Departmental News

Posted:  Jun 02, 2026 - 05:00pm

Dr. Anisha Shakya and her lab were recognized in June's "From the Desk of the VPR" newsletter in the Safety Spotlight & Compliance Corner. This segment shares specific examples or Lobos who prioritize research safety every single day in their labs, spaces, and in the field.

The Safety Spotlight & Compliance Corner segment is below.

"UNM Assistant Professor Anisha Shakya, in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, consistently demonstrates strong leadership in maintaining a culture of safety within her lab. She shares her everyday practices below.

Lobos, all the students who join my lab complete necessary safety training before they start any experiments. We keep living standard operating procedures in the lab related to safety risks and practices. I also encourage students to coordinate with me or other lab members, so that at least one other person is present if they need to work in the lab after hours or during weekends.

As with any major equipment in the lab, I appoint a lab safety leader and a deputy leader, who help me institute and maintain best safety practices in the lab. The leaders are present with me during lab safety inspections, help new students navigate safety training, attend departmental safety meetings, and update all the lab members on safety-related issues. The roles are rotated every year among graduate students, so that everyone is well-trained in safety practices and has a leadership opportunity in the lab.

I believe that success in research goes together with the safety, health, and overall well-being of the lab members. Setting up expectations on lab safety culture and diligently training students on safety practices early on is a very important part of a student’s experience in the lab. This helps them feel confident in their environment with the ability to focus on their science. Also, a positive attitude toward following safety practices often correlates with a student’s attitude toward integrity and reproducibility."

Read more about the Shakya Lab here