Mission Statement

Illuminating the cell

A fundamental understanding of the cell is key to solving many issues surrounding human health and wellbeing. We believe that through innovative, rigorous, and high-quality research we can broaden our understanding of how the cell functions, with a focus on cellular metabolism. Essential to our success is a supportive and equitable research environment, where scientists from all backgrounds can thrive, experience excellent mentorship, and develop fantastic research projects investigating cellular metabolism.

Core Values

The mission of Schmitt Lab is to understand the fundamental biochemistry of the cell. Our Core Lab Values are focused on ensuring our scientific research is done in a rigorous, ethical manner, and maintaining the Schmitt Lab as an inclusive, supportive, and equitable environment to do science.

Ethical Research

As scientists, we make new discoveries and inventions to learn more about and/or improve our world. Thus, it is critical that we conduct our research in an ethical manner. This means honestly and objectively conducting experiments, sharing our data, and abstaining from the falsification or misrepresentation of our data. Each member of the Schmitt Lab must take training in the Responsible Conduct of Research. Our data is collected and stored in a manner that allows for easy access and sharing. We strive to share our discoveries and inventions in open-access journals, and openly share our materials, methods, and data, such as plasmids and scripts, on widely accessible repositories.

Lab Environment

Science is a global enterprise, but has historically excluded women, people of color, the queer community, and other marginalized communities. Diverse and creative thinking allows for exciting advances in the scientific endeavor, and the Schmitt Lab fosters a community where young scientists from all backgrounds can do excellent research, make significant contributions, and learn from diverse perspectives. Reciprocated respect fosters an awareness of our inherent biases and unique perspectives, creating an environment focused on support and collaboration. This includes attending seminars and workshops on diversity, equity, inclusion, and effective mentorship; supporting organizations and advocatory efforts towards including underrepresented groups in science; and providing necessary resources to lab members and the greater community to ensure continued success. 

Effective Mentorship

In the Schmitt Lab, we strive to foster an inclusive learning environment through active and engaging mentorship. It is Dr. Schmitt’s job to ensure each member receives the mentorship and support needed to complete their degree and/or training and prepare for the next stage of their career, be it in the pharmaceutical industry, government, biotech sector, academia, or elsewhere. Within the lab will be formal mentorship between each lab member and Dr. Schmitt, as well as informal mentorship (peer mentorship) between lab members. Lab members are also encouraged and supported in seeking mentorship outside the lab that will be beneficial to their continued success. As communication is central to effective mentorship, each lab member has regular meetings with Dr. Schmitt to discuss research progress as well as annual meetings to review individual development plans, discuss progress in the lab, and adjust expectations of the mentoring experience. Further, Dr. Schmitt will continue to attend and participate in seminars and workshops on mentorship to ensure continued effective mentoring in the Schmitt Lab. 

Land Acknowledgment

The Schmitt Lab at UCLA acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles basin and So. Channel Islands). As a lab working at a land grant institution, we pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders), and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present, and emerging.