User Tools

Site Tools


best_practices

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
Next revision
Previous revision
best_practices [2017/08/18 09:07]
singhj
best_practices [2025/10/31 09:38] (current)
singhj
Line 39: Line 39:
   - Paste equipment specifications directly into logbook.   - Paste equipment specifications directly into logbook.
   - Paste interesting plots directly into logbook.   - Paste interesting plots directly into logbook.
-  - Make sketch of experimental setup.+  - [[https://​spinlab.me/​2017/​08/​08/​producing-scientific-diagrams-which-reveal-the-relevant-scale-edwardtufte/​|Make sketch of experimental setup.]]
   - Write down equipment operating settings.   - Write down equipment operating settings.
   - Write down equipment readings when things are working properly for future reference.   - Write down equipment readings when things are working properly for future reference.
Line 58: Line 58:
   - Start early on long lead time items.   - Start early on long lead time items.
   - Refer to logbook entries to see how long tasks really take.   - Refer to logbook entries to see how long tasks really take.
-  - Stop work 30 minutes before you want to leave so you have time to summarize work in logbook ​and safely turn off equipment.+  - Stop work 30 minutes before you want to leave so you have time to 
 +    - summarize work in logbook 
 +    - safely turn off equipment 
 +    - clean up and organize your work space of the next day or for the next person 
 +  - Plan your work. 
 +  - Send useful (indicate what action the recipient is supposed to take and indicate a desired delivery date or an estimate for a completion date) and professional (acknowledge their help and professional status) emails.
 ===== Logging Hours & Triannual Review ===== ===== Logging Hours & Triannual Review =====
   - In the Effort Log: Please indicate what fraction of the work was performed at home (away from work)    - In the Effort Log: Please indicate what fraction of the work was performed at home (away from work) 
Line 76: Line 81:
   - When you have to eat three frogs, start with the biggest one first. ​   - When you have to eat three frogs, start with the biggest one first. ​
   - Writing is Thinking.   - Writing is Thinking.
 +  - Failure is a gift.
 +  - B-level work is bad for your soul.
 +  - There is no magic, just do the work.
 +  - Work with people smarter than you.
 +  - Fail early, fail often.
 +  - Listen to everyone'​s ideas.
 +  - Face towards the most important problems.
 +  - We invest in people not ideas.
 +  - Brick by brick.
 +  - The Gaiser Rule: Two ears, one mouth.
 +  - Make sure to pick fun people to solve problems with.
 +  - The road to success is paved with mistakes well handled.
 +  - You can prevent mistakes, but you can solve problems graciously.
 +  - Be curious, not judgemental.
 +  - Put us out of business with your generosity.
 +  - Our only job is to train world class scientists.
 +  - Deliver first and then overcommunicate relevance to our sponsors.
 +  - We not me.
 +  - Do more of what works.
 ===== Research Culture ===== ===== Research Culture =====
-  - Make a little bit of progress every day +  - Make a little bit of progress every day: (1.01)^241 = 11 
-  - Perform the experiment many times +  - Perform the experiment many times improving it incrementally each time 
-  - Read papers as often as possible ​to learn new ideas +  - Read a paper every two weeks on average (or monthly if an undergrad) 
-  - Choose and learn a new skill or about a new topic every week+  - Go to a seminar/​talk about twice a week (or monthly if an undergrad) 
 +  - Choose and learn a new skill or about a new topic every month
   - Work on a couple of different projects and alternate between the two   - Work on a couple of different projects and alternate between the two
-  - Seek feedback+  - Actively seek feedback ​and constructive criticism
   - Try to work on what you have an interest in   - Try to work on what you have an interest in
   - Plan the work before performing the work to make sure it is relevant and done safely   - Plan the work before performing the work to make sure it is relevant and done safely
Line 89: Line 114:
   - Make your work visible   - Make your work visible
   - If you didn't write it down, it didn't happen   - If you didn't write it down, it didn't happen
 +  - [[https://​spinlab.me/​2017/​09/​13/​prime-directive-of-the-knob-turner-the-knob-turner-must-stare-at-the-correct-needle-when-turning-the-knob/​|Prime Directive of the Knob-Turner:​ The knob-turner must stare at the correct needle when turning the knob.]]
 +  - [[https://​spinlab.me/​2017/​09/​21/​the-volvo-rule-when-troubleshooting-turn-only-one-knob-at-a-time/​|The VOLVO Rule: When troubleshooting,​ turn only ONE knob at a time.]]
 +  - [[|“Round Black Knob” is never a good name for a knob.]]
 +  - [[https://​www.psychologytoday.com/​us/​basics/​growth-mindset|Develop a ''​Growth Mindset''​]]
 +  - [[https://​sheridan.brown.edu/​resources/​inclusive-anti-racist-teaching/​inclusive-teaching/​impostor-phenomenon-classroom|Learn to handle ''​Impostor Syndrome''​]]
  
 ===== References ===== ===== References =====
 +
 +[[https://​en.wikipedia.org/​wiki/​How_to_Solve_It|How to Solve it]] by G. Polya
 +
 +[[https://​wikihost.nscl.msu.edu/​spinlab/​lib/​exe/​fetch.php?​media=gantt-template.xlsx|Time management tool: Gantt chart template]] - Roy Ready
 +
 +
 +[[https://​wikihost.nscl.msu.edu/​spinlab/​lib/​exe/​fetch.php?​media=5-things-i-wish-i-knew-before-i-started-high-voltage-conditioning.pdf|5 Things I Wish I knew before I started High-Voltage Conditioning]] - Roy Ready
 +
 {{2017-08-12-kristenguidetosuccessinspinlab.pdf|Kristen’s Guide to Success in Spinlab}} by Kristen Parzuchowski (Spinlab Alumna 2015-2017) {{2017-08-12-kristenguidetosuccessinspinlab.pdf|Kristen’s Guide to Success in Spinlab}} by Kristen Parzuchowski (Spinlab Alumna 2015-2017)
  
Line 118: Line 156:
  
 [[http://​www.bakadesuyo.com/​search/​|Barking up the Wrong Tree]] by Eric Barker [[http://​www.bakadesuyo.com/​search/​|Barking up the Wrong Tree]] by Eric Barker
 +
 +[[https://​doi.org/​10.1038/​426389a|Four golden lessons]] by Steven Weinberg
 +
 +[[https://​modelsofexcellence.eleducation.org/​resources/​austins-butterfly|Austin'​s Butterfly]] by Ron Berger
best_practices.1503061657.txt.gz · Last modified: 2017/08/18 09:07 by singhj