Life Science Tools of the Trade

Off topic alert. The other day I was asking the “youngsters” in the lab if they ever had a real job. By real job, I mean one that leaves you exhausted at the end of the day. Tired and aching. Physical labor.  Ice cream scooper (brr-very cold!), telemarketer (carpal tunnel finger?). I’m talking about jobs where your co-workers cash their weekly check at the corner bar. Or better yet, you’re paid in cash!

I worked summers in a peanut butter factory pouring 50 pound bags of roasted peanuts and an occasional mouse into the grinder. Bailed hay. Picked grapes. I also worked a year in a ketchup factory. I have secrets about ketchup you don’t want to know.  I set up some experiments in microfuge tubes (how demanding is that) and still remember that this is the easiest job I’ve ever had. I’m not saying this isn’t a skilled job because it is, but it isn’t a physical job.

If some of the students had ever worked a physically demanding job they might not be such slackers. No, you shouldn’t be tired because you set up 12 ligations.  Yes, you should be able to walk up three flights of stairs without moaning. Do that experiment today. No, it’s not insulting to empty an autoclave bag, make media or pour plates.  And yes, your experiment will probably fail. Failure builds character.

This is it.  After 4 years in the lab, bdoehle is getting ready to move on to bigger and better things - a post doc position on the other side of the country.   Today’s his last day in the lab and on Monday the moving van takes everything away.  

Some people leave and you’ll miss them, others you won’t.  It’s quiet in the lab here today…  he’ll be missed.  

Good luck in the new lab and enjoy the cross-country tour!  

My frustration continues to mount at the individuals who refuse to reorder supplies.  I went to get a pre-cast gel the other day… none left.  Get some enzyme out of the freezer… only a few microliters left.  How difficult is it to write up that we need to order the item!?! 

After making a contribution to the curse jar, I decided there has got to be a better solution.  The only problem?  I’m not sure what it is.  The simplest solution is for people to order the supplies before they’re gone.  I know.  That’s just plain crazy.  As much as I’d like that to happen…  it won’t.  So, in lieu of that, my best idea so far is to set up some kind of database.   If I make it easier to order items, maybe, people will.  

Since I know this is a problem for MOST labs, I’m wondering if anybody has a great system in place.  Any ideas?  Suggestions?  Please let me know!  

Well, not exactly. I’d argue that almost anything from the menu of Super Taqueria in Durham, NC can shake (sweat) you out of any heat-induced funk. With both the temperature and humidity hovering around the 100 mark it is safe to say it is summertime in North Carolina. With a series of excellent outdoor concerts either seen or to be seen (Two Dollar Pistols, Delbert McClinton, Jeff Tweedy,  and Patty Griffin) and the kids on summer break it is often difficult to focus on work. In addition, the usual rounds of expected departures will begin.  Some people will be missed (Doehle) and to be honest some won’t. One thing is certain, the dynamics of the lab will surely change. The question is, will it be for the good or will the lab become more polarized?  How many official languages will we have? Spake this Zarathustra! Whatever happens, when all is said and done, hwiegand and I control the music with an iron fist…………….so WE WIN!!!!!!   Maybe I’ll put on Live at Leeds real loud and count the complaints!?

Wotcha folks, long time no see.

I’m going to cheat here, and link to a piece I’ve just written elsewhere, because it fits well under Tools of the Trade.

The word alone chills the hearts of experienced cell biologists. And when, a couple of months back, someone upstairs was getting strange results from their cell-based assays, the Boss came to me and asked,
‘What do you know about mycoplasma?’. The icy black hand of dread gripped me and I spent the rest of the day trying to find a supplier for a mycoplasma detection kit in Australia.

Please forgive me for this blatant self-plagiarism.

Now, I’m not referring to the use of profanity in the lab. Most of you know, our lab “curse” jar has all but eliminated that problem.

What I’m talking about is the small group of individuals who speak in their native language thereby excluding the rest of the lab. Do other labs have this problem? It doesn’t matter whether it’s a personal or scientific conversation - they’re not conversing in English. To make matters worse, they rarely speak to anyone else.

I just don’t understand. It isn’t as if they don’t know English. Why come to the US if you’re not willing to or wanting to improve your English? How does cutting yourself off from the rest of the lab help you scientifically?

As far as I can tell, it divides the lab and gives the other half something to talk about.