DOs and DONTs of Good Lab Citizenship
DO's
∑ Be CONSIDERATE of others (their stuff, needs, space, etc) ∑ Always ASK SOMEONE if you’re not sure about something. First ask the iGEM graduate advisors before asking other members of the Endy lab. ∑ THINK before you do. ∑ CLEAN UP after yourself, both on a day-to-day basis, and once the competition is over. If you’ve caused a spill in a centrifuge, clean it up. ∑ Maintain a CLEAN workspace. ∑ REFILL the stocks of pipette tip boxes above the PCR machines if you are taking the penultimate or the last box of a kind (e.g. 1000ul tips) ∑ If we’re out of anything (e.g. gloves, cuvettes), ASK your graduate leaders on how to reorder. ∑ Maintain STERILE technique. ∑ ASK someone before you move their stuff. ∑ Before putting a container into the metal tray for cleaning/sterilizing, REMOVE any labels, BLEACH (if biological material) and RINSE the container. ∑ BALANCE the centrifuges. ∑ ASK SOMEONE how to use a piece of equipment if you haven’t used it before. ∑ If you use the roller drums or shakers in the 30C or 37C rooms, remember to TURN THEM BACK ON. ∑ CLOSE refrigerator doors!! ∑ Use YOUR OWN master stocks of chemicals and supplies; we’ll tell you which other supplies you’re allowed to use. ∑ READ PROTOCOLS before you attempt them. ∑ Keep any proteins (endonucleases, ligase, Taq supermix) always ON ICE ∑ CHANGE TIPS between aliquots of important stocks. ∑ WEAR GLOVES when working w/ dangerous/sensitive chemicals (phenol, RNA, etc). ∑ Keep a good LAB NOTEBOOK so you know what you did. ∑ LABEL TUBES ∑ Store GLYCEROLS appropriately ∑ If you did something wrong, CONFESS and tell someone. You won’t get in trouble for accidents, but you’ll get in trouble for not letting people know. |
DON'Ts
* May occasionally result in marriage. |