how to pass the time in lab...

[TigerSoup]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So I'm working in research during my post-bacc year. When I've done bench research before, I usually had studying to do or could go home / to the gym during long reactions etc. Downtime is pretty much guaranteed on some days in lab, I feel. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for what to do during this time (besides SDN, oh God, please), preferably something that would make me feel like I'm not wasting my life wandering through the internet.

 

[Karen12345]

Read journals articles -- may help you stay informed about basic research.

 

[LikeClockWork]

I'm in the same boat. I've taken up pleasure reading (something I never made time for during undergrad) and some article reading. I've also learned how to do Sudoku and I've been working on getting good at crossword puzzles. The fact that I'm getting paid by the hour for all this is pretty cool! 😀

 

[maristella]

you could always make friends😀

 

[Drogba]

How much down time does someone doing research generally have? Maybe I need to do some basic science research work study and then do my social science research work study while I'm in the lab Double billable hours FTW.

 

[etf]

i trade options while my samples are spinning.

 

[Dendrite]

I try to study for my other classes. I also like to read the newspaper.

 

[nonesuchgirl]

you could always make friends😀

Say what? 😕

 

[AsclepiusI]

Find a hot member of the sex you are attracted to who works with you and find a broom closet? 😉

 

[Tropicana100]

I'd try to be as productive as possible. You could always multi-task and fill your daily schedule with projects/experiments. Perhaps you can ask around and see what you can help other people with. You can learn a lot of lab techniques from post-docs. There's always menial labor to do - freezer inventories, restocking lab materials, making competent cells for public use. Of course, if you want to relax, checking facebook and SDN occasionally wouldn't hurt.

 

[etf]

I'd try to be as productive as possible. You could always multi-task and fill your daily schedule with projects/experiments. Perhaps you can ask around and see what you can help other people with. You can learn a lot of lab techniques from post-docs. There's always menial labor to do - freezer inventories, restocking lab materials, making competent cells for public use.

wow, you really did go to stanford...

 

[Tropicana100]

i trade options while my samples are spinning.

is that what your quote "Gentleman prefer bonds." refers to? (haha i said quote, get it?)

 

[Shejeboshease]

I'd try to be as productive as possible. You could always multi-task and fill your daily schedule with projects/experiments. Perhaps you can ask around and see what you can help other people with. You can learn a lot of lab techniques from post-docs. There's always menial labor to do - freezer inventories, restocking lab materials, making competent cells for public use. Of course, if you want to relax, checking facebook and SDN occasionally wouldn't hurt.

you would do all that if you really dig research...but who am i kidding, most of these kids who do research for postbac, wanna go to med school..so i doubt they care all that much about learning lab techniques and all that.
some of the things you can do (based on personal experience): take a hour long coffee break every two hours -bring a copy of time magazine at work
- making important phone calls (call schools to know status and that sort)
. i wasn't slacking or anything..i just had too much time in between running experiments.

 

[etf]

is that what your quote "Gentleman prefer bonds." refers to? (haha i said quote, get it?)

you REALLY went to stanford