I strongly believe that students should gain more than just a formal education during the course of their degree. Most of the graduate students working in my lab are from outside of Saskatchewan and bring a mix of personalities and interests to the lab. Weekly lab meetings offer a forum for discussing a diverse range of topics ranging from experimental design to the philosophy of science.
I encourage students to become involved in community science activities. We regularly visit classrooms to talk about our research and the animals we study. Not only is this good outreach, it also enhances oral communication abilities. I encourage students to give talks at professional meetings to both hone their communication skills, but also to learn about aspects of how Science is done and communicated. I pride myself in trying to balance the various demands on a scientists' time, including trying to conduct quality research, teach well, provide community service; all while maintaining a sense of humour.
I encourage students to become involved in community science activities. We regularly visit classrooms to talk about our research and the animals we study. Not only is this good outreach, it also enhances oral communication abilities. I encourage students to give talks at professional meetings to both hone their communication skills, but also to learn about aspects of how Science is done and communicated. I pride myself in trying to balance the various demands on a scientists' time, including trying to conduct quality research, teach well, provide community service; all while maintaining a sense of humour.
Brigham’s expectations for Graduate and Honours students
The following is a document written to generate thought and discussion more than to be a set of “Commandments”. Although there are many stresses and pressures both on students and faculty, I think that it is essential that we have fun along the way. This should be a good time. Keeping that philosophy strongly in mind, read on and recognize that all of the following can be discussed individually or as a lab at any time.
Many new students, particularly those beginning work on the M.Sc., do not know what is expected of them in a graduate program. A first step should be to read the Calendar, consult the abridged guide on the Dept. website, and actually try to read the FGSR website (as you will learn I am useless when it comes to knowing the rules) so that you understand the course requirements and other responsibilities of graduate students in our department.
What do I expect from you?
To realize this is not a 9-5 job
To keep me informed of your research and course activities. If you start going down a blind alley in your research, I won’t be able to help you if I don’t know what you are doing. My door/phone/email etc is always accessible
To try to apply for at least partial funding for your project, even if my NSERC grant is supporting the majority of the work. If you get some, then for the most part I will leave it up to you how to use it and to account for it although I am ultimately responsible to the institution for how funds are spent.
To meet all mutually agreed on deadlines for committee meetings, completion of work etc.
To maintain a degree of independence, especially for PhD students. Don’t run to me with every question that you have. Look it up yourself first and try to find a solution. Then come to me and discuss various options. The more you do on your own the more that you learn. Obviously this appears selfish from my perspective but you have to remember that there are lots of things I have going on besides just what is in the lab.
To work hard both in the lab and in the field. Often the difference between producing a thesis that is mediocre vs. excellent is hard work. This is one of those things that really goes without saying.
To publish your research results within a reasonable time (see below)
To take responsibility for your actions.
To attend seminars and lab meetings and to participate in them. Absorbing information is not the same thing as critically evaluating it. I expect you to be willing to talk about and present your work at every opportunity.
To look after your field equipment, including routine maintenance of vehicles. to finish your thesis in a reasonable time. I think 28 months for a M.Sc. and 48 months for a PhD should be maximums although each situation is different to attend conferences and present your work (at the very least PUBS). The financial cost of these does represent a significant constraint to be sure. I will endeavour to help as much as I can. to occasionally do public relations things e.g., a talk at a service club. to occasionally get involved in University or Departmental committees to speak when you have something to say and listen when you have something to learn
What should you expect from me?
To provide editing and critical input on your research proposals, progress reports and thesis within a very short period of time. I always see this as a very high priority.
To be available to discuss ideas for research projects and to help you to develop your proposal.
To be available to discuss analysis, organisation of your thesis and publications.
! to provide an opportunity for you to develop as an independent researcher and to foster an atmosphere of learning and productivity ! for non-scholarship students, to provide financial support during the summer field research period when the department does not support you.
! to provide reasonable support (financial, logistical) of your research program. I think I have been able to support student’s research reasonably quite well. However, you must realise that money is always in short supply.
What I can’t do:
! provide financial support beyond the end of departmental or scholarship support.
! have the answers to all your questions. Seek out advice from fellow students, statistical experts and committee members or other faculty if necessary.
My philosophy about publication
I see science as a collaborative effort with the ultimate goal being a better understanding of how nature works. There are several steps in the process of doing science and a graduate student and supervisor may participate in all of these or only a few. I see the following as the basic steps.
1. Get an idea.
2. Figure out how to test the idea.
3. Write a proposal to a granting agency to get money to test the idea.
4. Overcome logistical problems in the field. Make judgments about the best course of action if things don't work out like we hoped they would.
5. Do the fieldwork.
6. Analyze the data.
7. Write up the data for publication.
Depending on where we are in our careers (M.Sc., PhD, postdoc, professor) we participate in each step a variable amount. For example, an M.Sc. student might be given the idea by the supervisor and be helped considerably in the rest of the steps. Usually the supervisor raises the bulk of the research money and deals with most of the financial and logistical headaches. PhD students and postdocs should be more independent in the development of ideas and analysis of the data.
In terms of rights to data and publication rights, the major priority is that data are published. There is no point in conducting research if the data are not published. Some research funds are from applied agencies that insist on publication as a term of the contract. To obtain pure research funds (such as NSERC Discovery grants) one must publish or one does not keep getting such funds. As the holder of these grants I have a responsibility (legal and moral) to make sure that the data are published.
Here are my expectations about publication:
In situations where the student/postdoc is writing up data for publication, the following need to be considered with respect to authorship: a) If the student has completed all the steps (1-7) above with minimal consultation from me, then the student should have sole authorship on the paper. b) if I have provided input on several of the steps above then I think I should have authorship on the paper (without exception, 2nd author). If I do not believe that I’ve earned co-authorship, I’ll refuse it.
Sometimes students see the professor/student relationship as an exploitative one and tend to over emphasize their own contributions and to undervalue the contributions of the supervisor (i.e. “I did all the field work, therefore I should have single authorship.”). They do not realize that the field work is only one of the steps from 1-7. In my view a collaborative approach is best for both parties. Also to be honest, the opportunity you have to be a student in the lab stems in part from past lab productivity so there has to be some degree of altruism. Unfortunately, many systems/ organizations view lab productivity as being = to the number of papers with MY name on them. Not fair but an unfortunate reality.
Many new students, particularly those beginning work on the M.Sc., do not know what is expected of them in a graduate program. A first step should be to read the Calendar, consult the abridged guide on the Dept. website, and actually try to read the FGSR website (as you will learn I am useless when it comes to knowing the rules) so that you understand the course requirements and other responsibilities of graduate students in our department.
What do I expect from you?
To realize this is not a 9-5 job
To keep me informed of your research and course activities. If you start going down a blind alley in your research, I won’t be able to help you if I don’t know what you are doing. My door/phone/email etc is always accessible
To try to apply for at least partial funding for your project, even if my NSERC grant is supporting the majority of the work. If you get some, then for the most part I will leave it up to you how to use it and to account for it although I am ultimately responsible to the institution for how funds are spent.
To meet all mutually agreed on deadlines for committee meetings, completion of work etc.
To maintain a degree of independence, especially for PhD students. Don’t run to me with every question that you have. Look it up yourself first and try to find a solution. Then come to me and discuss various options. The more you do on your own the more that you learn. Obviously this appears selfish from my perspective but you have to remember that there are lots of things I have going on besides just what is in the lab.
To work hard both in the lab and in the field. Often the difference between producing a thesis that is mediocre vs. excellent is hard work. This is one of those things that really goes without saying.
To publish your research results within a reasonable time (see below)
To take responsibility for your actions.
To attend seminars and lab meetings and to participate in them. Absorbing information is not the same thing as critically evaluating it. I expect you to be willing to talk about and present your work at every opportunity.
To look after your field equipment, including routine maintenance of vehicles. to finish your thesis in a reasonable time. I think 28 months for a M.Sc. and 48 months for a PhD should be maximums although each situation is different to attend conferences and present your work (at the very least PUBS). The financial cost of these does represent a significant constraint to be sure. I will endeavour to help as much as I can. to occasionally do public relations things e.g., a talk at a service club. to occasionally get involved in University or Departmental committees to speak when you have something to say and listen when you have something to learn
What should you expect from me?
To provide editing and critical input on your research proposals, progress reports and thesis within a very short period of time. I always see this as a very high priority.
To be available to discuss ideas for research projects and to help you to develop your proposal.
To be available to discuss analysis, organisation of your thesis and publications.
! to provide an opportunity for you to develop as an independent researcher and to foster an atmosphere of learning and productivity ! for non-scholarship students, to provide financial support during the summer field research period when the department does not support you.
! to provide reasonable support (financial, logistical) of your research program. I think I have been able to support student’s research reasonably quite well. However, you must realise that money is always in short supply.
What I can’t do:
! provide financial support beyond the end of departmental or scholarship support.
! have the answers to all your questions. Seek out advice from fellow students, statistical experts and committee members or other faculty if necessary.
My philosophy about publication
I see science as a collaborative effort with the ultimate goal being a better understanding of how nature works. There are several steps in the process of doing science and a graduate student and supervisor may participate in all of these or only a few. I see the following as the basic steps.
1. Get an idea.
2. Figure out how to test the idea.
3. Write a proposal to a granting agency to get money to test the idea.
4. Overcome logistical problems in the field. Make judgments about the best course of action if things don't work out like we hoped they would.
5. Do the fieldwork.
6. Analyze the data.
7. Write up the data for publication.
Depending on where we are in our careers (M.Sc., PhD, postdoc, professor) we participate in each step a variable amount. For example, an M.Sc. student might be given the idea by the supervisor and be helped considerably in the rest of the steps. Usually the supervisor raises the bulk of the research money and deals with most of the financial and logistical headaches. PhD students and postdocs should be more independent in the development of ideas and analysis of the data.
In terms of rights to data and publication rights, the major priority is that data are published. There is no point in conducting research if the data are not published. Some research funds are from applied agencies that insist on publication as a term of the contract. To obtain pure research funds (such as NSERC Discovery grants) one must publish or one does not keep getting such funds. As the holder of these grants I have a responsibility (legal and moral) to make sure that the data are published.
Here are my expectations about publication:
In situations where the student/postdoc is writing up data for publication, the following need to be considered with respect to authorship: a) If the student has completed all the steps (1-7) above with minimal consultation from me, then the student should have sole authorship on the paper. b) if I have provided input on several of the steps above then I think I should have authorship on the paper (without exception, 2nd author). If I do not believe that I’ve earned co-authorship, I’ll refuse it.
Sometimes students see the professor/student relationship as an exploitative one and tend to over emphasize their own contributions and to undervalue the contributions of the supervisor (i.e. “I did all the field work, therefore I should have single authorship.”). They do not realize that the field work is only one of the steps from 1-7. In my view a collaborative approach is best for both parties. Also to be honest, the opportunity you have to be a student in the lab stems in part from past lab productivity so there has to be some degree of altruism. Unfortunately, many systems/ organizations view lab productivity as being = to the number of papers with MY name on them. Not fair but an unfortunate reality.