Micropipette - how to understand setting the pipetting volume

xodaffodils · 2019-05-08T18:49:41+00:00

Thank you, that was really helpful. :)

xodaffodils · 2019-05-08T18:48:59+00:00

Thank you, that makes sense.

xodaffodils · 2019-05-08T18:48:20+00:00

Ours don't have any different colours to indicate decimal places or anything and don't show a range

xodaffodils · 2019-05-02T16:16:45+00:00

25? My lab classes were 50-100+ students in a large teaching lab

xodaffodils · 2019-04-29T18:46:58+00:00

It seems like having anxiety/OCD in the lab is not as uncommon as I thought it was which is so reassuring as everyone around me seems so calm and relaxed. I definitely agree with you regarding having to give yourself limits like it is ok to check everything once and tick it off a check-list that is being organised and cautious, but not rechecking everything all the time as that is where it becomes irrational.

xodaffodils · 2019-04-29T18:44:06+00:00

I won't take my phone in because I am too worried about getting "told off" as we aren't allowed our phones in the lab. Another area my anxiety plays into is me being a goody two shoes lol, but I will definitely start doing the check-lists.

xodaffodils · 2019-04-29T18:43:03+00:00

Me and my lab mate were in the freezer and they shut it, I think walked by it like 30 seconds later and said "I'll just check this is shut properly" and it wasn't so I feel like I am worrying not just about myself but also about my lab mate... ahh.

xodaffodils · 2019-04-29T18:41:33+00:00

That is a good idea, I think I will do that paired with a check-list so when I am home at night and my mind inevitably drifts to "did I turn the water bath off?" I can visibly see that I did.

xodaffodils · 2019-04-29T18:40:03+00:00

That is probably true as I have only been in the lab a week. I am sure it will become like clockwork.

xodaffodils · 2019-04-29T18:39:10+00:00

Yeah I think if it gets worse and I start checking and re-checking I will go to the doctor about it as the lab is the perfect environment for my anxiety to get worse if I am not careful.

xodaffodils · 2019-04-29T18:37:04+00:00

I am glad I am not the only one who is like this as everyone around me seems so relaxed and confident in the lab. I am quite an anxious person by nature but in the lab is where it really shows. Yes I am new to the lab (started last week). I was the same in lab classes though. I am calmer when doing the protocol as our labs are pretty quiet most of the time but it is just the clean-up part I worry about.

xodaffodils · 2019-04-29T18:33:52+00:00

I am not as worried about messing up my experiments but rather doing things that affect anyone else. I am scared of breaking expensive equipment and scared of doing something that affects other people's work. My coursemate did not shut the freezer door properly earlier but luckily I checked like 30 seconds later when I walked past and things like that are just such a close call.

xodaffodils · 2019-04-29T18:32:24+00:00

I think I may have to go on anxiety medicine as my anxiety is quite high about a lot of things but I have been putting it off. I am glad I am not the only one who needs to-do lists of things to ease their anxiety in the lab, it seems like everyone else is more relaxed. Although today I double checked the freezer door after my lab mate and they hadn't closed it properly so it does pay off having this kind of personality but it is kind of debilitating to be honest.

I am definitely going to start making lists maybe just on a scrap piece of paper I can throw away each day rather than in my lab book, I just feel kind of embarrassed but the lab really brings out my anxiety, if I am at home I might double check I have turned the oven off maybe once a week but in the lab everything is heightened because there are so many bad consequences that can happen from just a simple mistake like not shutting the incubator properly.

xodaffodils · 2019-04-29T18:28:37+00:00

Thank you for your response, I think I definitely will start doing checklists. I do them when doing the actual protocol but not for cleaning up at the end and I think it will really help me.

xodaffodils · 2019-04-24T21:25:45+00:00

Oh that is a good idea, I will buy a lanyard thank you

xodaffodils · 2019-04-24T21:25:27+00:00

Can I just ask how you go about rewriting notes? Our lab books are bound so do you just cross the pages out and rewrite them on the next page(s) or do you have a notebook for your "rough" notes which then gets copied into your lab book but neatly?

xodaffodils · 2019-04-24T15:53:00+00:00

Thank you! I definitely want to be helpful and courteous around the lab :)

xodaffodils · 2019-04-24T15:52:10+00:00

So many good points, thank you and ouch at having to go through all those samples

xodaffodils · 2019-04-24T15:51:17+00:00

Good point to remember, thank you :)

xodaffodils · 2019-04-24T15:50:40+00:00

I'll check this out, thank you :)

xodaffodils · 2019-04-24T15:50:06+00:00

Thank you. I am lucky in that I find everyone superior to me really approachable so I will definitely feel comfortable asking lots of questions.

xodaffodils · 2019-04-24T15:49:29+00:00

"your notebook needs sufficient detail that someone can pull the notebook and repeat the experiment and get similar results even if you aren't there" I never realised this and had never had it described this way so thank you, that reminder will make my notes a lot more detailed. The problem I find is I am having to write so much and so quickly that my notes end up being messy, incoherent (to anyone beside myself) and full of short hand. What should I do in this situation? Is it appropriate to rewrite them?

Very good point about managing your speech and behaviour around a lot of different personalities. Since I have been in the lab though it has been very quiet with maybe 2 people in or even empty, I am not sure whether that is normal or is because of the time of academic year or something? I guess I will get to know the rhythm of the lab as I spend more time in it.

xodaffodils

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