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Feng Shui for New Labs
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The steps of starting a new lab
• Before the second visit• After you accept, before you
arrive• Right after you arrive• The next few months• Onward to the future….
For the second visit
• Make sure to talk to your currentadvisor about what you can take
For the second visit
• Make a list of what you want in your startup package:major equipment, facilitiessalaries (yours and a technician’s)
• Don’t be afraid to ask for everything you want - THIS is your bigopportunity
moving expenses, help finding spouse’s job, etc
Before you arrive
• Get floor plans of the lab space– plan renovations if needed and push hard to get them done!
Before you arrive
• Make sure your lab space is readyif it’s not, make sure you have good temporary space
Before you arrive
• Contact other recent hires to get theiradvice
Before you arrive
• Have a primary contact at your newdepartment
Before you arrive
• Send ahead reagents, animals, etc
Before you arrive
• Find out what surplus equipment is available
Before you arrive
• Find out how to purchase stuff, get a purchasing cardif available
Before you arrive
• Get accounts with Fisher/VWR/etc and findout about startup discounts
-$$$=
Before you arrive
• Start buying reagents, glassware, etc.
Before you arrive
• Keep a database of what you’ve ordered and when itarrives
2/9/05 2/14/05 coldroom Fisher Carbenicillin Disodium salt BP2648-2 286C 1 g 1 $ 59.85 $ 59.85
2/9/05 2/11/05 to be washed Fisher Carboy, Nalgene Rectangular 9 L 02-963-5A 241 1 4 $ 83.89 $ 335.56
2/9/05 2/16/05 lab Fisher Cart, Rubbermaid Heavy Duty Plastic 24x36x32 11-926-85 248 1 2 $ 144.65 $ 289.30
2/9/05 2/11/05 lab Fisher Chloroform Molecular biology BP1145-1 288C 1 L 1 $ 24.21 $ 24.21
2/9/05 2/11/05 lab Fisher Citric Acid Anhydrous ACS A940-1 65C 1 kg 1 $ 40.79 $ 40.79
2/9/05 2/11/05 freezer Fisher Cooler, Nalgene labtop enzyme cooler 32 tube capacity 15-350-51 793 1 1 $ 103.51 $ 103.51
2/9/05 2/11/05 lab Fisher Cover Glasses, Fisherbrand 22x22mm, #1 12-542B 947 1 20 $ 2.95 $ 59.00
2/9/05 2/11/05 lab Fisher Cover Glasses, Fisherbrand 22x60mm, #1 12-545J 947 1 10 $ 7.98 $ 79.80
2/9/05 2/11/05 lab Fisher Cuvets, disposable plastic 1.5 ml, polystyrene 14-385-942 1373 500 1 $ 61.41 $ 61.41
2/9/05 2/11/05 lab Fisher Drierite Absorbant indicating, 5 lb 07-578-3B 415 1 1 $ 28.54 $ 28.54
2/9/05 2/11/05 lab Fisher EDTA liquid, for DNA work BP2482-500 298C 500 ml 1 $ 28.76 $ 28.76
2/9/05 2/21/05 flammables Fisher Ethanol 95% CDA19 histological A406P-4 87C 4 liters 1 $ 25.32 $ 25.32
2/9/05 2/11/05 lab Fisher Ethidium Bromide 1% solution BP1302-10 297C 10 ml 1 $ 24.65 $ 24.65
2/9/05 2/11/05 lab Fisher Filters, Costar SpinX centrifugal devices
cellulose acetate, sterile, 0.2
!M 07-200-385 490 96 1 $ 150.13 $ 150.13
2/9/05 2/11/05 lab Fisher Filters, Millipore Syringe Filters 0.2 !m, PVDF sterile, 33 mm SLGV 033 RS 536 50 1 $ 82.08 $ 82.08
2/9/05 2/11/05 storage room Fisher Filters, Nalgene Sterile Disposable Bottletop
aPES, 45 mm neck, 500 ml,
0.2!m
09-741-070 09
740 37V 474 12 1 $ 53.18 $ 53.18
2/9/05 2/11/05 in lab Fisher Flame Burners, Fisher Adjustable Natural gas 03-962 229 1 4 $ 59.54 $ 238.16
2/9/05 2/11/05 lab Fisher Flask Lead Rings, Fisherbrand Covered 250 to 1000 ml 05-869-6 568 1 2 $ 11.72 $ 23.44
Before you arrive
• Get a laptop and a cell phone!
Before you arrive
• Get going on paperwork: animal, radioactivity, humanspecimen approvals
Right after you arrive
• Hire an assistant to help you unpack/set up
Right after you arrive
• Stay organized: plasmid, oligo, etc.databases!
Right after you arrive
• Continue ordering
Right after you arrive
• Don’t be afraid to order from non-science vendors
Right after you arrive
• For big equipment purchases (microscopes,centrifuges, etc), the company support staff is key -talk to colleagues
Right after you arrive
• Make sure to get waste disposal procedures in place– radioactivity, biohazard, chemicals, etc
Right after you arrive
• Be social - get to know your lab neighbors and yourdepartmental colleagues
The next few months
• Start doing experiments ASAP– helps you get over your “new lab” anxiety– helps you figure out what equipment/reagents you’re
missing!
The next few months
• Recruit grad students and postdocs - participate in anyrecruitment activities that are available
The next few months
• Find a technician - work with HR and ask around/postnotices too
Onward to the future
• Don’t be afraid to fire people if they aren’t workingout, but give them a warning first
Onward to the future
• New investigator grants - less money than an RO1,but a LOT less work to write!
Onward to the future
• Find mentors to give you advice on science, grants,students and postdocs, etc.
