I'm wondering if anyone can shed some light on the daily experience of a university researcher in either psychology or the basic sciences as well as a meta-review of the job as a whole.
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posted by marsbar77
on Mar 14, 2013 -
5 answers
I recently accepted a sales position within a company that sells laboratory equipment. (i.e. centrifuges, GC's, HPLC's, Thermal Cyclers, etc) I have no previous lab or science experience, so learning about a myriad of highly technical products/methods is a quite challenging. My main challenge comes from the fact that I need to engage in conversations with scientists, chemists, biologists on a daily basis. With no previous lab experience, I've been having a hard time talking to them on technical level.
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posted by AMWKE1984
on Feb 8, 2013 -
11 answers
I need to write a paper for my clinical laboratory sciences class, but being that the teacher was unclear in her instructions, I'm not sure what qualifies as a separate laboratory and what doesn't. Something like " the hematology lab" is very broad. Can I focus on JUST histology, for example? Is there such a thing as a histology laboratory, even if it's under anatomical sciences? Or does that refer to a technique. What to do here? How would you structure this paper? Any advice is appreciated.
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posted by marsbar77
on Dec 12, 2012 -
17 answers
When I first started my current job as a graduate researcher at a nominally Catholic university as an American in Belgium, my boss played a quick prank on me where he came into my office, plopped down a copy of the New Testament in Flemish, and told me I needed to study up to pass some kind of religious test. The way he did it, it was pretty funny and I’m looking for ways to prank him back.
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posted by Blasdelb
on Nov 28, 2012 -
7 answers
Lab workers: With which brand of pipette driver / pipettor should we stock our lab?
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posted by metaBugs
on Nov 3, 2012 -
7 answers
I want to make an elementary school computer lab
just work, magically if possible. I am Windows deficient and could use guidance.
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posted by argybarg
on Jul 5, 2012 -
4 answers
Classy, not-too-ugly shoes. Level of difficulty: for a lady, chem and clean room lab appropriate (no heels, foot completely covered).
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posted by tchemgrrl
on Apr 13, 2012 -
22 answers
I need to keep scientific samples (chips) in solution for weeks at a time, and they're growing bacteria. I suspect biologists have a good way of dealing with this, since they tend to do more solution work than I do; are any of you out there able to point me in the right direction in terms of UV lamps or something similar?
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posted by you're a kitty!
on Apr 5, 2012 -
14 answers
How do I bow gracefully out of this volunteer project with a professor that just isn't working out? And should I even?
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posted by Conspire
on Apr 2, 2012 -
10 answers
How can you tell where water came from? Lets say I give you a bucket of water taken from a local water source (river, lake, etc). There's some plants and maybe a fish in it as well. What could you tell me about where this water came from, could you pinpoint which body it came from, and how would you come to this conclusion?
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posted by The Whelk
on Dec 1, 2011 -
21 answers
Hi, it's your friendly neighborhood biotech lab-equipment-monkey again. In a continuation of the
centrifuge saga, now that we've confirmed the unit will probably work with a proper rotor installed, I am on a quest to track down and acquire said rotor. Nobody seems to be selling it new anymore, and the ones I've found used are all missing crucial parts! Do I need better search-fu, or is it time to call the glue factory for this big old spinny beast? Halp!
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posted by aecorwin
on Aug 2, 2011 -
6 answers
This doesn't look like $265 of laboratory glassware, but that could be because I don't know the first thing about buying laboratory glassware beyond buying some $5 borosilicate flasks once for making yeast starters, and ignorance breeds confidence. How would one go about effectively replicating this device with off-the-shelf components from an online lab supplier? Extra lives for links!
posted by obiwanwasabi
on Jul 6, 2011 -
24 answers
I have a chemist friend who specializes in extracting compounds and chemicals from organic matter.
I was thinking of running some numbers around to find the feasibility of creating a profitable endeavor with his skill and lab equipment.
What is a very profitable plant extract that is legal (well.. legal to sell in most states in the US)?
posted by digdan
on May 16, 2011 -
15 answers
After a rather disappointing year on the academic job market, I've been contacted for a phone interview at Big Government Laboratory for a position in Research Area of My Expertise. What to expect? How to prepare?
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posted by logicpunk
on Apr 4, 2011 -
8 answers
Yes, it's true, there are still Luddites out here using 35mm film. The local concern which still develops films charges a queen's ransom to do so. Can anyone recommend a mail-in film developing lab which does good quality work, is reliable and is at least somewhat reasonable as far as price? (Costco in this area has stopped taking film...sigh).
(can't think of any snowflakes to add).
posted by Ginesthoi
on Mar 21, 2011 -
12 answers
What do I say to a professor about why I want to drop out of a lab project with a professor without burning relations?
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posted by proficiency101
on Jan 26, 2011 -
11 answers
In a few weeks I'll be giving a talk to my research group about chemical safety. Please help me find stories, videos, and photos to make it interesting, awe-inspiring, and informative!
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posted by you're a kitty!
on Nov 2, 2010 -
19 answers
I'm a first-year Ph.D student (in chemistry), and I'm having a hard time choosing what lab I want to work in. What factors are most important to look at?
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posted by kagredon
on Oct 26, 2010 -
12 answers
I want to upgrade the chairs in my lab-- the ones that our human
(well, undergrad) subjects sit in to do experiments. Priorities: stability, comfort, adjustability (with a caveat).
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posted by supercres
on Oct 15, 2010 -
4 answers
I'm a rising sophomore in college, and I've been working in an awesome bio research lab for the past four months or so. I'm worried that I might be coming off as incompetent to my colleagues.
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posted by flawsekno
on Jul 16, 2010 -
27 answers
I'm looking for a specific "craft center" sort of business in or around San Jose, California where one can use industrial and high-tech machinery.
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posted by agentofselection
on May 1, 2010 -
5 answers
How can I find a Japanese biomedical scientist within his/her first five years of starting a lab who will collaborate with my 'nanocluster biochemistry' lab?
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posted by u2604ab
on Feb 10, 2010 -
4 answers
I'm trying to outfit my organization with a tiny science lab, but don't know everything I'll need or where to buy it!
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posted by soma lkzx
on Jan 15, 2010 -
8 answers
I'm starting a 3 month research project in a neuroscience lab as part of my Masters program. What should I know/do in order to make it go as smoothly as possible?
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posted by snoogles
on Dec 27, 2009 -
15 answers
Did the hospital save my blood samples and could they be retested? Would swine flu cause a positive test for regular flu?
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posted by WeekendJen
on Oct 9, 2009 -
6 answers
My girlfriend is a PhD student and is wondering how much general lab work (not related to research) is normal for a student (not a lab employee). Her PI does not pay her anything, all her income (stipend, lab expenses) come from other sources like grants. She is not paid extra for doing the general lab work.
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posted by mallow005
on Oct 7, 2009 -
28 answers
I have a gigantic ballroom reserved for a very small lab meeting. What crazy-cool things can we do to make use of this space at 9:30am on a weekday? Party?
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posted by tr0ubley
on Sep 24, 2009 -
19 answers
I'm trying to figure out my options for setting up a small digital media lab for a new non-profit, but I have no idea how to set a minimum level of server specs! How much CPU and RAM do I really need? What determines this?
The server will be used to administer local user accounts, and store files (including large media files). We may also end up using it to host our website and mail, if it makes sense (unlikely). All the main client computers will be macs, so I assume I should make life easier and just get an XServe. But I'm open to other suggestions.
See below for some prices and models for various XServe's I'm trying to choose between. How low can I go? How much CPU/RAM do I need?
Let me know if you need more information...
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posted by yuletide
on Aug 20, 2009 -
5 answers
Is it realistic for me to expect that I can pay off my student loans with a lab tech job?
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posted by pullayup
on Feb 19, 2009 -
14 answers
I recently was asked to turn in my keys to a university research lab, and have a week to convince him why I should be allowed to return. Please help me.
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posted by anonymous
on Oct 14, 2008 -
24 answers
Why won't my dog eat regularly? It started when my roommate moved out, who had friends over a lot. Over the past few weeks it's progressed into serving him canned food, to some days where he doesn't eat at all except for treats and any kind of cooked meat.
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posted by philrj
on Jul 11, 2008 -
18 answers
I'm about to embark on a PhD in cognitive neuroscience (imaging genetics, to be specific). It's going to be a long 4 years, is keeping a lab notebook going to ease the discomfort?
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posted by doctor.dan
on Apr 28, 2008 -
18 answers
Buying refrigerators for the lab: is there a good reason not to go with consumer models?
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posted by mr_roboto
on Jan 24, 2008 -
17 answers
What are some best practices for managing a (university) lab full of Ubuntu/Windows XP dualboot machines?
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posted by yellowbkpk
on Aug 6, 2007 -
1 answer
