Villanova Faculty Join National Initiative to Foster Healthy Research Labs and Teams
The Council of Graduate Schools’ (CGS) Healthy Research Teams & Labs initiative is a national effort aimed at promoting inclusive, respectful and supportive research environments for graduate students.
When Irene Kan, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences (pictured), reflects on what makes a research lab thrive, she says it’s not only the publications or the data that contribute, but also the people.
It’s why Dr. Kan and several other Villanova faculty members have joined the initiative, a national effort aimed at promoting inclusive, respectful and supportive research environments for graduate students. The initiative outlines best practices for mentorship, collaboration and student well-being, and is designed to be applicable across all academic disciplines.
“I have always taken a holistic approach to mentorship,” says Dr. Kan. “I think it is extremely important to think of student success in terms of both professional and academic achievement and personal wellness. So, participating in CGS's Healthy Research Teams and Labs initiative seems like a natural step.”
Dr. Kan’s lab already embraces many of the initiative’s principles, which include fostering collaboration, encouraging diverse career paths, and setting clear expectations around mentorship. In fact, they aren’t a new idea; they’re foundational to the experience students have in Dr. Kan’s lab and in research labs across the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
“Since these are my long-held beliefs, the principles are weaved into the overall functioning of the lab,” Dr. Kan explains. “Students in my lab are given equal access to opportunities. I encourage them to take ownership of their projects, but I also give them the space to decide how much they can take on and commit to.”
Joining the initiative within the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences are Janette Herbers, PhD, associate professor and graduate program director; Erica Slotter, PhD, professor; Pat Markey, PhD, professor; and Deena Weisberg, PhD, associate professor and cognitive science program director. Dr. Kan hopes the effort will continue to grow at Villanova and help reinforce a culture of curiosity, care and professional exploration.
“I think modeling is the best way to show students the value in collaborations and interdisciplinary thinking,” Dr. Kan explains. “My research program has grown increasingly interdisciplinary. I think students gain a better appreciation of how interconnected different science disciplines can be. And it also demonstrates to them how going out of one's comfort zone—and one’s own area of expertise—can sometimes lead to fruit collaborative partnerships.”
Dr. Kan says respect for other opinions, perspectives and lived experiences is the core to a healthy research environment.
“Although I am the one with the technical expertise and foundational knowledge, it doesn't mean that my point of view is the only one that matters,” she says. “The fresh perspectives that students bring can sometimes bring about unexpected discoveries.”
About ĂŰĚŇTV’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Since its founding in 1842, ĂŰĚŇTV’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has been the heart of the Villanova learning experience, offering foundational courses for undergraduate students in every college of the University. Serving more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students, the College is committed to fortifying them with intellectual rigor, multidisciplinary knowledge, moral courage and a global perspective. The College has more than 40 academic departments and programs across the humanities, social sciences, and natural and physical sciences.
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