Working in the labs

• Comply with the ML-1/ML-2 safety regulations at all times, see Biological Safety Handbook by Health Safety & Environment FSE (Appendix 2) for more details. A short list of the most important ML-1/ML-2 regulations, lab rules and sustainability rules can be found at the entrances of the labs.

• Adhere to sustainable and green practices as much as possible. This includes saving energy by switching off unused equipment/lights, close fume hoods after use and reduce the amount of waste produced. Stickers on equipment indicate if they can be safely switched off or not.

• Wear a lab coat in the labs at all times. Do not take the lab coat outside the lab before autoclaving it.

• New lab coats and glassware can be found in the ‘Kitchen’ (room: 5171.0435).

• Used glassware needs to be rinsed with water and placed in the white trays. GMO contaminated glassware needs to be autoclaved first. The white trays are collected in the morning. Do not place glass beakers, graduated cylinders, volumetric flasks, etc. in the white trays (only glass bottles and Erlenmeyer flasks).

• Liquid nitrogen can be found in the logistic corner North 8th. Before getting liquid nitrogen, you need to follow the safety training. Always get liquid nitrogen with two people. Wear a facemask/goggles and thermal gloves when handling liquid nitrogen. Do not use the elevator when transporting liquid nitrogen!
   

• Write down all experiments performed in a physical lab journal or an electronic lab journal. For access to eLabJournal (elabjournal.rug.nl/members), contact your research manager or the lab manager.

• Keep a detailed list of all your created DNA constructs, a list of your created primers and a list of all your stored GMO samples (glycerol stocks, cell pellets, agar plates, samples with living cells).

• Label your samples properly with your name/initials and the date. Samples in common areas (incubators, fridge/freezer, weighing room, sinks, etc.) that are not properly labeled will be discarded.

• When working on weekends, national holidays or after working hours, register your presence in the Planon app. Performing “dangerous” experiments or working alone in the lab is not permitted outside of regular working hours.
   

• When in doubt on how to use equipment, always ask the lab technician for instructions.

• For certain lab equipment it is mandatory to get instructions and/or training before using them, such as the FPLC, C-Trap, FL-plate reader, Electrophysiology setup, sonicator and autoclave.

• After using equipment, leave the equipment clean and ready to use. Switch off equipment wherever appropriate to reduce energy costs (check the stickers on equipment before switching them off).

• For some equipment there is an online booking sheet (FPLC and C-trap) or a physical booking sheet (thermal cyclers). Incubators, sonicators, heat-blocks and centrifuges can be booked by writing your name, date and device settings on a piece of tape. When booking equipment make sure you follow the booked timeslot to prevent long waiting times. Unbook your timeslot if you no longer need it.

• For the electrophysiology rigs, there is an online booking sheet. This is to ensure that all group members have equal measuring times and to book specific rigs with heating options or personal settings.
   

• ChemSearch can be used to check the availability of chemicals in our group and in other research groups. To access ChemSearch go to (chemsearch.prod.web.rug.nl) and login with your P-number. More information on how to use the ChemSearch database can be found in (Appendix 4).

• To order chemicals/consumables, contact the lab technician. Mention the name and amount of the product, if possible the CAS-number, article number, purity and preferred supplier.

• Oligos and genes can be ordered at IDT (eu.idtdna.com). Ask the lab technician for the login credentials .  The IDT products are paid with a prepaid oligo card (814761941677).

• Full plasmids can be ordered at Twist Bioscience (twistbioscience.com). Ask the lab technician for the login credentials. Order multiple constructs simultaneously to reduce the shipping costs.

• DNA sequencing is performed by Eurofins Genomics (eurofinsgenomics.eu). Ask the lab technician for the login credentials. Sequencing is performed in special sequencing tubes. Collect all tubes in a Ziplock bag and depose it in the orange mail box before 15.30 at Nijenborgh 3 to send it for overnight sequencing.
   

• If a common lab bench or equipment is dirty you can clean it during a waiting step, even if you didn’t use it. If a GMO waste bag is full you can autoclave it, even if it is not your waste bag. If the autoclave is finished, you can empty it, discard the waste, fill it again and start the next sterilization run.

• If chemicals, enzymes or other consumables are almost running out, write it on the whiteboard and/or contact the lab technician. This way new consumables can be ordered on time, before they run out.

• Keep your workplaces tidy. When finished with your lab work, disinfect your bench with 70% ethanol. Only the water/ethanol bottles should be left on your bench at the end of the day.

• The last person to leave the lab at the end of the day, checks if equipment and lights are switched off,

• fume hoods are closed and fridge/freezer/safety cabinet doors are closed properly.
   

• Feel responsible for your co-workers and the lab facilities at all times.
   

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