Authorship is how credit and accountability are shared on everything the lab publishes. We agree it openly, we write it down, and we revisit it as contributions change.
Roles
By default, the project lead who contributes the largest share across conception/design, data, analysis, and writing is first author (roughly half or more is a useful rule of thumb); comparable contributions are listed as co-first with an equal-contribution note. Christina is generally last (supervising) author on lab-led work. These are our normal practices, agreed in writing early and applied case by case. Lead PhD students may serve as corresponding author if they can respond to editor/reviewer/media email within two business days during active review and manage revisions and press inquiries; confirm with Christina.
Eligibility
We use the four ICMJE criteria as a helpful guide for expectations. In general, authors complete/agree to all four of the below items:
- substantial contributions to conception/design or data;
- drafting or critical revision;
- final approval; and
- accountability for the work.
Proofreading, brainstorming, and routine technical help normally earn acknowledgements, not authorship; these are things lab members provide each other without any expectation of authorship.
Order
Order reflects relative contribution at submission. We create an authorship plan at project start, revisit it at milestones, and finalize it before submission. Middle-author order reflects relative contribution; ties may be alphabetical. For equal first authorship or equal supervision, include footnotes as the journal allows.
AI tools
AI systems are not authors. Disclose tool use in Acknowledgements or Methods per journal guidance; see Using AI.
Disagreements, changes, and collaborations
Raise questions with Christina early. If contributions change materially, we may adjust authorship or order with documented consensus; Christina has final say for lab-led papers. For projects with external groups, include Christina in all authorship discussions from the outset so expectations are aligned.
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