At a retreat in 2024, EML members worked together to craft a set of five values that represent this lab (presented in alphabetical order):
Community: At EML, communication is of paramount importance. It is a supportive environment in which teamwork is prized and in which people are expected to be organized, and to take responsibility for their work and their actions. The leadership is committed to clarity and fairness while striving to achieve work/life balance.
Keywords: Collaboration, Communication, Friendship, Leadership, Organization, Responsibility, Supportive environment, Teamwork, Work/life balance.
Dynamic environment: EML offers a dynamic environment in which team members are expected to be fully engaged, hardworking, motivated, and to show perseverance in the face of obstacles. Passion for science, engineering, and learning, as well as diligence, are core drivers that fuel EML.
Keywords: Diligence, Efficiency, Engagement, Hard work, Motivation, Passion, Perseverance
Innovation: One of the goals at EML is to be at the leading edge of the field of subsurface and soil microbiology. Reaching this goal requires curiosity and creativity, but also the audacity to tread new ground. Inter- and multi-disciplinarity are main pillars of EML, with most projects requiring the combination of fields or being at the intersection of fields. Finally, the advancement of both fundamental, and impactful science are underlying the drive for innovation.
Keywords: Audacity, Creativity, Curiosity, Impactful science, Innovation, Multi-disciplinarity, Passion
Learning: As in all educational institutions, learning is at the core of all activities carried out at EML. Learning comes in many forms: laboratory training, the development of critical thinking, the focus on quality and rigor, and career mentoring. Team members are expected to share what they have learned via oral presentations and through writing. Classroom learning and teaching is also part of the educational offer from EML.
Keywords: Critical thinking, Inter- and multi-disciplinarity, Mentoring, Quality, Rigor, Training
Respect: is a non-negotiable part of the EML culture. Honesty is expected, and along with tolerance and empathy, combined to establish a trust-based environment in which everyone is supportive and kind and in which friendships can grow. Respect is tightly linked to the sense of community within EML but also sets the tone for interactions with people outside the laboratory.
Keywords: Empathy, Honesty, Kindness, Support, Tolerance, Trust, Work/life balance