric R. Spence. And, of course, the contributing authors! link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

The chapter contains details about day-to-day operations. But my favorite section is the last: "Future Directions and Advice". We point to key articles that guide the lab's organization, and how we think about a life in science. In short:

Deep thinking is rarely efficient. But that’s the point.

We see mentorship as a two-track system:
1. Shared projects where trainees learn by doing
2. Independent research where trainees develop their own scientific voice

The goal isn’t to make clones. It’s to cultivate independent scientists with their own ideas, strengths, and questions.

Our chapter tells the story of a lab with co-creation at the center.
- Lab created and maintained wiki
- Collaboratively written lab manual
- Shared expectations document (updated annually)
- Co-designed meetings that balance structure and creativity

github.com/cogcommscien...