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. What can be poured down the sink is written on a sheet next to the sink.
Don’t pour MOLTEN AGAR down the sink as this clog the pipes below the sink.
Don’t make a MESS of communal space such as refrigerators
Don’t put SHARPS in the Biowaste, because they’ll make holes in the plastic, causing molten agar to leak through when autoclaving
Don’t autoclave in the “kitchen”, during the kitchen working hours (~6am-2pm). Do not leave autoclaved material in the kitchen autoclaved overnight.
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, especially not lab ANTIBIOTICS.
Do not hold on to FLASKS or bottles for long after your’re done with them. Instead, when you are done with flasks/bottles, BLEACH them (if you used them to grow cultures) and put them in the metal tray near the sink so they can go back into circulation.
Don’t just DUMP your biohazard waste into other people’s waste bins and then not clean it up.
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).
