Research Philosophy                                                                                

  Scientific research is being conducted at a rapid pace, and many of the resulting discoveries are significantly impacting our society today. However great the products of scientific research may be, it is important to place acknowledgement of the process of scientific research itself above recognition of the experimental results. Of course, the outcomes of scientific research are important and should not be minimized, but placing excessively high emphasis on the results may narrow a scientist's vision and places limitations on future discoveries. If scientists at all levels continually refocus their attention to proper execution of the scientific method, then scientific success is assured regardless of experimental outcomes, and results can be viewed in the proper light (secondary to the scientific process itself). As a professor of science, I believe that it is my duty to model and reinforce this perspective to my students by recognizing their success in properly adhering to the scientific method above the results that are obtained from their research. It is my belief that adherence to this philosophy will fuel creavitity, enhance productivity in the laboratory, and inherently lead to great findings.