Lab Life

Mentorship philosophy

I love mentoring! My mentorship strategy follows these ten central tenets:

  1. My goal is to facilitate every trainee to reach their career goals, regardless of what they may be. We will work to build broadly applicable skills for any career.
  2. Mistakes are expected. The best education often happens from a failed experiment.
  3. Everyone works at their own pace. Don’t judge your full game by others’ highlight reels.
  4. I have no work hour expectations, nor do I expect a certain number of completed experiments per week. I want you to work when you feel you are most productive. Science is a team sport so maintaining good routines when others are available to assist will help foster success.
  5. Weekly mentoring meetings (at a minimum) to discuss data, experiment planning, career goals and development, grant writing and manuscript preparation.
  • First day of clinical service as an attending with the incomparable Jaimee Hall, DO. Dr. Schwartz loves to teach on clinical service as a pediatric infectious disease Physician-Scientist!
    First day of clinical service as an attending with the incomparable Jaimee Hall, DO. Dr. Schwartz loves to teach on clinical service as a pediatric infectious disease Physician-Scientist!
  • Dr. Schwartz believes in actively mentoring and educating talented trainees such as Kate Wardenburg, former lab technician, and current WUSM MSTP
    Dr. Schwartz believes in actively mentoring and educating talented trainees such as Kate Wardenburg, former lab technician, and current WUSM MSTP
  1. Scientific integrity is paramount. I expect all experiments and analyses to be well documented in a timely fashion. There will be no data manipulation to achieve a desired result. We only strive for added knowledge regardless of its fitting into a narrative we have already constructed.
  2. Everyone treats each other with equity and respect. I love humor, but I will not tolerate racist, sexist or bigoted comments of any type.
  3. Communication is essential. I will promptly reply to emails, and I expect you to do the same. Similarly, I encourage scientific dissemination and will always support your presentation at national and international conferences where applicable.
  4. Science is hard, and some self troubleshooting is critical. My expectation is first you try to reason out the error/issue. Second, look it up on the internet. Third, we are all here for each other, so do not toil away in silent frustration; ask me or other lab-mates.
  5. Most importantly, take time for yourself. Have fun in lab and outside of lab!
  • First thesis committee student Anna DeVeaux showing patience with a demanding trainee.

Diversity and inclusion

We want the lab environment to be a welcoming and encouraging place for all people.

Colorful graphic with WashU Med logo that states: We welcome all races and ethnicities; all religions; all countries of origin; all sexual orientations; all genders; all ages and abilities

Fun!

  • Dr. Schwartz was honored to hood Dr. Alaric D’Souza for his medical school graduation.
  • Anna DeVeaux about to present at ASM Microbe 2022 for the Schwartz lab’s first senior author poster!
  • Dr. Schwartz’s tactics to recruit graduate students could use some work.
  • Multi-talented and hydrated PI!
    Multi-talented and hydrated PI!
  • Dental hygiene is important!
    Dental hygiene is important!
  • Lab westie Calla Lily getting pets from Kate Wardenburg
    Lab westie Calla Lily getting pets from Kate Wardenburg