Faculty
How can the Discovery Lab support you to empower students to become confident and capable professionals; equipped with the technical, analytical, and durable skills to engage in cross-disciplinary, collaborative, and applied research.
Students are central to the Discovery Lab – decision–making, programming, and lab management. Faculty and staff’s role is to provide support, feedback, and guidance, supporting students to foster their sense of ownership and leadership.
There are an array of ways faculty and staff can engage with the Discovery Lab ranging from shorter duration activities to longer duration and more collaborative programs. See below for more information about how you can engage.
We can support your program if . . .
- The program provides opportunities for students to engage in / direct original research linked to pressing scientific and societal challenges.
- You are interested in identifying ways that your existing classes can leverage the Discovery Lab’s instruments and providing opportunities for students to gain valuable hands-on experience preparing samples, running analyses, and interpreting results.
- Your program will properly utilize the Discovery Lab’s instruments and equipment.
- There is not a conflict with an already scheduled program.
- Your program does not exceed our capacity (overall or within the specific Technical Space being used).
- Your program has been scheduled with sufficient notice (at least two weeks or more depending upon the details of the program.
Interested in learning more? Want to host your program in the Discovery Lab? Complete our interest form and we will reply no later than two to three business days.
FAQs for Engaging with the Discovery Lab
Yes, you and your class are welcome to use any of the Technical Spaces within the Discovery Lab, subject to availability and approval. Please complete our interest form and reach out to us as soon as possible to describe your needs and we’ll do our best to help. The more time we have to review and engage with you to plan, the more time we have to ensure your requested Technical Space and needs can be met.
Yes! The Discovery Lab offers instructional content for the majority of the instruments and equipment in the Lab’s technical spaces (e.g. computational analytic machines, 3D printers, spectrometers, etc.). These modules may be used by instructors and/or students freely without approval.
As a simple answer, no. However, the Discovery Lab Team (faculty/staff and Peer Leaders) can:
- Train you and/or any TAs that will be working with you beforehand on any instruments and equipment you plan to use.
- Be available in a limited capacity during your class to ensure you have the equipment and materials needed and oversee safety.
If classes are scheduled well in-advance (prior to the start of the semester), the Discovery Lab Team can support adapting established lab activities to emphasize practical and job ready skills for students.
The instructor and/or TA team will need to come into the Discovery Lab beforehand to be trained by our management team on the relevant instruments. This will allow the instructors/TAs to give demos and be the first source of support. Our Team is available to help, though it’s not possible to provide complete instructional development and delivery for all of the classes utilizing the Discovery Lab.