The mission of the Follette Lab is to welcome and train students of all identities to become skilled, ethical, and collaborative scientists who will contribute to both the knowledge base and broader culture of their chosen fields while remaining healthy, balanced, and authentic.
We are a dedicated group of inquisitive thinkers brought together through the shared goal of making contributions to the fields of exoplanet direct imaging, placing observational constraints on the physics of planet formation and growth, and identifying and disseminating effective instructional practices for helping college students master practical numerical skills.
Thesis student Clare Leonard ‘19 at the Magellan Clay telescope in Chile
Summer 2021 Follette Lab Researchers after a lab-organized outreach event
Summer 2018 Follette Lab researchers presenting their work at the SURF poster session
We strive to establish a lab climate where people feel safe being themselves, asking questions, and challenging both peers and mentors.
We support students in setting goals, learning to manage their time, and establishing healthy work habits. We strive to normalize struggle and to be open about our experiences and failures. At the same time, we challenge one another to make forward progress on difficult research tasks, and provide support structures to do so.
