Postdoc/grad student not present>

[sunshine02]

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What should you do when you go into the lab and the postdoc or grad student you are supposed to be working with is not there? Sometimes I go to lab early in order to get stuff done, but the postdoc or grad student will often be gone for hours before coming back. By then, there would only be 2-3 hrs left before I have to leave. Without the postdoc or grad student, I wouldn't know what to do or where everything is. Has anyone else had this problem, and what should I do in this case?

 

[kami333]

Read papers.

Pick up around the lab (but don't throw anything away unless you know for certain you can, paper towels get used for notetaking a lot).

Or ask if there is something you can do while you are waiting for them next time.

 

[sunshine02]

Anyone else?

 

[Greedo]

How long have you been in the lab? If you have your own project, you should be able to do the experiments on your own. If necessary you can ask for more training so that you can do this. If you're just helping out around the lab, see if they can give you a list for what you need to do daily/weekly or whatever so that you're not waiting on them. They'd probably appreciate you taking the initiative anyways.
Or read papers.

 

[sunshine02]

This started since my first week at lab. I've been in the lab for almost 3 months now. No, I do not have my own project because I haven't mastered all the techniques yet to be able to carry out a project on my own. You mentioned to ask for more training so I can do this. How should I go about doing that? I will be joining another lab pretty soon which works on research that's more interesting to me. As a result, I will have to learn new techniques all over again but I would love to have my own little project as well.

 

[Greedo]

3 months is a pretty long time. You should address this ASAP if you want to make progress.
How do you go about doing what? Becoming more independent? Just tell your PI that you want to be more independent. That's the best way to learn the lab techniques, in my opinion.
Are you sure that the new lab will use entirely new techniques? There are a few things that are common to most labs. And there have been many times in the lab where I've used knowledge I thought I would never need again after switching projects/labs/institutions.

 

[slz1900]

If you know that you're going in in the morning, ask any questions you have about the protocol, where stuff is, the experiment,etc.. the day (or whenever) before so that you can do it independently in the morning. I wouldn't worry about not being able to do stuff by yourself yet. 3 months is not long and if you are only going in part time then you would not be expected to know how to work independently yet.

 

[sunshine02]

Thanks!

For the lab experiments, does it look bad if you ask them to give you the protocol or must you search it up yourself online? There are a lot of protocols out there for the same technique though.

 

[wavepad4]

Thanks!

For the lab experiments, does it look bad if you ask them to give you the protocol or must you search it up yourself online? There are a lot of protocols out there for the same technique though.

Not sure how it is in your lab or what the personality of the PI is, but I would err on the side of caution and just ask him/her. I'd personally rather "look bad" and not screw up than make a mistake that could have been avoided.

Honestly, the way I see it, if it seems like you want to do more work or add more responsibility the PI would be thrilled that he/she suddenly has to do less work. But, as I said, it depends on the personality.