Daru Lab

Daru Lab

Ecology and Evolution

Mission and Philosophy

The Daru Lab's mission is to advance the understanding and preservation of biodiversity through top-quality research, information, and training. We prioritize collaborations with partners in research, education, technology, and impact to support conservation stakeholders and the scientific community, and we aim to produce accessible, impactful public products for the benefit of society. We approach ecology with an open mind, humility, and a willingness to learn through trial and error.

Expectations for PhD Students

As a PhD student in the Daru Lab, your primary focus is original research in ecology, biogeography, and related fields. Familiarize yourself early with the program's requirements for courses, exams, teaching, and administrative tasks so that you complete each one on time.

Commitments to Lab Members

My aim is to help every lab member become a skilled, independent researcher. That means gaining experience in field and lab work, taking ownership of your projects, and mastering the relevant literature. I also emphasize scientific writing, grant writing, presentation skills, networking, and clear communication. Science involves setbacks, so I also value building the resilience to work through them.

Working Hours

Working hours are flexible, so you can fit your schedule to your natural energy levels, although biological research sometimes needs attention at inconvenient times. Working excessive hours does not necessarily produce better science. I often work more than 40 hours a week because of my other responsibilities, but you are not expected to do the same. Unless we have agreed otherwise, please be available between 11am and 3pm, Monday to Friday.

Email Response Time

I may send emails on weekends or at odd hours. Please reply during your regular working hours, unless the email is marked "URGENT". Sometimes I am just sharing something interesting, and no reply is needed.

Lab Meetings

Our lab meetings are on Fridays from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Come prepared with a short introduction or update on your project, with a few bullet points. You are welcome to discuss interesting papers related to your project, or to share results that are not yet ready for publication. We encourage sharing raw data and having open, logical discussions.

Data/Lab Management, Open Science, and Data Sharing

We document our field work, lab work, and code carefully. We promote open, FAIR data sharing for biodiversity science and conservation, and we follow good practice in data licensing, attribution, and acknowledgment. Our papers aim for transparency, crediting and linking back to original data sources. We contribute to biodiversity data standards and build digital tools for data sharing, and our software, computational tools, and analysis code are open source, accessible, and reproducible.

Commitment as Mentee (postdoc, PhD student, intern)

  1. Respect for everyone: Treat everyone with respect, and be open to different cultural backgrounds.
  2. Responsibility and professionalism: Take primary responsibility for completing your degree or research, and work toward your degree requirements in a timely manner.
  3. Regular communication: Keep me updated on your research progress, coursework, and professional development.
  4. Lab citizenship: Use group resources responsibly and share in general lab responsibilities, such as cleaning and maintenance in the lab and herbarium, supporting lab events, and other support work for group products beyond manuscripts.
  5. Active participation: Engage in group and sub-group meetings.
  6. Positive environment: Help keep the lab friendly, positive, and free of harassment.
  7. Collaboration and collegiality: Engage with lab members as scientific colleagues.
  8. Defining your research question: Define a specific research question and expand knowledge in your field.
  9. Presenting research findings: Share your research through oral presentations and written work suitable for publication.
  10. Detailed lab notes: Keep detailed lab notes and well-organized directories so your work is reproducible.
  11. Seminars and conferences: Attend departmental seminars and present your research at conferences.
  12. Seeking mentorship: Seek mentorship from faculty and peers for your professional development.
  13. Integrity: Demonstrate integrity in data collection, analysis, and presentation.

Mentor's Responsibilities

As a mentor, I commit to the following:

  1. Provide intellectual guidance and rigor in your educational program and research projects.
  2. Keep you informed about current frontiers and opportunities in your field.
  3. Offer guidance on research methods and on the historical knowledge base of the discipline.
  4. Set clear guidelines and timetables for completing research projects, respecting your interests and goals.
  5. Hold regular one-on-one meetings to discuss progress and challenges.
  6. Support you in developing teaching and presentation skills.
  7. Encourage scholarly activities such as conference presentations, publications, networking, and intellectual property applications.
  8. Give timely, constructive feedback on your progress and performance.
  9. Serve as your academic advisor and professional mentor, during and after your PhD, postdoctoral fellowship, or internship.

Note: These responsibilities are subject to Stanford University policies and norms.

Last Updated: November 5, 2026