Performance
Progress: if you are unable to make any significant progress on your project within a reasonable timeframe (e.g., 1-2 months), you are definitely in trouble
Efficiency: your competitors would appreciate your slow work
Quality: publishable data in a leading journal
Do you show some phenotypes of "Thirteen features of a bad student"

Communication

􀁺 Be a nice and happy lab member
􀁺 Respect others' privacy
􀁺 Always appreciate any help and favors from others (this should be taught by your parents when you were a toddler)
􀁺 Active interactions with advisor and colleagues
􀁺 Response to advice appropriately by either explanation or experimentation. Shrugging off the advisor's suggestion without any explanation is absolutely not allowed
􀁺 Your personal research interests should be a part of the lab's interests, but not solely based on your thesis for an easy Ph.D. degree
􀁺 If you disagree with your advisor, speak out!
There is absolutely NO experiment that does not have a conclusion
There is absolutely NO project that does not have a conclusion
A tough project does not mean a gradually disappearing or forgettable project
􀁺 Coordinate with colleagues for the usage of equipments, space and reagents, etc.
􀁺 Presentation in lab meetings: treat your every presentation as a publication

Working as a professional scientist

􀁺 It is the shared responsibilities of your advisor and yourself to move a project forward
􀁺 You are absolutely NOT allowed to release any unpublished data or any experimental materials/regents (including published experimental materials/regents) outside the lab without permission
􀁺 Carefully follow the Rule for Experiment Notes (see below). Record everything you have done, including negative results
􀁺 You should know how to use major databases (e.g., NCBI and TARI) but rather than an expert on SINA, SOHU or any other non-scientific websites
􀁺 Include appropriate controls in EVERY experiment
􀁺 Knowledge on your field: read at least two original research papers per week


Working as a dedicated scientist
􀁺 Everyone has personal business, but the lab business always has priority unless in emergency
􀁺 In this business, an "average" student who works seven days a week is definitely more productive than a "genius" who works five days a week
􀁺 If you are able to make any major progresses by working 8 hours a day and 5 days a week, every fortunate in this world must be on your side!
􀁺 Go to your mother's house for afternoon naps and never come back!
􀁺 Start your morning work not later than 8:30 am and afternoon work no later than 1 pm
􀁺 Surf over the Internet for non-scientific purposes should be less than 30 min a day
􀁺 Reading newspapers should be limited less than 30 min a day
􀁺 Novels or other non-scientific journals/magazines are not permitted in the lab and office
􀁺 If you are absent from the lab more than one hour, get permission first.

Use your brains: think and work smartly

􀁺 A good graduate student is not a robot
􀁺 A good graduate student always knows what he/she is doing and what he/she has done
􀁺 A good graduate student always scientifically goes beyond what he/she has been "advised"
􀁺 A good graduate student must independently think about the project and read the data as well as catch hints derived from the data
􀁺 You should learn and eventually know how to interpret your data
􀁺 You should learn and eventually know how to write a paper or a progress report in a professional and logic way

􀁺 You should be capable of tackling technical troubles by smartly using references and by discussing with coworkers
􀁺 If you use your brain, you should be able to avoid unnecessary, stupid mistakes or to avoid making the same mistakes more than once. Many of such mistakes cannot be rescued by money (e.g., the loss of mutant seeds)

Thirteen features of a bad student

1. No or slow response to a suggestion or request of your advisor.
2. Looks sleepy most of time. Lack of self-motivation.
3. Clannish. Interaction mainly confined to a specific person (e.g. girl friend). And a mix-up of professional and private life.
4. Starts the work late in the morning. Brings breakfast to lab because gets up late.
5. Seldom speaks in the lab meeting. Seems an alien not involved in lab business.
6. Tends to take a back seat in the seminar room and enjoys relaxing or half sleeping when others talk about lab business or research.
7. Does an experiment without knowing the related chemistry, mathematics and physics principles behind it.
8. Misperception, inexperience plus stubbornness.
9. Unable to get the assigned lab job or task done, but always finds good excuses.
10. Lack of enthusiasm for everything including your fellow students – not helpful.
11. Does a new experiment without discussing with the advisor in advance.
12. Data are not sorted out with PowerPoint slides or Photoshop figures. Sloppy notebook.
13. Does internet reading etc. in the waiting time during experiments in order to "relax" or "kill time".