Everyday in lab can be different, so there isn’t a set guideline for each day. However, there are some similarities in my schedule.
When I get to lab, I enter the office and say hello to whoever is in. From there, I get my tasks for the day if I already don’t have them set out the day before. These tasks can be from one of two categories: lab tasks and experiment-related tasks.
On some days, I have more lab tasks to complete. These can include collecting and autoclaving the trash from all of the lab spaces; creating plates with varying antibiotics; restocking various materials around the lab; and more. Most days, there is at least one lab task for me to complete. Sometimes, it is a task specifically from a member of the lab that I don’t work with which can be a nice opportunity to interact with other members!
More experiment related tasks can include sowing seeds on plates; creating flats with different plant lines; preparing plants for treatments; sampling leaves; and more. Once all of these are created/done, I have to check on them everyday to see how they are growing in their various conditions. It is important to keep track of their growth so that we can optimize their growing conditions for future experiments. Keeping track of which plates and flats to adjust and transfer is an important part of daily life in the lab. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I water the plants (which I have an alarm set on my phone for because I can and will forget it if I don’t!). Recently, I have been working on figuring out a particular machine’s operation as it has not been used very often, so that has been occupying some of my time in lab.
Most days, my day is split between morning and afternoon tasks, and I typically have lunch around 1-1:30pm. I find that this can be a nice time to unwind a bit and maybe chat with other members of the lab.
Overall, I enjoy how life in the lab is simultaneously formularized and ever-changing.
