The Communication and Social Robotics Labs (COMBOTLABs) is a collaboratory of around 30 people worldwide. COMBOTLABs center on the emergent and ongoing context of human-machine communication (HMC). The labs employ an applied instruction process, allowing students, through engagement with the research process, to (a) participate in producing knowledge of the personal, relational, and social implications of communication between humans and machines in historical, present-day, and anticipatory contexts; (b) develop competencies in communicating with and about machine partners; and (c) develop and refine measures for the study of human-machine communication. This chapter revisits, updates, and expands on the ten foundational lab practices originally published in the Journal of Communication Pedagogy, which were designed to guide the development of student-centered research labs in communication. It illustrates how these practices continue to evolve in diverse research environments. By offering concrete examples and reflections from COMBOTLABs, the chapter provides a roadmap for building inclusive, research intensive, and student centered labs. These practices are broadly applicable across a wide range of communication and media research settings.