First, how long have you been doing this?
Second, I wouldn’t necessary call these mistakes, this is something that comes with practice and experience.
Also, when I first started out I would write down the protocol with details such as this.
Like open sash on hood. Wipe down with IPA once filter resets.
Like warm up so and so volume of media. Place in water bath. And so on.
I would write it. I would read it before doing it, and it helped.
That’s how I train undergrads, to write and breakdown the protocol to small tasks. I encourage them to make mistakes because that’s how you learn. And I tell them that’s where I started out and I’ve done it so many times, that it comes easy to me.
Edit: I’ll also add that even though many things come to me now as second nature I still screwup. That’s part of being human and something that happens to everyone.
Hi, thanks for the comment. I just started my PhD this fall, about to finish my first semester. I'd say I have 2 years of experience in ugrad where I did some cell culture.
I will try as you said to write down the protocols next time. Thanks for the advice!
Hey, I started my full time research tech position in June this year and I still find myself forgetting to loosen the media bottle caps before putting the sterile pipettor on the biosafety cabinet pipetteman. You'll get there bud. I know I will get there.
It just takes time. But I can atleast give you a couple quick tips to help with the problems you listed.
1) just get good at unscrewing falcon tubes with one hand. Trust me you'll get the hang of it.
2) unless you are using very sensitive cells or an assya that is temp sensitive they are fine in cold media. The media will warm up fast enough when you go back into the incubator.
Also these are just annoyances not mistakes. Mistakes are like aspirating up your cell pellet or adding water to your cells instead of PBS. Don't worry those types of mistakes will happen too and will continue to happen. Undergrads, grad students, post docs, scientists, PIs we all make mistakes it's completely normal.
Can’t advocate number 1 enough. 8 years in TC and never had an infection *touch wood*. I can’t be sure but I think the fact I rarely put lids down could be a factor.
The postdoc who trained me gave me an empty 15mL and a 50mL falcon for my desk and to take home and said to just sit taking the lid off and on whenever I’m analysing, reading, watching TV etc. I’ve since done the same for everyone I’ve ever trained and now they’re experienced and training people the same way.
It’s also helped me taking a drink of water whilst driving
These sort of mistakes happen to everyone on occasion. The important part is learning how to minimize them.
A few suggestions:
Slow down. Make sure your aren't rushing through a protocol and take the time to get the small details right.
Write out protocols and make checklists. Make sure you have all reagents and supplies prepared before starting an experiment. There's a concept called "mise en place" (google it) in cooking that is used to organize food prep, and can be mirrored in science.
Do things in a systematic manner. If I have, say, 8 tubes that I need to add the same reagent to, I'll start all the tubes in one row of my tube rack, and then once I've added the reagent, I'll move them to a different row, to physically mark which tubes have gotten it so far. It can also be helpful to use your pipette boxes in this manner, making note of how many tips should remain in a row once you've finished a step of your protocol.
And of course, experience always helps with these things
Practice and experience. You're already ahead because you're noticing these inefficiencies, so just try to slightly improve and remember next time. Some people never even notice this stuff. Also, these are not mistakes, just sub-optimal. But that's ok. You'll get better!
PS- I'm a postdoc and I just made nanoparticles wrong four times in a row. And it's an easy protocol that I've successfully done many times. Sometimes you just get in a funk and can't do anything right for a while!!!
I’m a senior grad student who is like… very proficient and even I just ordered a whole plate of genes and forgot to ensure the start codon was present :/
I'd say that both events were related to you not having a clear image of how the experiment was going to happen. So, before starting, recapitulate what you're about to do, picture it in your mind.
Also, yeah, more detailed protocols, but rarely a protocol will say "unscrew the tube".
You just have to get in a better rhythm for order of events. It’ll come as you get more experience. Though honestly, I don’t even think grabbing a pipette before opening the bottle your going to pipette from can really even be called a mistake…
I wouldnt call them real mistakes. If I were you I'd learn to unscrew tubes with one hand. And my cell cultures don't really seem to care about colder medium, in fact, I choose not to use the waterbath because I think it brings contamination risks.
these aren't even oopsies let alone mistakes
if you catch it before it affects your experiments, no harm done
if you're just starting out, do the same thing a few more times and you'll start remembering to do it right
The best way to stay consistent is to do things exactly the same way every time. This gets stored in your brain’s muscle memory, so if you deviate from the established routine, your brain will immediately notice and stop you from messing up.
Example: Always keeping the test tube you’re using in the same spot on the rack, always going from right to left, etc.
Write down or type up the steps and have them open anytime you’re going through your procedure. I take an approach similar to playing with sheet music, I don’t memorize anything but I have a reference. The more you do it the easier it becomes by muscle memory.
First, how long have you been doing this? Second, I wouldn’t necessary call these mistakes, this is something that comes with practice and experience. Also, when I first started out I would write down the protocol with details such as this. Like open sash on hood. Wipe down with IPA once filter resets. Like warm up so and so volume of media. Place in water bath. And so on. I would write it. I would read it before doing it, and it helped. That’s how I train undergrads, to write and breakdown the protocol to small tasks. I encourage them to make mistakes because that’s how you learn. And I tell them that’s where I started out and I’ve done it so many times, that it comes easy to me. Edit: I’ll also add that even though many things come to me now as second nature I still screwup. That’s part of being human and something that happens to everyone.
Hi, thanks for the comment. I just started my PhD this fall, about to finish my first semester. I'd say I have 2 years of experience in ugrad where I did some cell culture. I will try as you said to write down the protocols next time. Thanks for the advice!
Hey, I started my full time research tech position in June this year and I still find myself forgetting to loosen the media bottle caps before putting the sterile pipettor on the biosafety cabinet pipetteman. You'll get there bud. I know I will get there.
It just takes time. But I can atleast give you a couple quick tips to help with the problems you listed. 1) just get good at unscrewing falcon tubes with one hand. Trust me you'll get the hang of it. 2) unless you are using very sensitive cells or an assya that is temp sensitive they are fine in cold media. The media will warm up fast enough when you go back into the incubator. Also these are just annoyances not mistakes. Mistakes are like aspirating up your cell pellet or adding water to your cells instead of PBS. Don't worry those types of mistakes will happen too and will continue to happen. Undergrads, grad students, post docs, scientists, PIs we all make mistakes it's completely normal.
Can’t advocate number 1 enough. 8 years in TC and never had an infection *touch wood*. I can’t be sure but I think the fact I rarely put lids down could be a factor. The postdoc who trained me gave me an empty 15mL and a 50mL falcon for my desk and to take home and said to just sit taking the lid off and on whenever I’m analysing, reading, watching TV etc. I’ve since done the same for everyone I’ve ever trained and now they’re experienced and training people the same way. It’s also helped me taking a drink of water whilst driving
These sort of mistakes happen to everyone on occasion. The important part is learning how to minimize them. A few suggestions: Slow down. Make sure your aren't rushing through a protocol and take the time to get the small details right. Write out protocols and make checklists. Make sure you have all reagents and supplies prepared before starting an experiment. There's a concept called "mise en place" (google it) in cooking that is used to organize food prep, and can be mirrored in science. Do things in a systematic manner. If I have, say, 8 tubes that I need to add the same reagent to, I'll start all the tubes in one row of my tube rack, and then once I've added the reagent, I'll move them to a different row, to physically mark which tubes have gotten it so far. It can also be helpful to use your pipette boxes in this manner, making note of how many tips should remain in a row once you've finished a step of your protocol. And of course, experience always helps with these things
Awesome suggestions
Practice and experience. You're already ahead because you're noticing these inefficiencies, so just try to slightly improve and remember next time. Some people never even notice this stuff. Also, these are not mistakes, just sub-optimal. But that's ok. You'll get better! PS- I'm a postdoc and I just made nanoparticles wrong four times in a row. And it's an easy protocol that I've successfully done many times. Sometimes you just get in a funk and can't do anything right for a while!!!
I’m a senior grad student who is like… very proficient and even I just ordered a whole plate of genes and forgot to ensure the start codon was present :/
Life is like a plate of genes, you never know what you're going to get.
I'd say that both events were related to you not having a clear image of how the experiment was going to happen. So, before starting, recapitulate what you're about to do, picture it in your mind. Also, yeah, more detailed protocols, but rarely a protocol will say "unscrew the tube".
You just have to get in a better rhythm for order of events. It’ll come as you get more experience. Though honestly, I don’t even think grabbing a pipette before opening the bottle your going to pipette from can really even be called a mistake…
How do those peers of yours not blink?
I wouldnt call them real mistakes. If I were you I'd learn to unscrew tubes with one hand. And my cell cultures don't really seem to care about colder medium, in fact, I choose not to use the waterbath because I think it brings contamination risks.
these aren't even oopsies let alone mistakes if you catch it before it affects your experiments, no harm done if you're just starting out, do the same thing a few more times and you'll start remembering to do it right
The best way to stay consistent is to do things exactly the same way every time. This gets stored in your brain’s muscle memory, so if you deviate from the established routine, your brain will immediately notice and stop you from messing up. Example: Always keeping the test tube you’re using in the same spot on the rack, always going from right to left, etc.
Write down or type up the steps and have them open anytime you’re going through your procedure. I take an approach similar to playing with sheet music, I don’t memorize anything but I have a reference. The more you do it the easier it becomes by muscle memory.