The rules and policies below need to be observed to make this a successful comping season:
Lab meetings: We will meet as a group at 12:20 on Tuesdays every week for the fall and spring semester. During this time you will have an opportunity to get group feedback on data presentation, to work through problems, and most importantly, to keep the lines of communication open. You should schedule individual meetings with me as needed. Since the lab is going to be busy this year, please try to schedule an appointment with me if you need to go over something individually. This way you are guaranteed that I will be available.
Keys: You should plan to check out a key to the comp lab and another to the outside door of the building. This will enable you to work nights/weekends/holidays as your schedule demands. Keys are available from the biology secretaries (Lin or Brenda) and require a deposit of $10.00 each, cash only, which will be refunded upon return of the key. Keys to other labs that you may need access to are stored in the micropipette drawer (combination lock), and may not be loaned out to others without my permission.
Eating and drinking in the laboratories: DON'T DO IT! If you need to keep food or drink around your comp cube, store it in a closed bag and only eat in the lobby outside or elsewhere away from the lab. Make sure to keep all food and drinks away from any contaminated surfaces, dangerous chemicals, or cultures that may be in the area. Wash your hands frequently when handling cultures, environmental samples, or chemicals.
Washing dishes/cleaning up: The rule is, if you use it you clean it as soon as you are finished. Glassware is at a premium in the lab, as is bench space. I will not tolerate an accumulation of dirty glassware or other supplies. Glass pipettes go into the soaking bin tip-side-up (after you've removed the cotton plug). Use the paintbrush to sweep any "crumbs" off the balance and wipe the area around the balance with a damp paper towel after you are done. Leave me a note if we seem to be running low on any chemical, common-use solution, or disposable labware. If you use any general lab supplies (tape, marking pens, tools, catalogs, etc) put them back where they belong when you are finished. Remember you are sharing a lab with your fellow compers as well as Dr. Margaret Nelson's students. It is essential to keep things as neat and tidy as possible - as a courtesy, for safety's sake, and to make sure that the supplies are there when you go to use them next.
Feel free to claim a drawer and part of a shelf in the common lab by applying a label with your name on it (tape for the shelf, piece of paper for drawer label). Use this shelf to store solutions that are not shared between lab members, and don't take anything from anyone's personal shelf or drawer without their permission. Benchtops must be clean and clear of clutter before you leave the lab.
Handling Chemicals: Use a clean pipette or spatula to remove chemicals from stock containers, never put anything back into stock containers (throw out extras if you have accidentally overfilled your weighboat or pipette). Don't pipette out of original chemical containers (such as HCl etc.). Contaminating chemical stocks with even minute quantities of other chemicals can easily ruin someone else's comp. No mouth-pipetting. Label all solutions in bottles with complete contents, concentrations, pH (if appropriate), date, and your initials. Any unlabeled or improperly labeled containers / bottles will be emptied and disposed of.
Disposing of dangerous wastes: All microbial cultures and mutant or transgenic plants must be autoclaved before they are disposed of. After autoclaving, place sterilized bag in the biohazard container in the prep room. All plastics coming into contact with experimental microorganisms (i.e. pipet tips, petri plates) must be autoclaved. Chemicals should be properly disposed - check with me before you pour any chemical down the drain. DO NOT pour liquified agar down the drain - it will solidify and cause major problems. There is a broken glass container in the lab - use it as appropriate. Please do not use ethidium bromide anywhere except on a spill pad inside the shared lab fume hood. Change your gloves after handling it and BEFORE you touch any door handles etc.
Borrowing supplies: You can only borrow from other labs if you obtain permission from the supervisor of that lab. Just asking permission from another student is not enough (so plan ahead so that you don't run out of something in the middle of a weekend experiment). Also, if someone wants to borrow anything from our comp lab, they must obtain my permission. All compers are responsible for keeping track of their own supplies. Each person will have a designated place to keep their supplies & solutions/media.
Micropipettes: Micropipetters are both expensive (~$ 200 apiece) and easily transportable. They are therefore kept in a drawer secured by a combination lock. By accepting the combination to this lock, you agree to be responsible for handling them appropriately. The microppetters in the lab are my personal pieces of equipment and must be carefully maintained to assure appropriate accuracy for reseach purposes. For this reason they are NOT to be loaned to others without my permission. If this should become a problem, I will move them to my office and each student will have to sign them out.
Lab doors/lights: Everyone must be vigilant about lab maintenance and security. The last person to leave should ensure that any burners or hot plates are turned off, all doors AND WINDOWS are closed and locked, and lights are turned off. Take your keys with you whenever you leave the lab (even if you are just going to be across the hall) so that you don't accidentally get locked out.
Strangers in our lab. This laboratory contains caustic, carcinogenic, and otherwise hazardous materials. Some people may be working with transgenic organisms as well. The lab is for the exclusive use of comping seniors under the direction of Dr. Coenen and Dr. Nelson. For safety's sake, other students should not be using our lab as study space or for other reasons. So, please ask strangers (i.e. anyone who is not a Coenen/Nelson comp student) to leave this area.
Phone usage: The telephone in my faculty lab is the same extension as in my office. It is not to be used for long personal calls or any long distance call unless previously approved and pertaining directly to your research. If you need to leave a quick message with someone on campus, you are welcome to use the phone, otherwise pretend it isn't there. Also, please do not give out this number for general use - it should be for emergency usage only. My voice mail is connected to this phone and will pick up after 5 rings. If you answer a call for me, please give the caller the option of calling back and leaving a message on my voice mail. If you decide to take a message for me, make sure that it is written down and given to me in a timely manner. Violations of this policy will result in the removal of the laboratory phone extension.
Ordering supplies: I will collect and approve any orders for comp supplies and forward them to Liz Caskey (the bio technician). Simply send me an e-mail with the quantity, catalog #, item name, price, and company address and telephone number. Although Liz and I will keep track of your total comp budget, you should do so as well. The Biology department allows you to spend up to $200 for your comp. If you need more you can write to the class of 1939 research fund (I will gladly write a letter of support for you).
Near the beginning of the semester all Coenen Compers will get together and see if there are any other rules or policies which you feel are necessary. Those outlined above are in place for the safety and security of all students in this lab. You, however, must decide how you will work best and establish guidelines to facilitate that. I will let you decide as a group what the radio policy is, for example. If you have a problem, please try to handle it or report it to me as soon as possible. This should be a comfortable, safe environment for you to work. If anything is preventing that, please don't let it fester.