The SAFE Labs Handbook as a tool for improving lab culture
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Creating positive and equitable lab environments has become a growing priority for the scientific community and funders of scientific research. Research institutions typically respond to this need by providing mandatory or optional training opportunities for their staff. However, there are limited resources for group leaders to improve the culture in their labs. Here, we introduce the SAFE Labs Handbook: a collection of 30 "commitments" that can be implemented by individual group leaders to improve research culture in the life sciences. The commitments were collaboratively developed by 13 group leaders working in eight different European countries. We also report the results of a survey in which we asked more than 200 researchers, at various career stages, about the commitments. Even though all 30 commitments were rated as significantly important by respondents, implementation rates were notably low (<25%). However, more than 95% of group leaders said they would consider implementing them. The SAFE Labs Handbook therefore represents a unique, community-driven tool with the potential to improve lab culture on a global scale.
Source: eLife
DOI: 10.7554/elife.108853
Institutions: National Research Council, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Institut Jules Bordet, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Medical University of Vienna, Inserm, Aix-Marseille Université, Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée, Italian Institute of Technology, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, University College London
Language: English
Subfield: Information Systems and Management
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,500
OpenAlex ID: W4416815250
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