Environmental Chemistry Lab, Department of Applied Chemistry,
Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University
Led by Tomoaki OKUDA, Ph.D.

General rules of the laboratory

In our laboratory, all members conduct their own lab activities while sharing limited resources (time, space, equipment, reagents, and research budgets). In order for everyone to perform at one’s best, one should respect the lab rules on how to share these limited resources. Here are some examples of our general rules, but these are the minimum, and we need more effort to achieve something great. Please understand that it is not for the purpose of over-managing members. These rules are not solely determined by the lab PI, but are discussed and reviewed several times a year by all lab members and updated as necessary. As an example of rule revision, the online activity rule was established in 2020 as a response to the new type of corona, and since then the balance between on-campus and home use has been revised several times, and the current laboratory activity rules are based on on-campus activities while adopting flexible activity styles within certain limits. Currently, the rules are based on on-campus activities while adopting flexible activity styles within a certain range. (2025.4.1 Revision)

• (1) A minimum of 35h of laboratory activity per week, of which at least 28h must be on-site (in the lab). (On the flip side, 7h per week can be used for weekly reports and preparation for presentations, with a maximum of 7h per week for telework.)
• *For the month of April, the minimum weekly laboratory activity time is 42 hours, of which at least 28 hours must be on-site (in the laboratory). However, the new members should attend lab generally.
• (2) As a general rule, on-site activities should begin by 10:00 a.m. at the latest.
• (3) For weekday leave, taking time off first and making up for it later will not be allowed; take time off after making savings.
• (4) It is allowed that 2h/day of onsite research time be used for chatting/networking/socializing.
• (5) When teleworking, a greeting should be posted on a Slack channel.
• (6) On the first day of the semester or any other break day, participants are required to attend on-site from 10:00 a.m. Preparations will be made before 10:00 a.m., and the MTG will start at 10:00 a.m. In some cases, laboratory events may start before 10:00 (e.g., 9:00).
• (7) Class time is not included in the laboratory activity time in principle, but classes related to our laboratory are included in the laboratory activity time. Class TA time introduced or requested by the laboratory is included in laboratory activity time. Job-hunting activities are not included in the laboratory activity time.
• (8) Lab activity is off on “National Holidays but class days". Weekdays during Mita Festival are normal day for laboratory.
• (9) If you are mentioned on Slack between 10:00 and 18:00 on weekdays, you should respond to it within one hour.
• ・Attendance is mandatory for all laboratory activities (lectures, research presentations, etc.)
• ・Saturday meetings may be held in January before the presentation of the thesis or dissertation.
• ・Attendance is managed under the responsibility and conscience of each individual (by filling in the attendance register) → Daily greetings on Slack and activity reports in the Weekly Report will be continued.
• ・Students submit weekly reports by 1:00 p.m. every Friday in principle using BOX and Slack, and students give each other feedback and discuss with faculty members as necessary.
• ・Students are required to present their research once a week (in principle, Monday 5th period 16:30-18:00) and once about every month and a half.
• ・The rules for absences due to job hunting, classes, personal reasons, etc. will be determined separately.
• ・Students are expected to attend national and international conferences and write papers according to the progress of their research, attend training camps, play sports, go out drinking, and do their best in both their private life and research.
• ・Smartphone operation time and video viewing time are not included in research activities → Make the laboratory environment more professional!
• ・BAD NEWS FIRST (Don't hide the bad news!)
• ・Presentations should be made online in some cases, and both real-time and recorded presentations should be used.