The group is led by Felicity Davis and is also known as The Calcium (Ca2+) Signalling Group. It comprises nine researchers, a museum coordinator, and an administrative assistant.

This is the first time a group from Aarhus University has received this honor, which is awarded to research environments with a supportive and inclusive work culture. The prize was established in 2022 by The Young Academy and is awarded based on nominations from junior researchers. It includes a grant of 10,000 Danish kroner.

“We were interested in the prize because it focuses on the whole environment rather than individual achievements,” says PhD student Laura Bruus Bjerre, who, together with postdoc Silke Chalmers, nominated the group.

According to its members, the research environment in The Davis Lab is characterized by collaboration, support, and shared responsibility. When research leader Felicity Davis went on maternity leave, work continued smoothly precisely because of the strong culture of collaboration.

A central tool in the group is their values document – a so-called lab ethos document – which ensures clear expectations and transparency both professionally and socially. Before new members are hired, they meet the entire group without the research leader to gain insight into the daily life and group dynamics.

“Here, we encourage them to ask the nitty-gritty questions they might have. That way, they get an open and honest picture of our environment in advance. Many are positively surprised by our approach, and it creates space for different types of people and ways of working,” says postdoc Silke Chalmers.

Contact

PhD student Laura Bruus Bjerre
Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University
Email: lba@biomed.au.dk

Postdoc Silke Chalmers
Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University
Email: silke@biomed.au.dk

This text is based on an article from Omnibus – the university newspaper at Aarhus University.
The full article can be read on the publication’s website.