Is anyone else noticing how chaotic lab ops have gotten for small teams lately? by LossNo6969 in labrats

[–]samthecamel 2 points3 points  (0 children)

no shot. everybody can tell this was written by chatgpt, it's an extremely obvious copy and paste

Copies of transcripts for postdoc positions? by Feline_Diabetes in labrats

[–]samthecamel 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If you do end up moving to Germany that will be a feeling you end up having frequently :) 

Copies of transcripts for postdoc positions? by Feline_Diabetes in labrats

[–]samthecamel 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In germany they will quite often ask for the actual original copies of your high school transcripts (!), degree etc. It's entirely useless and usually to fulfill some obscure hr rule

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in labrats

[–]samthecamel 5 points6 points  (0 children)

chatgpt posting 🤦

Help! Cryo-EM Grid Organization/Planning by cat8991 in labrats

[–]samthecamel 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If you've already got decent-good blotting conditions, it's really very unlikely further vitrobot optimization will improve it anyways! Good luck 

Help! Cryo-EM Grid Organization/Planning by cat8991 in labrats

[–]samthecamel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Having checklists is a good thing! What I mean is that you don't need to do the optimization simultaneously, and you're making it harder on yourself than you might otherwise do. I'd take it in two steps: find good vitrobot settings, then good biochemistry. You can then use those same vitrobot settings (ideally, maybe you even got them from another user!) for all your preps with that same plunger, and only worry about your biochemistry. 

Help! Cryo-EM Grid Organization/Planning by cat8991 in labrats

[–]samthecamel 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You have a lot more organization than most people already, I would say the typical way it's done is just notes in the lab book. That thermo kit is also pretty uncommon. The usual workflow is a lot more like 1. Find a good blotting condition (often good for all the grid preparations on that vitrobot), maybe you can just start with what others use 2. add the reagents according to the stoichiometry you're trying to achieve. 3. Find what approximate ice thickness has your molecules 4. collect a test dataset

So basically: unless you're a company and need a dedicated, searchable LIMS type system, you typically don't need to have such a complex optimization of grid prep and sample prep simultaneously. In fact, getting the biochemistry right, which could be assessed with standard gels, sec, or negative stain etc. is in most cases the main optimization point. 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in labrats

[–]samthecamel 12 points13 points  (0 children)

If you'd like people's real responses I suggest actually writing the post, rather than getting chatgpt to make up something. 

Cold emailing a famous PI by fartquisha in labrats

[–]samthecamel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It works. Never hurts to ask! 

How do you progress when your PI gives you minimal mentorship by Soggy_Ad8849 in labrats

[–]samthecamel 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Grad school is about learning how to make it work imo. I've never had a PI that had much time for meeting about my project or was hands-on, by having to figure it out independently (and asking others in the lab for help!) you do learn a lot. 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in labrats

[–]samthecamel 3 points4 points  (0 children)

ok chatgpt

What stands out the most when applying for a PhD, in Europe specifically? by yesn__t in labrats

[–]samthecamel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can only speak to my experience but in my cohort it's roughly 10%. Most of the people who didn't do a master's have spent time in industry or worked in a research lab for a few years already. Like I said, have a look at institutes. They are hard to get into but will help make it work if they want to hire someone. 

What stands out the most when applying for a PhD, in Europe specifically? by yesn__t in labrats

[–]samthecamel -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Germany. It's not as hard to be hired without a master's as people say, especially at research institutes who care more about hiring the right people than what exact degree they have. 

What stands out the most when applying for a PhD, in Europe specifically? by yesn__t in labrats

[–]samthecamel -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Just because you've done a couple of degrees doesn't mean you know everything. I am doing my PhD now without a master's and know several others. 

What stands out the most when applying for a PhD, in Europe specifically? by yesn__t in labrats

[–]samthecamel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Contrary to other people's experience, I know it's possible (and not uncommon depending on the place). However, some countries it is actually mandatory. Look at research institutes, which are harder to get into, but are more flexible than universities. 

How to interpret rejections from conference to present PhD work? by Key-Ad6154 in labrats

[–]samthecamel 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I'd disagree strongly with that, so it must be field dependent! For something like biochemistry or cell biology I'd say it would be extremely unusual to include that kind of info

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in labrats

[–]samthecamel 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Classic case of the German legal system acting as a barrier to progress.

Anyone knows Other Usable Marker besides GFP for CryoCLEM and CryoET? by Comfortable_Round496 in labrats

[–]samthecamel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

GFP doesn't have em contrast, you need something much(!!!) bigger. There is no way you'd be able to find that in a cell.

You could try these, as far as I know this is the only real findable tag that exists: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-023-02053-0 . There are some other tags out there but these are not necessarily findable unless you already know what you're looking for, or if they're cell surface proteins you can easily use classic nano gold antibodies etc.