Lab values and policies

As a mentor and supervisor, PI Jeremy Yoder aims to be more Leslie Knope or Rupert Giles than Miranda Priestly. Policies outlined here are as much for his accountability as they are for the rest of the lab. He owes a tip of the hat, too, to the Drew Lab website for the nudge to include a page like this.

In The Origin of Species, one of the many experiments Charles Darwin describes to build the case for evolution by natural selection is a result that apparently pre-dates his own scientific career: “It has been experimentally proved, that if a plot of ground be sown with one species of grass, and a similar plot be sown with several distinct genera of grasses, a greater number of plants and a greater weight of dry herbage can thus be raised.” (Darwin 1859, p. 115) That is, a living community is more productive—in the sense of containing more living tissue—when it is composed of many diverse species, which can each make a living in its own way, taking advantage of slightly different resources, and perhaps even facilitating each other’s growth.

In a similar way, scientific discovery thrives when scientists bring diverse perspectives and experiences to research. The Yoder Lab strives to cultivate a safe and open environment for curious, creative thinkers who treat each other with respect. Potential lab members are welcome whatever their race, religion, gender identification, sexual orientation, age, disability status, or economic background.

As a member of both the American Society of Naturalists and the Society for the Study of Evolution, PI Yoder is specifically accountable to the Code of Ethics for Evolution Societies. That code is not very long or detailed, so here it is in full, with some small variations between the SSE and ASN versions merged in:

Membership in the Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE) is a privilege open to all who want to contribute to the study of evolutionary biology. Members are expected to behave in a manner that is consistent with SSE’s values and goals. As such, members are expected to adhere to SSE’s Code of Ethics:

1. Interactions with research and professional communities

• Adhere to community standards and journal policies regarding authorship, data availability, the disclosure of conflicts-of-interest, and service as editor or reviewer. 
• Generate and disseminate knowledge with integrity and rigor. Actions such as falsifying data, plagiarism, and the failure to appropriately credit the contributions of others constitute unethical conduct. 
• Report unethical or illegal research practices to the appropriate authorities, such as journal editors or university administration, when in a position to do so, and do not knowingly file false reports.
• Follow encouraging, constructive, inclusive, and respectful professional interactions and institutional practices. Unethical conduct such as harassment, discrimination, bullying, retaliation, and abuse of power are unacceptable.

 
2. Interactions with governments, institutions, and researchers

• Comply with legal requirements and ethical guidelines designed to protect human subjects and ensure the safety of all team members.
• Treat Indigenous and local communities with dignity and respect.
• Ensure responsible treatment of study organisms and local ecosystems.
• Comply with all regulations and agreements (including with sovereign Indigenous nations) regarding permitting, benefit sharing, reporting, and voucher specimens.
• Supply reports, specimens, and other specified services (e.g., seminars and training) as agreed upon in research authorizations.

 
3. Interactions with the public

• Promote an accurate understanding of our discipline when engaging with the public, including students.
• Ensure that the information presented is accurate and well supported when offering professional commentary.

Members of the ASN have the right to criticize their colleagues, but they endeavor to do so without personal animus and without seeking to intimidate or coerce. Freedom of expression is crucial to the community of scientific practice, but such expression should not be used to bully or demean others.