Misc

Leading a research group is, to me, as much a matter of managing and mentoring people as it is one of shaping how research actually gets done. The principles below describe how I try to approach both:

• People come first. A supportive, encouraging atmosphere is, in my view, a precondition for good research rather than a pleasant addition to it. I try to keep interactions informal, so that everyone feels free to express themselves in whatever way suits them instead of conforming to one particular style, and so that nobody needs to wait for a scheduled meeting to raise a concern, ask a question, or share a half-formed idea. In that spirit, my door, virtual or otherwise, is open at all times, for anything, not only during scheduled meetings.
• Scientific rigor, discussed openly. We take rigor seriously and discuss ideas, including the ones that fail, openly with one another; the aim is not merely to publish something that sounds appealing, but to genuinely advance the field. In practice, this means regular open colloquia at which anyone in the group can present ongoing work, an internal peer review roughly a month before any submission deadline, and sharing drafts early rather than only shortly before submission, so that feedback can still meaningfully shape the work.