dcbio.org » Bio Tech

Western world.

GAATTC — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:30:43 +0000

We switched gears to look briefly at levels of protein expression. I’m enjoying the change of techniques. It’s been years since I’ve done protein work, and I like it! This time around we’re using HRP and a camera system to detect the signal from ECL. I do have to say, it makes me miss my days with alkaline phosphatase based detection. We have the HRP antibodies already, so that’s the direction we must go! None the less, it’s still quite fun! The anticipation waiting for those bands to appear on the screen.

Science Family?

GAATTC — Thu, 13 May 2010 18:22:39 +0000

How many of you feel like you develop a science family. I’m approaching 10 years at the same academic institution, and I feel like my department and previous departments are definitely part of a family. We know each other and we have a relationship. If we need to borrow something or talk our way through experiments, your neighbors are there for you. That’s really a great feeling. I’m curious if that’s just my institution, of if you’ve run into that too. Is it a universal academic trend?

Media… Media… Media…

GAATTC — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:47:33 +0000

It’s a day of making media prepping for tomorrow’s phenotype studies. Life is wonderful with one sleeve of plates. I remember the days of my first job in a local contract lab where I had to make 25 to 30 Liters worth of plates along with a great deal of tubes of broth for Antimicrobial Dilution Studies.

How many of you have produced media for a living? What was your job like?

Again!

GAATTC — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:08:37 +0000

Yes, that’s the life style of the lab, evaluate your work, and then repeat. Back to the bench to make more RNA with a few slight revisions to the protocol. Science is a lifestyle with constant change. It’s tough, but you keep pushing, and results will come. We’re still excited by the phase lock gel tubes that we’ve been using. Cheers to 5′ for a good product. I am curious though if we can push the limit of the volume of the phenol/chloroform sample.

We would still love to hear some feed back about your experience with research and the out look of the future career paths of DC metro area researchers. There’s a ton of activity in the area. Hit us with an email so we can learn more about your experiences finding biotech jobs, plans for the future, or stores about how you got where you are.

RNA…

GAATTC — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:29:33 +0000

Finally. We tried a few protocols, borrowed one from a functional genomics class using Tri Reagent and Phase Lock Gel Tubes from 5-prime. Success. 2.5µg/µl of RNA. Which is great for our needs.

I remember the isolation of a small industrial lab that I worked in long ago. If there was a product in need, like media, or a chemical, you were out of luck and had to wait for Fisher to ship. Production could have been delayed.

One of the greatest things about being in an academic environment. If you need to borrow a chemical or something isn’t working, you can knock on a door and compare notes with another researcher. Add the interactive environment between PI’s, post docs, lab techs, student researchers, and you have a real community that supports a productive research environment.

Thanks to everyone for their help. We couldn’t have completed today’s research if we didn’t trade a bag of green tea and brow rice for a few 2ml screw cap tubes…

Map Updates.

GAATTC — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:09:27 +0000

We’ve been expanding the number of contacts on our map. If you’d like us to add your lab to the map with in the DC metro area (which includes Maryland, Virginia, and DC) Then let us know. We’d really like to see this map develop into a useful tool for the local mid Atlantic region from Richmond, VA to Frederick, MD and slightly beyond.

Check out the map’s progress at the link above or view a thumbnail here:

View dcbio in a larger map
(If you have trouble viewing the map pins, then refresh the page).

Back to the lab

GAATTC — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:43:53 +0000

We’ve been out of work since 1/1/2010. It’s tough out there on unpaid leave. 4 interviews for different positions, lots of discussion, and it’s our pleasure to say we’re back! Same university, similar organisms, in a different lab! We’ll post later with details. It’s possible that we may finally pass 10 years at the same university!

Oh for the sake of stats!

GAATTC — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:09:02 +0000

Evidently there are 1200 bio tech workers in Washingotn, DC as of the census of 2007. I’m curious to see what the numbers are like for the next census. Here’s a link to a very breif .pdf about bio tech workers on the bls.gov website. Yes yes, DC’s dwarfed by Maryland’s 9,790 workers, which is cut down by California’s 23,240. The cycle of bio tech life.

So I’d like to know where these 1200 DC bio tech workers are. Many at Georgetown and George Washington Universities, many at hospitals. Where else?

While we’re thinking about Labor Stats. Check out the life of a Microbiologist here. There’s also a nice blurb on Clinical Lab Techs…

La Vida Bio Tech?

GAATTC — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:56:11 +0000

No. no. Not la vida loca, la vida bio tech.. Read this article below about living in the bio tech funding nightmare from the focus of a business owner:

The life of a biotech entrepreneur is always filled with uncertainty. But these days it is downright terrifying.
–voiceofsandiego.org

That statement reminds me of m experience in the biotech world, there’s great hope for the future full of amazing ideas, but often the money isn’t there or it disappears. Even with a full story in mind, a great theory with supporting data doesn’t mean the money can be found to run the lab and pay our salaries. That’s frightening. On the other hand, with a RO1 in hand or other source of funding, there can be a great feeling of safety knowing that your job could last for 4 years, at least that was my thought the first time around an academic research project. Now looking for my 4 position, I can really relate to the first quote, which I’m calling la vida bio tech!

BIO…

GAATTC — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:42:15 +0000

Check out this blog run by The Biotechnolgy Industry Organization (BIO)
biotech-now.org they represent over 1,100 biotech companies and academic institutions, state centers, and more. As a part of the mission of this site, we ran across their blog in a search on the web for more details about what’s happening in the DC area.

The section by their President and CEO is particularly interesting. Check out Jim’s Corner here. It’s great that they are making an effort to personalize their blog.

dcbio.org does exist in the DC area, so it’s great to see that there’s a section dedicated to policy here. We’re in the home town of poilicy, which keeps us on the look out for biotech advocacy resources.