Reflections

Professionalism and Team Work

Professionalism

While working at the Absalon Lab, I have had the opportunity to observe professionalism in a research lab setting. One professional behavior I have seen is the appropriate use of scientific vocabulary. As I learn more about the science behind the research at the lab, I strive to use this language by reiterating important concepts using the proper terminology. By practicing using these terms, I hope to grow my professional communication skills.

The Importance of Team Work in the Lab

After working at my internship site for a few months, I observed the importance of having a strong lab team. Since we all share the same space and have related projects, comradery is essential to keep the lab running smoothly. Each member of the lab has responsibilities. Whether it be properly disposing of the biohazard waste or writing grants, these chores are clearly communicated and executed by the lab. By distributing these responsibilities, lab members can focus on the science behind their experiments while not being concerned about the entirety of the goings-on in the lab. Nobody can do great science alone.

Successes and Challenges

I have encountered a number of challenges and successes during my time at the Absalon Lab. The majority of these challenges were small, such as issues with timing my experiments (causing me to stay in the lab longer than expected). However, I also encountered problems I was unable to solve on my own. These experiences taught me several important lessons on the journey to success in the lab.

Lesson 1: Communication is Key

In the lab, personal projects and experiments are often interconnected. The path to discovery requires a team that communicates well. Since many chemical reagents and equipment are shared, problems that arise must be discussed at lab meetings to prevent confusion or bring awareness to lab-wide issues.

A situation arose in the lab where DNA cloning was no longer working efficiently. This put a major pause on many lab experiments, and had to be resolved quickly. After some discussion and trouble shooting, it was found that the buffer used in the cloning process had been the source of the problem. Once new buffer was acquired, cloning and further experiments were able to continue. Without communicating and working as a team, it would have taken longer to resolve this issue.

Lesson 2: Success is In The Little Things

When I first started in the lab, I expected to find success only in large, noteworthy achievements. While there is definitely satisfaction in seeing a project to completion, small successes are essential to the end product. Successfully completing a ligation or bacterial transformation can seem like a small step, but it feels immensely satisfying when it was weeks in the making. These small successes help keep motivation for completing the project high.