What are /r/labrats' favorite Products & Services?

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We use ammunition storage cases instead of eppendorf tube storage cases from science suppliers. Like these from amazon. They're like half the price compared to the ones we found in VWR, though they don't fit quite as right in the -80 (a little bulky), they're fine in the -20. These half-sized versions fit nicely in drawers. At $2 a pop we also don't really feel bad shipping eppy tubes in them to collaborators, etc.

If you ever need to cut the bottoms off of eppendorf tubes for whatever reason, dog toenail clippers are where its at.

Does anyone know of an alternative for the sponges that come with blotting transfer tanks. We have a mini trans blot and the sponges are getting nasty but I don't feel like paying BioRad $40 for them.

No offense but this seems like a useless and counterproductive strategy.

Who exactly is going to take notice of this? Who will this impact that isn't already against the tax hike? University administrations are already standing on our side, so you're basically injuring our strongest ally with this action.

Trump and his cronies will just use this as evidence to say grad students are lazy and deserve it.

Am I missing something?

Eh. 45$ off amazon. There are even cheaper ones on ebay. Don't expect them to use calibrated Eppendorfs.

Everyone needs to read 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' - hands down the best science book I've ever read. The audiobook is good too.

I agree with losing the color filled background. You can try some other stuff too:

• stretch your x-axis so the data points aren't so cramped

• lose the dotted grid too, most people can draw a line with their eyes just fine

• lose the line that tracks between the data points

• make the circles smaller so they are more easily distinguished and overall will probably look cleaner.

• you could also try to do open circles with a colored outline OR lose the color all together and do circle, square, triangle

I don't really know what these should look like but google image turned up this graph. Maybe shoot for something like that? Its clean/simple and I find it pleasing to look at.

You're making a joke on a pun...

But it's actually done (not falcons in tubes but animals being vortexed or shaken):

https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Infant-rat-model-of-the-shaken-baby-syndrome%3A-and-Smith-Andrus/91b4163045128dad444108461231b146d6f63d97?p2df

Inkscape or Adobe Illustrator are the two most commonly used programs for making high end figures.

https://inkscape.org/en/ is free and with a few online tutorials is easy to figure out how to use.

Also you can use powerpoint which doesn't make as high quality of figures, but can definitely be used to get the point across.

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Does_supercoiled_dna_migrate_faster_in_agarose_gel_electrophoresis_than_linear_form_of_dna

This may help you out. If you want to see the size of your plasmid on the gel, you can try digesting with an enzyme that cuts only once to linearize your plasmid.

I use Zotero and it is so much better than Endnote or Papers. Besides, it’s provided for free from as an open source research tool. It even easily switches your source format between any journals required format easily!

https://www.zotero.org

Same staining method/reagents and similar protocol used as: https://www.slideshare.net/JorgeLozano80/asco2016-posterquantitative-image-analysis-pdl1-5plex5232016-final

Aqua: CD8 (membranous)
Green: CD3 (membranous)
Orange: PD-L1 (SP142) (cytoplasmic with punctuate dots)
FOXP3: Red (nuclear)

Theoretically I can have one more color (gold/yellow) in there but somehow I screwed up and it ended up being identical to green.

They look very similar to this set, there are some basic ones also available to 3D print on Thingiverse. That seller on Amazon seems to 3D print and sell cookie cutters as a business, they also have some other cool ones.

https://www.amazon.com/Set-Pipette-cookie-cutters-Designs/dp/B07TN81FH9

Not sure if this is really what you're looking for but I actually use "Inkscape" for a lot of my Graphic Design needs.

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Just made my lab a Logo for the Lab Website and stuff and after some time it feels pretty easy to use for data and such too.

I worked in a lab for 6 years in industry with a bachelors degree before getting my masters. If you’re getting out of science I’m not sure why you would want to drop all that money on a pipet for one reason or another. It looks like you can get some cheap off brand on amazon if you need to have a pipet to demonstrate that you did science once somewhere.

Microlit Lab Micropipette - Single-Channel Adjustable Volume Micro Pipette Fully Autoclavable Pipettor (100-1000ul) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C1DW8JX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_RY8NCDR1GHC4Z2SQQAZ9

I like to use overleaf.com for everything, but especially my CV. There are a lot of really neat templates that you can use there that make the formatting and typesetting really easy, you can take a look here. As far as writing it goes, my best advice would be to stick to the KISS principle.

However, when it comes to the personal statement, I'd say be absolutely shameless - the point is to sell yourself (qualifier: I haven't gotten the hang of this myself)

Finally, for the presentations, my understanding is that if you were doing the presenting, and it's labelled as such on your CV, you need only put your name (perhaps a veteran can verify or correct me here?)

I also use inkscape for vector artwork.

However, if you are using a drawing table to draw by hand, I would strongly suggest krita. Krita is specifically designed for drawings using a tablet (that is, raster artwork), unlike photoshop and gimp (which are designed for editing existing images) or illustrator and inkscape (which are designed for vector artwork). It is free, open-source, but from the reviews I have read is considered one of, if not the, best drawing programs available. And it is cross-platform.

So first, as a helping tool to collect your source I always used Zotero.

https://www.zotero.org/

It is pretty intuitive to use. Or at least I got along with it good. I always uses the "ris" file formats when downloading the citations.
In case that you dont know what this is: Every scientific source you find online has usually something like "citations" on the page. There you can usually download a .ris - file. Zotero then automaticly adds the source to your list.
And then you can export your list from Zotero in e.g a Word-file and even choose the layout ofthe citations. I always went with "nature" citation scheme.

​

Second, my sources were 95% paper and scientifiy publications. 4% online sources. And my own bachelor#s thesis.

Yes, it is sadly time consuming which is why we've been trying to shift the industry to transparent pricing. I wrote a post about it you're curious why this is going on (hint it's bad for researchers).

If you're in the US, send the quotes our way () and if we can beat them then we put them our our website so all can benefit.

Caffeine Beaker Mug, Caffeine Molecule Mug - Chemistry Mug 16 oz Borosilicate Glass Coffee Mugs with Handle and Measuring for Coffee, Latte, Tea or Hot and Cold Beverage, - Tea Coffee Mug by Amugo https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F46LJ2H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_YY9QRAAWZ2J6D3RBVWR3

Might be a bit more what you are looking for, there are all kinds of beaker mugs if you just look. Might be better than just buying a handle

I use this IFTT thingie for tracking my hours across projects. I have a button widget on my phone that I press when I start or stop working, and annotate the resulting spreadsheet at the end of the day/week.

The only drawback I've discovered so far is that the widget doesn't work if there is no internet connection.

It's a silly way of going about tracking time, but it works for me.

Phase inversion in Trizol extracts is a fairly common issue and has been discussed a lot on message boards. It's a result of the density of the aqueous phase being too high (usually from excess salt), and sinking below the organic phase.

Try the suggestions here: https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_to_fix_phase_inversion_when_doing_Trizol_extractions_RNA_DNA_proteins

I actually know a great way (this is what I do). It depends on how computer savvy you are, but I run IMSA (https://sourceforge.net/projects/arron-imsa/)[python-based command line stuff]. You can use it to filter out your main organism, followed by a multi-BLAST against the NCBI nt database. Other metagenomic methods (QIIME, etc) can do the same thing, and have better downstream applications, but if all you need is discovery then this may be the easiest way.

Alternatively, if you're already to the point where you have contigs, you just need to run a multi-BLAST against the nt database and it'll find pretty much everything in there. If you get stuck, let me know- I may be able to help you out.

I’m a professional writer (and lab rat). My writing improved greatly as soon as I realised that everything I create is a purposeful document, not a reflection of who I am. I detached my own worth from the words I wrote and stopped caring about how much other specific people liked my writing.

If my writing (ad copy/abstract/assignment) is attractive to the intended audience, then that is all that matters. It took a very long time for me to learn how to kill my darlings but it’s a very important thing to learn and also to appreciate drastic revisions of your work as not saying you’re shit, but as pieces of writing from someone who likes to write in a particular way. That’s all.

From this post, I don’t see the PI undervaluing your contributions except how you feel about this writing issue. If everything else is going OK in the lab, and that’s a judgement you should make for yourself, I’d accept the revisions and look at the patterns of what your PI changes. Just get an idea of the writing things you do that she doesn’t like. I don’t think you’re a bad writer as your post here is coherently written, so please don’t feel you’re worthless because someone is changing your writing to a style that they like!

We have a tiny pre-lit fake tree we drag down from the shelf around this time of year. Today in lab meeting we were discussing where to put it because the usual space is full of servers at the moment.

It's sitting on the centrifuge that's broken and we're joking that Beckman makes a really good Christmas tree stand. The skirt is a red pillowcase and the fluff cotton batting for stuffing into flasks. pic

For the next time (if it's possible) maybe try suggesting one of the online collaborative Latex editors. They are browser-based (no local install necessary), usually have built-in versioning and change tracking, multiple people can work at the same time (provided they work on different sections) and usually they come with an "unexperienced user" interface which has WYSIWYG elements like word.

I can recommend overleaf, which also has cloud integration. It's really nice. Have used it before with Latex-novice collaborators.

I'm all for the electronic lab notebook. Personally, I highly recommend Benchling - it's great for organizing projects including data, protocols, and lab notebook. I was never great about remembering to update my physical lab notebook, but when I can quickly type everything up and drag pictures from the computer in, it's so much easier and I stay much more up to date.

Per the FSLA you're required to be paid for overtime unless you make over 36568 per year or 684 per week. If you make less than that you're not FSLA exempt.

At the rate being given in this example you would be required to receive 1.5x pay over 40 hours.

https://www.deputy.com/glossary/what-does-it-mean-to-be-exempt-from-flsa#:~:text=An%20exempt%20employee%20is%20not,must%20have%20exempt%20job%20duties.&text=As%20of%20January%201%2C%202020,(or%20%24684%20per%20week)

For behavioural studies there is Noldus (www.noldus.com) or any-maze (www.anymaze.com). For experimental planning and team communication there is Asana with Instagantt app (https://asana.com/apps/instagantt). Quartzy or LIMS for tracking lab stuff and consumables, LabArchives or other e-lab book for archivation and sharing data/protocols in the lab, Mendeley/EndNote/Refworks for reference management... the list goes on. Have a look at what are the routine tasks you guys are doing in your lab and Google the tool that can help you with it.

Apparently Aperio's .svs format is a compressed multi-page TIFF with nonstandard metadata. I tried googling for batch convert multi-page TIFF and this post came out, where someone suggests an utility called nconvert... Maybe it could work?

I've used the following protocol with decent results, although it is for mast cells it seems.

1. washed the cells twice with PBS and fixed them with formaldehyde (4%) at least for 30 min.

2. after fixation wash twice and then add the Toluidine blue for 30 minutes.

3. after staining wash the slides for 5 min with running distilled water. Repeat the washing three times until the water is clean.

Toluidine blue preparation: dissolve the Toluidine blue in distilled water (0.1 g of Toluidine blue in 100 ml of distilled water). And check pH of the solution, it is very important - must be acidic, pH 2.2 is often quoted.

The following link from research gate has some good info: https://www.researchgate.net/post/Toluidine_Blue_Staining_for_Mast_Cells

If you want to get into the technicalities of it, they are provided under a CC BY 3 license, which basically means that you can do what you want with them as long as you give an attribution.

Like you say, for an informal or internal meeting that's not an issue. For something more public, if you were being proper you should indeed cite them (and say which license they were used under, and any changes made etc). Admittedly that is rarely done, and many scientists take terrific liberties with using other people's graphics without attribution.

Nothing bad will ever come of it - it's not like you're claiming it's yours and trying to make money from it or something - so you could omit that if you want. However if someone's gone to the effort to make or provide something I don't think it hurts to give them fair credit.

If I'm remembering my stats correctly, you'll want a one way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's HSD if you get a significant result.

There's a decent inferential stats course at udacity (with a section on ANOVA) that covers this if you need a refresher. I'm always forgetting stat methods if I don't use them frequently enough.

I had a similar problem that I used python to solve. From my wet lab coworkers’ responses you would’ve though I was Jesus.

But honestly thats not always necessary. I’ve used TXTCollector (https://en.softonic.com/download/txtcollector/windows) a lot lately.

I’ve used it for normal text files but i think it’ll work for spreadsheets too?

Basically: put all the files you want to merge in one folder. Run txtcollector, tell it what folder, and it’ll combine all the files in that folder.

If you need to keep track of which data points from what file, it’ll also let you put a line between data from each file, which can be useful.

If you end up wanting to go the python route:

1) Download the anaconda distribution of python, get Jupyter notebook

Jupyter notebook will be the easiest way to work with python if you don’t have experience (and honestly it’s just great period). And then the python pandas package and the built in “os” module should help you out. Online tips like this: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/20908018/import-multiple-excel-files-into-python-pandas-and-concatenate-them-into-one-dat/20908339

Additional tips:

• Do not use all caps for titles. It can look aesthetically pleasing, but it's very hard to read. This goes for powerpoint presentations as well. In one of the Font tabs, you can remove the "all caps" from the templates that use this in title/section slides.

• In text heavy sections (e.g. conclusions/future work), use white space between sections. Here's an example. You can adjust the spacing after line breaks in the paragraph window.

• Adobe Kuler is a good place to browse color schemes.

• Powerpoint will not let you import an image > 10 inches, so do not use an image as your background. If you muse use an image as your background, you will have to be creative to keep it high-res. Take it into photoshop & save 10''x10'' sections of the image. Import each of these separately into powerpoint and assemble them.

Assuming you're in academia, the plasmid management, annotation and construction features are free. They don't nag, but, yes, they sell some unrelated features (protocols/gel management). FWIW, I don't have any financial ties to this company; I just like it.

https://benchling.com/pricing

Maybe tryptone? We use that instead of peptone when we make YPD for S. cerevisiae. However, I don't know the exact price difference. Some other notes when I googled tryptone vs peptone: https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_are_the_differences_between_peptone_tryptone_tryptone_peptone_trypticase_and_trypticase_peptone2

Depending on how fast you need it to be it might be worth giving Julia a go. You probably won't get Fortran/C++ speeds but it'll be much faster than python (even pypy) with a syntax similar to Matlab.

Took me a good month to figure out how to build the data table correctly and actually create a nice graph. Created an R package with annotations so I don't have to constantly retype everything with each graph.

This cheat sheet may be helpful

You can do this in Python 3.6 or later:

import random

categorical_response = ['blue','red','green'] cat_survey = random.choices(categorical_response, weights = (1,1,10), k = 5) print("What color birds did you find?", cat_survey) #>>>['green', 'green', 'blue', 'green', 'red']

gaussian_response_draw = random.gauss(5,2.2) print("First bird weight was", gaussian_response_draw, "kg") #>>>2.4288497027597913

many_gaussians = [random.gauss(5,2.2) for i in range(10)] print("We measured ten birds and their wing sizes (inches) were:", many_gaussians) #>>>[5.309010729222535, 2.2741792104455918, 3.3297981866156583, 6.098180226576918, 3.038145909443701, 5.41957780893005, 5.960729874646488, # 6.148729358183529, 5.929561514675592, 7.903755936945999]

You don't need to install Python either. You can run this code interactively. For reference as to what the variables are and to tweak the code, refer to the official documentation for Python's random module

You can also do this in R using similar methods if you are already using it.

Oh yes, sorry. I meant to do that when I got home last night.

The listing is a bit odd, since it lists both their Cargo-style and Straight-style pants at the same time. The Cargo-style are the ones I got, both for pockets and venting.

The reviews mention some durability issues, but I've had them for about 2mo without a problem and I do occasionally have to do some heavy lifting around the lab (a lot of things are still packed in boxes from the COVID shutdown last year before I joined the lab + gas cylinders, etc)... besides, they're $30 each, so the hardest part about replacing them is if they still have your size in stock lol

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y9LCK1X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Easy enough but I didn’t carry sharpies exclusively.

My laboratory carry: - 4 Zebra F-301 Pens (black, red, blue, & green) - 1 black sharpie for labeling - 1 pen flashlight so I didn’t have to use my phone in the lab (Streamlight SL9001WBLK).

Edit: this is the super cheap pocket protector I had. $5.35 for 6 of them.

6Pcs White Pocket Protector for School Hospital Office Shirt Lab Coats Pens Leaks https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PZ5N2RV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_HYEKVFNYJPPDFPVEHV8K

Get some steel or heavy aluminum angle bracket and cut to length. Bolt it to the underside of the shelf. This will prevent it from bowing and possibly pulling the end supports free.

https://www.amazon.com/National-Hardware-Slotted-48-Inch-Galvanized/dp/B0027E3JYG/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=perforated+angle+iron&qid=1620357416&sr=8-2

We used to use razor blades until we moved into our current lab space. I ordered a bunch of these for the lab. (They were much cheaper then)

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0061OXKWE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabt1_cUgTFbV02RV8D

Amazon sells monitor stands pretty cheap. Should do the trick.

3M Adjustable Monitor Stand, Height Adjusts 1-inch to 5 7/8-inch, Holds 80 lbs, 11-inch Space Between Columns, Silver/Black (MS80B) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006HVM5E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_LP6XxbKQGJ819

Lol this is so specific of me but these are the kind I open!

I jam my bent elbow in between the door and the handle, push the handle down with my elbow, swing it out as much as my little bent arms can possibly do, and then jam my foot and leg into the opening so I can further push the door out with my thigh all while not dropping my cells haha.

Never realized how much of a process that sounds like before typing this but it’s a motion I can do in about 1.5 seconds lol.

A little hard to tell the scale with the angles/distances you used, but I'm pretty sure there's at least one size smaller that I've seen in my PhD lab, but never needed to use

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VBW6AI/ref=twister_B00XUGMB6M?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.zoro.com/sp-scienceware-stir-bar-flea-micro-pack-pk6-f37162-0000/i/G4729916/

Your best shot may be to get something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Extractor-Stripped-HassleFree-Hardness-63-65hrc/dp/B07GZ17QD9 . It has one end to make or widen a hole, then the other end has a reverse twist to latch onto and screw it out.

I'm sorry your first job ended up like this. Things like this early in your career can really shake you for awhile, so I urge you to be gentle with yourself. There's no justifiable reason for speaking to you like you say she did. Yes, micropipetting is key, but just doing a few exercises isn't going to teach you muscle memory for it. That just takes time.

Since it sounds like you don't have as much bench experience as you'd like, I recommend this book: https://www.amazon.com/At-Bench-Laboratory-Navigator-Updated/dp/0879697083/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=at+the+bench&qid=1596046269&sr=8-2

It really helped me with some of my molecular work and how to operate in a wet lab.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hybrid.stopwatch&hl=en_US

This is the Android version, hopefully this helps.

You can find all sorts of siphons and hand pumps on Amazon.

Python 13PS Squeeze Siphon Starter https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0017JHPA6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_COsOBb2PW0VG1

SEINECA 8mm Fuel Line Pump Primer Bulb Hand Siphon Diesel Gas Petrol Pump Rubber and Plastic for Car Boat Marine Outboard https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07G26VFQD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_6LsOBbQY7ZYZ0

Absolutely agree! One book I can't recommend enough to everyone, especially scientists is "Made to Stick". An awesome read and some great insights into how to really communicate well to people. I thought I was already a pretty good communicator, and this just made me even better.

I think EVERYONE should read this book: Made to Stick. I love giving talks and am pretty good at it, but this book made me take things to the next level and really think about the message you want to relay and how to relay it. I think scientists really need to read it because we often commit the cardinal sins of giving too much information and not presenting to the audience!

Great list!

Here's my suggestion: Multi Timer

It's a timer app. You can set timers by saying "okay google, set a timer for 10 minutes". The countdown appears on your lockscreen. You can have multiple timers and you can change the sounds or make it just vibrate.

So much better than leaving your timer in the lab and annoying everyone else with its incessant beeping.

Lol I want to say one lab I was in just used those broom holders you use in apartments that have command strips on the back. Might be a cheap alternative? One broom holder per pipette tho so not sure if that affects things. They changed the design a bit so you might test run it before you buy a ton.

https://www.amazon.com/Command-Broom-Grippers-Holds-17007-HW2ES/dp/B01G1Y42H0/ref=asc_df_B01G1Y42H0/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=193136497623&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3856383038854950167&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&a...

Here's a 2014 review article on the subject. "Overall, we conclude that there is little unequivocal evidence that dietary bioactive peptides, other than di- and tripeptides, can cross the gut wall intact and enter the hepatic portal system in physiologically relevant concentrations."

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271595714_Are_intact_peptides_absorbed_from_the_healthy_gut_in_the_adult_human

Disclaimer - I work for one of the major PEI manufacturers in the USA (Polysciences, Inc.)

Finding references is a lot easier if I search for HEK293-6E and not HEK239E6. I believe they are the same (https://www.researchgate.net/post/Does_anyone_know_what_HEK293-E6_are_used_for). See doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-01147-4_30

I am wondering where that ratio of 1 : 1 .6 is from? It seems very low. For HEK293 cells most people start at 1 : 4 and optimize out from there (extremes being 1:2 to 1:8). It's hard to say for sure, but increasing the PEI may help to disperse the complexes more effectively (without any significant increase to the cost of the experiment, especially if you are making a solution from powder).

It may also help to use WFI/Mili-Q water and not a buffer for the complex formation. Using a buffer tends to increase particle size, which is generally associated with a decrease in transfection efficiency.

What container are you doing the complex incubation in? Polyester containers will pull PEI out of solution. PE/PTFE containers should be fine though.

Formalin and paraformaldehyde are essentially the same thing except one is in solution already. Glutaraldehyde has some pretty bad autofluoresce but formaldehyde has some as well. Look into carnoy, Clark, and methacarn fixation. (https://www.researchgate.net/post/Does_anyone_have_a_good_protocol_to_reduce_remove_autofluorescence_in_tissues)

Similar to you, I've been trying to gain some basic competency in with bioinformatics. I've been using swirl and coursera to get familiar with writing code in R, and they've both been pretty helpful. Bioinformatics is tough coming from the benchwork side, but these seem work well in for my first steps. And they're free.

https://www.coursera.org/jhu http://swirlstats.com/

Your not missing anything, I missed the industrial part. I blame night shifts😂. I don’t anything about industrial markers, or their application in wet labs, so I can’t help much. I did a quick google search and found these:

https://www.amazon.ca/BIC-Intensity-Permanent-Marker-12-Count/dp/B07MNBN5NK/ref=asc_df_B07MNBN5NK/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=459492657241&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8383805482603543573&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvq...

Bic makes a mean pen, so hopefully their markers follow suit, and the tips seems to be a bit thinner. Also, the price is more palatable if your paying out of your pocket. Good luck in your search!

Assuming you just mean the regular extra-fine retractable sharpies (not industrial), here’s a link to a multicolor pack on Amazon.

According to Amazon, and sharpies site, the fine point is not discontinued.

https://www.amazon.com/Sharpie-37001-Permanent-Markers-Ultra/dp/B00006IFI3

https://www.sharpie.com/markers/permanent-markers/sharpie-permanent-markers-ultra-fine-point/SAP_2082960.html

Those other markers look fine, but at 100+USD per 12 pack I would rather write using a diabetic lancet.

There are these 1.1 cubic foot freezers sold under many names (Whynter, Edgestar, SPT, Arctic King, etc.) that have no auto defrost. I've had one for several years and love it.

There's no freezer box inside them just a dial that lets you set temperature throughout a wide range. This allows it to act as a refrigerator or freezer.

There may be larger models. I'd recommend downloading the manual to ensure that they don't have auto defrost. I'm thinking of getting another one to use as a refrigerator.

First thing to check is if the Pipetboy will run while plugged in.

We've had decent success with standard rechargeable 9V batteries: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B003D7LHIG/

Not sure if they're as good as the originals, but they work fine.

Checklists rule the mundane. Checklist Manifesto is a great salve for this burn.

One of the guys I work with wears scrubs, but he's worked for clinical labs for a while so he has a bunch of them.

For me, I just stick to my postdoc wardrobe (t-shirt & vented microfiber work pants). Comfy, cheap, and easy to replace. Where I did my PhD, no one actually gave a damn if you wore shorts or not, so I got into the habit of just shorts and a t-shirt most of the time during the summer, but my postdoc institution was much more stringent so I switched to these microfiber work pants I found on Amazon. Super light and comfy, and vented behind the knees/at the pockets/etc, so you can breathe in the summer + when you're wearing a labcoat. In the winters, I just wear a pair of sweat pants/long johns underneath. They've gone up a bit since I bought them ($25-30 when I bought them, $40 now); but still cheap enough that I don't particularly care what happens to them. If I accidentally bleach them, or spill something unholy on them, I can probably toss them and not feel too bad about it.

Here you go! That is most of them, though it doesn’t include the navy, purple, or pink (and I might have used a different orange - I don’t remember for sure). Those ones were from some pack I got awhile ago and are the kind that have the ultra fine tip on one side and fine tip on the other.

To everyone asking about what markers I used: just ultra-fine sharpies. But with the exception of the navy, purple, and pink (and maybe orange), they are the retractable ultra fine ones!

Our lab had one promotional retractable ultra fine sharpie in black that I fell in love with enough to hunt down retractable ultra fine sharpies in colors. Amazon has a multi-color pack of 8 for like $16 USD. I don’t know if it’s that actually being a little more dry with the more open end instead of a sealed cap helps them but I feel like they pretty consistently write really nicely. Still waiting to see how long they last, but I’ve had them for a few months and they still seem almost like new as far as how the tips are holding up.

I've got beaker highball glasses like these:
https://www.amazon.com/Periodic-Tableware-Laboratory-Highball-Glasses/dp/B016N1QCX8

I love them, and somehow haven't been tempted into drinking any mercaptoethanol-CTAB mix?

Actually yes. You're gonna wanna go to your local drug store or just go on amazon and get a back brace like this. Having thrown packages for FedEx in a previous lifetime, when I had to do cryosectioning I immediately grabbed my back brace and I stopped having back pain because I stopped slouching so much. 10/10 would recommend.

Here is the mug I use for the occasion

https://www.amazon.com/Please-Confuse-Google-Search-Ceramic/dp/B01CL68Z0C

I put a healthy dose of mojitos in the mug. Boom, That uncle with the life on the moon has been hidden conspiracy theory is much more bearable .

And I sit at the kids table . Having to suddenly come up with what is your second favorite dinosaur is a great way to take your mind off my bad gene pool.

https://www.amazon.de/Taschenlampe-WESLITE-Taschenlampen-Reichweite-Nachtfischerei/dp/B07Y8P97JT/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?keywords=taschenlampe+blaues+licht&qid=1657638670&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&smid=A1HHUOHELT51YW&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVh...

This ist the model, I bet If you look for a bit you can find another retailer than amazon. Others Models work as well.

I’ve yet to see anyone not laugh at finding a for rectal use only sticker on a pipette or similar piece of labware

Despair not, a solution exists: Statistics for terrified biologists by van Emden.

There is this one from Amazon

heathrow pipetting holder

I've heard great things about this book.

Also, your lab mates will definitely teach you whatever you need to know. Or they should anyway, lol.

I'm not a microbiologist. I study crop science, so I am regularly dropping my phone into dirt in the field and have to clean it off.

Step 1, waterproof case. I use this one.

Step 2, clean phone. Because its in a cheap, easily replaceable, waterproof case, I don't really care about what I'm cleaning it with. I've just straight up rinsed it in the sink, alcohol wipes, a wet paper towel, and last week I sprayed it with a can of Lysol and wiped it off on my pants. Whatever floats your boat as far as cleaning supplies go (within reason of course).

Not OP, but this is what we use at my lab. Hope it helps!

https://www.amazon.com/Kamoer-Peristaltic-1-1520ml-110V-220V-Interface/dp/B01GY4EF4C/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=kamoer+dosing+pump&qid=1650522590&sr=8-10

https://www.amazon.ca/Salton-Induction-Temperature-Efficient-ID1948/dp/B07XGNDMHD/ref=asc\_df\_B07XGNDMHD/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=335224463705&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4501188991737658054&hvpone=&hvptwo=...

I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Maybe the build quality isn’t as good as the name brands and it won’t survive 20 years in a lab, but for your use case it should be fine. Order some reference weights while you’re at it and see how good it really is.

But to get accurate measurements (or even be able to properly tare the scales), there are a few things to consider:

Set up the scales on a flat and sturdy surface, the heavier the better (for reference, a proper weighing table is made out of stone). Also make sure there are no drafts from windows, doors, or vents. There should be a spirit level at the back of the instrument. Use that together with the adjustable feet to make sure the scales are perfectly level. Before taring and every measurement, close all of the plastic doors.

OP, you need to use a weigh boat and just throw the whole thing away when you're done.

That brush is to sweep spilled stuff under the balance.

https://www.amazon.com/Basic-Laboratory-Calculations-Biotechnology-Seidman/dp/0132238101

This was the textbook that I learned lab math from in vocational school. Very simple and practical, I still refer to it occasionally.

I've always worked in labs that use Pipetboys. They work well, though I've never used one all day. Dependable and nice to be able to easily adjust the suck/blow rate. If it's too expensive, look at used ones on eBay, and be ready to buy a new rechargeable battery. They can use standard 9V, e.g.: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B003D7LHIG/

We don't change the filters with any frequency, but we do use serological pipettes that have built-in filters.

(Buffered Charcoal Yeast Extract) is a culture medium used in microbiology for the isolation of Legionella and more particularly of the pathogen L. pneumophila. It was developed in 1980 by Pasculle et al. from middle CYE.

After trying 4+ brands, I can HIGHLY recommend these magic tag pens from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Resistant-Designed-Industrial-Laboratory-Hospital/dp/B09L3Q99WL/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2GCSYASPJFMLQ&keywords=B09L3Q99WL&qid=1649523149&sprefix=b09l3q99wl%2Caps%2C347&sr=8-1

These have changed the game.

If anyone tried this? looks good, not sure! let me know if someone tries them. https://www.amazon.com/Resistant-Industrial-Laboratory-MAGIC-TAG/dp/B09L3Q99WL/ref=sr\_1\_17?crid=3T4VH64YRBHBH&keywords=magic+engineer+marker&qid=1648754681&sprefix=magic+enginner+marke%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-17

A nice set of good pens & ultra-fine permanent markers alongside a pocket protector.

I recommend these and these.

You can also choose different colors (red, blue, black) as it is sometimes useful to write stuff in different colors in a lab book.

I've used stepped barbed adapters (example) to avoid having a drawer full of adapters for different sized tubing.

Does the filter have a fitting molded into it? An image search shows two types: some barbed, some look like a triclover fitting.

I have been thinking about cheap water baths as well. I wonder what really makes them so expensive. I have been thinking about using the bottom two products together in an insulated box.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Electric-Water-Heater-Element-Mini-Boiler-Hot-Water-Coffee-Immersion-Travel-NDB-/393601875237?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0

https://www.amazon.com.au/Inkbird-Pre-wired-Temperature-Controller-Greenhouse/dp/B078H2738K/ref=asc_df_B078H2738K/?tag=googleshopmob-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341793590639&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6110923504231395975&hvpone=&amp...

I used cotton tank tops or Fruit of the Loom cotton bras - they do break down over time of course. We got a stipend for under garments so you should definitely ask.

This bra is 100% cotton, no wire, very sturdy and supportive. I wear this most days in the lab (but have never autoclaved it). Sizes go up to 44’s, DD. They are the opposite of sexy, but since they are so cheap (~10USD), you might want to try it as a starting point, if you can get it in your region.

Good luck. Out of curiosity, do you think autoclaving your underwear is a necessary safety measure? I could see it being a requirement if you were working with the worst of the worst, but for anything less dangerous than that it seems excessive.

Happy to show you a product demo and share how you can templatize your research experiments and automate things like report creation, reordering, and much more. You can book a demo here https://calendly.com/scispot/scispot-io?month=2021-04

We use a domestic "phomemo" brand thermal label printer, the D30. It's the best label printer I've ever used! Stupid cheap, at around £40, because it's made for the "craft/diy" market, not labs.

It's as big as a mobile, battery powered, and has labels that come in standard sizes, and 12x22mm which fit perfectly on the end of a slide. It has an android app that lets you print quickly and custom design stickers.

Our thermal printer broke and we grabbed one off amazon to get us by while we waited on a replacement and we have never looked back. At these prices, we just give one to each staff member. Also, you can "accidentally" order the cool patterned ones, I got a space one!

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08XYV4KHQ/

Unconventional, but definitely worth checking out. Also, don't overlook the portability, it's a lot handier than our last usb printer!

I got this written on a mug.

https://www.amazon.com/Theory-Practice-Coffee-Tea-Mug/dp/B01N9WVZDA/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=3E30GPR86E5JS&keywords=funny+practice+theory+lab+mug&qid=1642792580&sprefix=funny+practice+theory+lab+mug%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-3

Thanks, I'll get you some more info soon... Until then, it sounds like (even if this is a well powered 254nm device), for a brief one second look from a foot away you don't think I have anything to be worried about in regards to long term eye damage (or even short term damage, for that matter)?

For goggles, I have these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N3RQETD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1 -- But I assumed they're no good for this - I bought them years and years ago to protect against blue light from computers keeping me awake when I have to work late.

I'll stick to the UV test strips - I'm not that intense about it. I just was miffed that opening the box had a delay for turning off UV-C light and that I got flashed at all. Don't know what I am actually dealing with, so of course concerned with eye damage when there is so very little regulation on these things (*any* regulation? To the point they don't even need to disclose power/wavelength specifications or safety certifications (or lack thereof)).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eparé-Clear-Ice-System-Crystal/dp/B07TV7JV23

This is what I used. It’s insulated on the sides and the top is open, which allows the ice to freeze slowly from the top down. It pushes impurities out of the bottom and as a result the ice is much clearer.

I hat to buy an anti-static mat recently for this purpose:

Anti-Static Mat - 25” x 27.5” Electrical Grounding Desk Pad https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009XT3H/

To make sure it was grounded, I bought a grounding cord/plug: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BT9TQKD/

Basically, I work on that and roll the plastic tube around on it a bit if it's particularly static-ey.

You're treating this issue as if you were haggling for a lower deal on a new car.

There are multiple issues involved in pay negotiations, and whether one employee walks away or not is rarely a concern for management, rightly or wrongly.

I suggest you visit this thread: Salary negotiations for techies.

I used blender. It has a bit of a learning curve, but is really easy once you get used to it, and there are TONS of tutorials. Alternatively there is other free CAD software that may be easier to use, and I think you can use really nice software for free/trial if you have an edu e-mail.

As for designing the part, it was essentially making a bunch of rectangles and then using the boolean 'union' modifier to combine them. 9mm is the standard spacing for a 96-well plate, but most gel well spacing is smaller than that, so the multi-channel-compatible comb I made is for 384-well spacing (4.5mm apart), so I have to do every other one with the 96-well multi-channel pipetter.

If you want my model, I can upload it to thingiverse. It's made for the mini fisher horizontal chamber that goes with the comb I linked above.

And don't forget to NEVER use libgen or z-lib either.

Also: https://unpaywall.org/ has a Chrome and Firefox extension, if you don't want people questioning legality. It works quite well, has a lot of open access links for normally paywalled articles.

You can get 20" wide rolls! What in God's name for?

Oh man, that sounds like a phobia! I recommend buying cut resistant gloves that you can put under your lab gloves. We get these for people in the lab who are scared of mice. It will help you get over the mental barrier that’s coming from the fear of a mouse bite