Equipment (centrifuges, incubators, FACS machines, etc.): Also include the make and model – you need to report this in publications).Disposables (sterile inoculating loops, petri dishes, falcon tubes).Reagents (such as LB agar, sucrose, or NaCl): chemicals should have the manufacturer, CAS/product number, and ideally, lot number of the reagent you used).Materials: List all materials you need to complete the experiment. I also had experiments that were completed over several days, so each date had a separate entry that is dated.ĥ. For example, in a large experiment where I was sequencing the RNA of different nectar yeasts (N01), I had different projects (N01-P01, N01-P02) and within each projects, different experiments (N01-P01-E01). For example, contacting potential architects (N01-P01-E01). To complete each sub-project, such as drawing up a blueprint, I’d have smaller, daily tasks. If I wanted to build a house, building the house might be the main project (N01), but it has several sub-projects, such as drawing up a blueprint (N01-P01), finding a contractor (N01-P02), etc. I organize projects into notebooks (NXX), then projects (NXX-PXX), then specific experiments (NXX-PXX-EXX).įor example, each large research project that I’m working on will have multiple sub-projects in it, and different experiments for each sub-project. Some iteration of the experiment: I organize my projects with a labeling system that starts with the lab notebook and is consistent across my data, analysis, and presentations. Name, date, title: At the beginning of each lab notebook entry, you should include your name, the date, and a brief title for the experiment. Safe storage: All researchers that work with me need to back up their lab notebook in the cloud. To affirm the legitimacy, truth, and comprehensiveness of your lab notebook, entries should be signed and dated daily. They, as well as the work they document, are property of the lab and the institution in which you are working. Thus, lab notebooks should be taken extremely seriously. Verification of legitimacy: In some extreme cases, lab notebooks have been used as legal documentation of experiments and discoveries made in the lab (the recent patent dispute about CRISPR-Cas technology is a great example of how lab notebooks were used to settle a billion dollar patent dispute). Especially when you are doing collaborative experiments or working with a mentor, others will certainly need to refer to your notes and may need to continue or pick up experiments where you left off. Notes must be legible, clear, and organized. Notes should also not be too long or lengthy that they are not easy to follow. However, some there are some general guidelines that all lab notebooks follow:Ĭlear, concise, and comprehensive notes on experiments done in the lab – notes should be clear enough for someone else who is looking back at the notes to follow the same steps you did, as well as any mistakes that were made. The expectations and requirements for lab notebooks vary between research or industry lab, as well as different researchers within a given lab. A lab notebook is a record of the work done in the lab.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |