Mentorship and Diversity

Mentorship
Feel free to address Prof. Miller as “Earl”.

Each Ph.D. student and postdoc is a leader or co-leader of their own project. Earl typically assigns an experienced lab member as a personal mentor to new lab members. This is based on mutual research interests. It leads to more effective training of new members. It often results in lab members co-authoring multiple papers.

The Miller Lab encourages collaborations between lab members and open discussion of all projects. There is no competition here. This openness facilitates scientific progress and exposes members to a variety of viewpoints and approaches.

Miller Lab members have many opportunities for scientific feedback in discussions with Earl and other lab members as well as lab meetings. Earl meets regularly with lab members to discuss progress, issues, strategies, scientific practices, etc. Earl has an open-door policy. Students and postdocs are encouraged to drop by to discuss any issues or questions they may have without having to make an appointment.

Earl does not believe in micromanaging. His philosophy is to help young investigators become independent scientists by giving them independence with guidance and support.

Earl prepares scientific papers by writing with students and postdocs, not by merely editing or re-writing their work. Collaboration and discussion during the writing process help them become better writers.

Diversity and inclusion

We strive for an environment in which all are welcome. Diversity strengthens our science and widens our worldview. We respect each other as well as any differences in opinion. We do not tolerate any words or actions that discriminate or devalue any lab member for any aspect of their identity. We expect all lab members to adhere to MIT’s Nondiscrimination Policy and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies of the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT.