Group Charter

Contents 

Mission 

The mission of the Baker research group is to utilize multidimensional separation techniques to evaluate molecules present and changing in biological and environmental systems.  

The purpose of this charter is to summarize our group’s values and goals in support of our mission, and to define expectations of all group members in supporting those values and goals. The charter is posted in the office, on the lab website, and in the team SharePoint for all current and prospective group members to reference at any time. The charter is reviewed at the start of each new school year to revise as necessary and ask commitment from current and new group members.  

Our Lab Values 

• Diversity & Inclusion – We strive to foster an inclusive and equitable environment for people representing diverse backgrounds and cultures. We support and welcome underrepresented scientists and those who identify as women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, persons with disabilities, all ages, people from all different religions, and immigrants.  

• Respect & Open Communication – We show respect to all people regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, culture, age, and opinions. Open and honest communication is crucial, and everyone should feel welcome to express their ideas, ask questions, and learn from others.  

• Teamwork & Support – We strive to uplift our colleagues and pursue a supportive environment for everyone through kindness, patience, and humility. We will each hold roles of leadership and followership, all with the wellbeing of our team in mind. Accomplishments will be celebrated, and failures will be met with supportive helping hands.  

• Growth & Outreach – All lab members will have opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. We are here to learn and teach, which requires curiosity and an open mind. We also strive to impact our scientific and broader communities through outreach and volunteering, and to grow into not only better scientists, but better people. 

• Health & Safety – Maintaining the health and safety of our lab members is of the upmost importance. While we implement the safety guidelines from EH&S, our department, and our safety officer, we recognize that protecting ourselves and others is a personal responsibility. We value mental health and show support in times of need.  

• Scientific Integrity & Innovation – We strive to contribute to the scientific community through collaborative, interdisciplinary scientific innovations. We prioritize ethics and integrity through the quality of our data, and the honest representation of our results. Our work must be rigorous and reproducible.  

Goals 

• We will work towards the aims specified in our current grants which will be detailed by Erin at group meetings quarterly or when new grants are awarded.
  • Environmental: TAMU Superfund 
  • Clinical: Lipid R01
  • Fundamentals: Lipid RM1 

• We will have goals outside of research aims in alignment with our group values. These may vary each year based on the interests of the group and current needs. To match with the new graduate student join data of late November, each charter will run from December to November for the following year. Thus, for November 2023 – November 2024, our focus will be on community outreach. 

• Our main research aims this year are creating standard operating procedures and learning more about non-targeted analyses (e.g., analytical methods, software tools, artificial intelligence). At least 4 group meetings throughout the year will be focused on these areas.  

• In addition to our group scientific goals, lab members are expected to set their own goals to enhance scientific and personal growth. Individuals are encouraged to use the lab values as guidance when setting these goals and discuss them during performance reviews as described below. 

Group Member Roles 

All Baker Group Members are expected to work together as we are much stronger as a team. This section defines the expectations and responsibilities of group members at each level.  

Erin Baker – Principal Investigator 

As the laboratory’s principal investigator (PI), Erin directs students’ projects, funding opportunities, mentorship and overall group direction. The role of the PI is to ensure that all students are progressing in their graduate career. If a student desires more structure they should communicate that with Erin. Erin will give you flexibility to advance as an individual researcher, including independent thinking, mentorship responsibilities and time management.   

James Dodds – Research Assistant Professor 

As a research assistant professor, James’s role in the Baker lab is to facilitate the students’ growth and provide project guidance as needed. James also provides technical expertise on instrument operation and computer support as needed when he is not dirtying up the workplace.  

Postdoctoral Scholars 

Postdoctoral scholars are expected to contribute towards the success of all group members in addition to pursuing their individual scientific and professional objectives. Postdoctoral Scholars are expected to be a collective resource primarily in which they can assist other lab members with training, research, and experimental design. They are expected to be working on their own projects in addition to assisting other members by providing their expertise and experience wherever possible. They are expected to contribute wherever possible in the time they have with the group.   

Post-Oral Exam Graduate Students 

Post-oral exam graduate student responsibilities include development of individual and collaborative research projects as progress towards their degree and projects pertaining to grant funding. Senior graduate students are also expected to mentor summer and junior members in order to pass down their knowledge and expertise and facilitate future growth. In addition, each graduate member will possess a defined service role within the lab (defined below).  

Pre-Oral Exam Graduate Students 

First and second year graduate students are expected to ask questions (lots and lots of questions!). Their job is to learn as much as possible. Students should complete their degree requirements of rotations, teaching, and coursework as directed by Erin and the UNC graduate school. Students should also prepare for their second-year oral examination determining what methods would assist them best in doing so with Erin and the rest of the group. This is the time to determine whether your goals align with the role of a PhD scientist or if your goals would be best served getting a MS or if graduate school is not for you. This is dependent on the student and there is no “right” direction. The ambition of the Baker Lab is to produce scientists reflective of our group values, whether that means your name ends with a BA/BS/MS/MA/PhD when you graduate from the group. Pre-Oral Exam Graduate Students will also need to help mentor summer and junior members in order to pass down their knowledge and expertise and facilitate future growth. In addition, each graduate member will possess a defined service role within the lab (defined below). 

Rotating Graduate Students 

Rotating graduate students will be assigned a desk (based on availability) and are expected to come into the office/lab as often as their first-year schedule will allow (keeping classes and teaching as priority). The goal of the rotation is for the rotator to get to know the group, and the group to get to know the rotator. For a more comprehensive list of expectations as a rotating student, please look at the rubric that Erin and the current members created. 

Prospective Graduate Students 

Incoming graduate students are expected to reach out to current lab members to assess their compatibility with the group and interest in research projects. While we encourage all interested students to reach out to our group, we do note that opportunities to join as a full-time student are dependent on funding, availability of opportunities, and Erin’s discretion. Additionally, based on UNC requirements, graduate students will be asked to complete a rotation in the lab.   

Undergraduate Students 

Following a successful trial period in the Baker Lab (as defined below), undergraduate students are expected to coordinate with a graduate student mentor to assist the graduate student on their research projects as directed by their mentor. Undergraduate students are also expected to help with lab responsibilities, such as making labels for samples, making mobile phases, emptying cardboard and trash, etc. Individual projects for undergraduate students may be available as directed by Erin. Students should also attend group meetings and lab events just like graduate students.   

Trial Undergraduate Students 

Undergraduate students who are interested in joining the lab are required to undergo a one semester trial period. The purpose of this trial is to ensure students possess the necessary time and motivation required of an undergraduate researcher. During this time, undergrads are expected to self-initiate interactions with graduate students to become familiar with research and contribute to projects as they are available. While specific time commitments are not typically defined, at a minimum, trial students are expected to attend group meetings, ask permanent members how they can help contribute to group projects and be involved in group activities as their schedule allows. At the completion of their trial period, students will meet one-on-one with Erin to assess the success of their trial period and discuss the next steps of their research plans.  

Expectations 

Communication 

• All group members are encouraged to seek help as needed from all Baker Lab members when available. Internal issues within the lab that are unable to be resolved should be escalated to an appropriate level. Discussing issues with Erin/James is a confidential resource that is highly encouraged in instances where you feel it is necessary. As is the nature with research, often Erin is unaware of issues before they become more significant, so communication is essential to ensure proper functioning of the group and avoiding larger scale problems that have festered. 
• If resolution within the group is not possible, suggested resources include:
  • Dr. Matt Lockett
    • Kenan Laboratories C348 
    • mlockett@unc.edu
  •  Ombuds (https://ombuds.unc.edu/) 
    • (919) 843-8204 
    • ombuds@unc.edu

• The chemistry department at UNC maintains a website for student and postdoc wellness that includes a comprehensive list of helpful resources as well.
  • https://swell.unc.edu/ 

• Our group utilizes Teams/Slack for group business and individual communication, and each member is expected to engage using these platforms during work hours, no out-of-hours engagement is expected or required unless emergencies arise such as lab disasters or funding emergencies. All members are expected to respond to requests by Erin or other lab members on the #asap Slack channel within 8 business hrs (where business hours are defined as Monday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm) so that important decisions can be made when needed such as instrument install dates, meeting cancellations, safety approvals, etc.    
• Communication with other scientists (whether that is through publications or presenting to a crowd/individuals) is a critical part of our lab goals and values.
  • Conferences: Lab members should have a goal to present at two conferences per year. Generally, this will be the ASMS annual conference and a more research-specific conference. Conference participation will need to showcase novel results from each Baker Lab member and students should apply for travel awards whenever possible. 
  • Group presentation templates are available on the Shared Teams Drive and the use of these is encouraged. 
  • Asking for feedback from other group members and Erin prior to presenting is encouraged and expected.

Group Meetings 

• Group meetings occur on a weekly basis following a OneNote schedule (day/time to be determined each semester depending on member availability).
• Additional group meetings will be arranged for specific occasions, as necessary. Examples include practice oral exams, conference presentations, and outside speakers. TAMS and UNC MS seminars attendance is also recommended to make sure the Baker Group is represented in the Triangle Area MS community and these meetings aid in Baker group knowledge. 
• Group members are expected to attend all group meetings​ in person​. A Zoom option will generally not be available; however, some circumstances might require more flexibility and can be discussed with Erin. 
• Absences should be communicated with Erin in advance​​. 
• Meeting minutes to summarize key discussion points and deadlines are available in a shared OneNote file in Teams. Some meetings may be recorded if not all students are able to attend but in-person attendance is expected whenever possible. 
• All group members are expected to pay attention during group meetings for the entirety of the meeting. ​​Phones should be placed on silent and not utilized during the meeting as a group policy is set to respect the speaker and growth of the lab. However, taking phones to group meeting is permitted in case of emergency. 
• Group members are expected to engage with the meeting and present constructive feedback for presenters. Regardless of your area of expertise, group meetings are an opportunity to learn and share ideas and all group members are expected to take full advantage of this experience and act respectfully. 

Lab Space 

• Anyone running the instruments is responsible for adhering​​​​ to the guidelines set forth in the standard operating procedure, including daily maintenance, condensation waste removal, solvent ordering, and monitoring of gas levels. Additionally, when experiments are finished, all chemicals and procedures should be logged for storage for a certain period as defined by the project and manuscript.
• New students will not operate the instruments individually; they must be supervised by a senior member until they are fully trained. New students must be sure to coordinate time with the senior student who will be helping them before booking time on the instrument. 
• Time will be reserved for each MS instrument as well as time sensitive sample preparation components (e.g., Speedvac). Each major instrument has a shared calendar of availability. Lab members must reserve time using the calendar. If conflicts arise, a sample submission and instrument queue system or scheduling meetings may be used to prioritize projects as ​​​​necessary. 
• Freezers: Each lab member will have a dedicated sample storage space in the freezers assigned by the freezer manager. Freezer space will be reorganized during 2024 to include numbers corresponding to shelves. These numbers will be logged in Teams so others can find samples if needed. Individuals are responsible for maintaining an accurate inventory of their own samples according to the documentation process indicated on the freezers/determined by the freezer manager. 
• All stored samples must be labeled with printed labels including at a minimum: sample ID, concentration, date, initials of the lab member responsible for the sample. Other means of documentation, such as a sample key available to other lab members, may be used as appropriate. Starting templates will be available for all students. 
• Each lab member is responsible for ensuring they have the right chemicals and supplies for their own ​​experiments. For chemicals and supplies shared across multiple projects, it is expected that you communicate with the corresponding person to when supplies are getting low and order more if needed. The Freezer and Chemical Inventory Managers will have a spreadsheet of all chemicals and chemical locations on Teams. Additionally, the Lab Safety Officers will need individuals to help with chemical inventory databases. 
• Lab members are expected to follow safety guidelines as determined by the lab safety office and the Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) department at UNC. Any questions or concerns may be directed to either Erin, James, or the lab safety officer as they arise. 
• Lab members are expected to use and maintain laboratory notebooks to uphold the scientific integrity of the group in addition to being able to assist with personal experiments. Lab members are responsible for managing their own notebooks and a group meeting on strategy will be scheduled if necessary. Notebooks may be electronic or physical but should be maintained to ensure the transfer of research projects between individuals in the lab as needed. 
• All raw and processed laboratory ​​data generated by group members must be copied to the shared data computer with appropriate documentation. Upload to cloud storage (shared drive) will also be required for secondary storage as soon as it is setup. All data should also be made publicly available upon publication. 

Lab Safety

• Lab members are expected to adhere to university and lab specific safety standards, including the appropriate use of personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, gloves, and lab coats when applicable. 
• New student and employee safety information is readily available at the UNC EH&S website (https://ehs.unc.edu/) as well as the UNC Chemistry Department Join Safety Team’s website (https://tarheels.live/jointsafetyteam/).
• Annual forms and documents for lab safety such as the lab safety plan and the lab chemical inventory are the responsibility of the lab safety officer (LSO), however all lab members are expected to aid in these tasks as determined by the LSO’s need.
• Lab members are expected to submit for waste disposal pickup using the following form (https://ehs.cloudapps.unc.edu/HazMat_Pickup/EmpLogin) and to create a new waste label to replace the previous one (labels found in Caudill 014, https://ehs.unc.edu/topics/safety-labels-and-signage/ and a template is on the group Teams).  
• If any lab member has any safety questions or concerns, please first consult the resources provided above, and then follow up with the LSO. As a last resort, please reach out to UNC EH&S or the UNC Joint Safety Team (JST).

Office Space 

• Our offices are a shared space, and as such it is expected that all office members show respect for each other by not disturbing productivity during working hours. Collaboration and discussion are highly encouraged, however, if the office is quiet, please engage in discussion in either 014 or 011. In addition, we all aim to be friends and supportive of one another. However, if you want to fraternize with other group members while people are focused, please do so in either 014 or 011.
• Toxic behavior, defined as any behavior defying the values stated in the charter, will result in consequences depending on the severity of the action and up to Erin’s discretion.
• All graduate students, postdocs, and James will be given a desk space in the shared offices, as directed by Erin. Undergraduates may have access to a shared desk, depending on desk availability. Trial students may use the shared lab table in the main office when conducting their research.
• A group zoom location is set up for private use (job interviews, collaboration meetings, etc.) Time can be reserved for the zoom computer by using the shared calendar. Note that this workstation computer is in Caudill Labs 011 and is a lab space, so PPE is required (long pants and closed toed shoes).  A conference room (Caudill Labs 021) is also available for Zoom meetings and can be scheduled on Outlook, although it is shared with the wider department so may be less available.
• In general, working hours are Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. The goal is not to mandate when you are in the office but to ensure that you are present during the day to learn from and help others. Research is rarely achieved alone and being able to effectively communicate with each other is essential to project and personal growth. If you would like to stray from these hours, approval is required from Erin as she will be looking for progress and productivity rather than the number of hours you spend at your desk in addition to how your absence would affect the group wellbeing over that duration. Furthermore, absences such as doctor’s appointments and other personal situations can be taken care of during these times if needed. 
• Based on safety and personal situations, work from home is possible if first approved by Erin in-person at least 24 hrs prior, unless due to injury or illness. However, it is expected that Baker Lab members will be in the lab or office if possible. If a work from home situation is necessary, Erin and the member(s) will document specific deadlines for projects and have weekly Zoom meetings to make sure forward progress is being made. Work from home is also not a long-term option with the primary view of lab members being in the lab except for in instances where it is not feasible or beneficial to the group to do so.
• Presence in lab is not expected during university holidays (including wellness days) but may be necessary to work on projects. Prior approval to be absent on these days is not required either. If working in lab during times when most lab members are gone, please make sure someone is present when working with hazardous chemicals or instrumentation. Furthermore, create a buddy system whenever needed such as working on weekends or late hours to ensure safety on campus (e.g., communicate hours you will work and call or email someone when arriving at lab, leaving lab, and arriving home). 
• Vacations and work from home should be communicated with Erin and then placed on the group calendar, so everyone knows of absences in case of emergencies. There exists no prescriptive number of days each lab member can take off, instead, time off is determined as a factor of progress with the knowledge that each lab member and project advances at a different pace. However, absence of students without notifying Erin will result in removal of privileges. 

Performance Reviews 

• Performance reviews will be conducted on a yearly basis to support individual growth, wherein Erin and each group member will discuss past research progress, future goals, and overall performance. Each student will schedule a time during a suggested period by Erin (usually Dec 1 to Jan 31). Erin will solicit both positive and constructive feedback from James prior to the review. Group members are expected to come prepared to discuss past research progress, publications, and future goals. These meetings are not meant to be scary or intimidating, but to help both Erin and the member(s) talk about these areas.
• Each half year, Erin will meet individually with all group members to ensure they are on track to achieve their goals set forth in their performance review, and address any shortcomings as needed. Students will also get a chance to rate themselves at these meetings including exceptional progress towards degree, satisfactory progress, and insufficient progress. 

Outreach 

• Each year our group strives to engage with our broader community by participating in and/or creating a variety of outreach opportunities. Past examples include: 1) creating and organizing a department wide holiday coat and toy drive 2) science fair judging 3) and other opportunities as they arise. Group members are encouraged to develop new outreach opportunities and ideas. 
• Group member participation is not mandatory; however, it is highly encouraged. In addition to aligning with our group values, outreach opportunities provide a fantastic opportunity for group bonding, photo opportunities, and to make an impact in our community.   

Leadership Roles 

In addition to group responsibilities and individual research projects, each graduate student and postdoc will hold a leadership role that supports the team. Roles will be reevaluated and reassigned on a yearly basis as needed. Multiple individuals may share some roles, and one individual might hold multiple roles, depending on the needs of the group each year.  

Responsibilities for each role are defined below. 

• Lab Safety Officers (LSO) (2 people – senior mentor and a junior mentee) 
  • The LSOs are responsible for ensuring that our lab members and space adhere to the safety guidelines and requirements set by EH&S at UNC. Weekly lab walkthroughs to maintain lab safety are required, and any issues or violations will be managed on an individual basis.  

• Social Media Coordinator 
  • Responsible for posting weekly or biweekly (every 2 weeks) lab updates on the group Bluesky and X (formerly Twitter) sites and any videos on the group YouTube channel. Bluesky and X posts include publications, awards and upcoming presentation announcements as well as pictures from group presentations and activities. 

• Website Coordinator
  • Responsible for keeping the lab website up to date including lab members, publications, awards, and photos. 

• Funtivities Coordinators (2 people working together)  
  • Primary people for planning lab celebrations and social events. In general, we strive for one event per month, alternating between a science event and a non-science event. Key events include celebrating group members’ birthdays and achievements. Everyone is encouraged to engage in suggesting ideas for group events to create activities which are collectively desired. 

• Group Meeting Coordinator
  • Schedules regular and ad hoc group meetings, reserves conference room space, and takes minutes when appropriate. Group meeting coordinators are also encouraged to work with the group to come up with interesting ideas for group meetings to diversify our meetings. This may include things such as journal clubs, workshops, enneagram tests, lab clean up etc.   

• Freezer and Chemical Inventory Managers (2 people working together – senior mentor and junior mentee) 
  • The freezer coordinator will work with group members to ensure that the order of freezer inventory is maintained and will coordinate with group members to ensure normal freeze/thaw cycles as needed. Each member is responsible for the personal location of their samples. For 2023-2024, freezer coordinator and inventory coordinator will work to develop an organization platform to ensure effective sorting of inventory and a number/tracking system for freezer shelves. 

• Outreach Coordinator 
  • Point person looking for and organizing community and volunteering opportunities for the group. At least 3-4 activities should be planned each year with some examples being UNC Science Expo, Habitat for Humanity, Science Fair judging, hosting students, etc., but new ideas are encouraged. 

Signatures 

In signing and dating this charter, I agree to uphold the lab values and support the group goals.