DOs and DONTs of Good Lab Citizenship

DO's Stay SAFE! 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 Don’t EVER COMPROMISE SAFETY! Don’t Be too shy to ASK QUESTIONS Don’t Start something without THINKING about what you’re doing Don’t Use a MACHINE without having received training on it. Don’t POUR hazardous or unknown chemicals down the sink. Don’t Leave a door to a cold or warm room OPEN. Don’t IGNORE equipment alarms Don’t USE master stocks other than your own without permission. Don’t Leave your stuff lying around in other people’s areas. Don’t EAT/DRINK in lab (go to the tea room to eat lunch and hang out). Don’t PLAY MUSIC out loud (not everyone likes your taste). Don’t DATE people you work with.* * May occasionally result in marriage.