Lab Professionalism 101 Being a Good Lab Member

Lab Professionalism 101: Being a Good Lab Member August 29, 2019

Topics • Professionalism “The conduct, aims or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or professional person” • How to be a good lab member • Keeping a lab notebook (Lab Archives)

Professionalism as a Scholar • Hold your work and yourself to the highest of standards • Be ethical and transparent • Push through adversity in your research

Professionalism as a Citizen of JCLS • Consider how your actions impact others • Support your peers and encourage their success • Contribute to fostering a respectful and inclusive environment research and learning

Professionalism as a Lab Member • Value input from others, treat people with respect, collaborate where possible • Be dependable and reliable—hold yourself accountable • Thoughtfully consider the opinions of others • Give credit where credit is due.

How do you be a good lab member?

Setting expectations with your PI • Meet initially with the PI to find out expectations • Touch base regularly to ensure expectations are being met • Don’t be afraid to speak up if you feel an expectation is unreasonable • Open and Clear communication

Following Normal Lab procedures • Ask how things get done in the lab!!! • Is there a chores list? • Are reagents shared, or will you need to make/order your own? (How is ordering done? ) • Who do you go to with problems? • Is it your PI or another senior lab member?

If you make a mess, clean it up If you can’t clean it up, contact Sue Gotta and her people If you borrow something, give it back Pipettes, markers, post-its, reagents etc

If you use the last of a reagent, make some more • Don’t pour excess solution back into stock bottles, especially shared

If you make a mistake, speak up ASAP • Especially if you broke a shared piece of equipment or spilled something dangerous • This includes interpersonal mistakes- Don’t be afraid to apologize DON’T TOUCH NON-LAB STUFF WITH GLOVES Be conscientious of your lab mates • Don’t distract them while they’re doing monotonous things • Be considerate of noise, especially in shared office space

Treat others how you want to be treated, and just don’t be an a**hole

Breakout Session How do you handle making a major mistake in the lab? How have you dealt with annoying lab members?

Keeping a Lab Notebook

Lab Archives https: //www. jefferson. edu/university/research/resources/notebook. html

Lab archives • Difficult to delete things • Can share data between lab members • Much easier to read • Ultimately talk to your PI and your lab mates about best practices for keeping a lab notebook

Questions?