Good day, I’m Margot Smit, a brand new PI and a brand new contributor to the ‘New PI Diaries’ from the Node. On October 2^nd (in the present day) I’m beginning my lab on the Middle for Plant Molecular Biology in Tübingen, Germany. In my lab we’ll examine how the timing of cell destiny development is managed in plan improvement. We’ll begin out learning stomatal and vascular improvement throughout Arabidopsis embryogenesis, the place I beforehand recognized blocked destiny development. For extra try my web site (lab web site at ZMBP beneath building).

The primary few months of this new job will certainly be thrilling and overwhelming. Aside from having a brand new job description, I’ll be in a brand new institute with totally different habits and guidelines, and plenty of unknowns. My first problem might be attending to know the place and its quirks, one thing that I’ve discovered by no means to underestimate. I’ve finished Arabidopsis analysis at 3 totally different universities to date (Wageningen College, UC Davis and most lately Stanford) and I’ve discovered it’s greatest to not make too many assumptions. As a result of whereas they’d enthusiastic, welcoming colleagues and wonderful services in widespread, each place had its distinctive methods of organizing issues. From reagent ordering to microscope reserving, to assembly construction, to my favourite matter: fertilizer. I like speaking about shifting labs and discovering plant fertilizer.

Fertilizer is the subject I am going to after I clarify what it’s like to maneuver to a unique institute. Since I’ve some expertise doing Arabidopsis analysis, I used to imagine that meant I didn’t should ask a number of questions when beginning someplace new. Some issues are all the time the identical. Arabidopsis wants vitamins and so we add plant fertilizer to the soil. At Wageningen we ordered trays of ready soil from central services, they might arrive the subsequent week, able to go in no matter pots we requested. Then I moved to Stanford and the lab supervisor confirmed me round, displaying me the place the soil (and fertilizer pellets) for making trays had been. I didn’t understand I wanted somebody to indicate me this, nevertheless it has became a enjoyable expertise. That lab supervisor is sadly not within the lab and a number of other new lab members joined who had earlier expertise rising Arabidopsis in order that they didn’t assume to ask about our soil. Then 2-3 months later they might surprise why their vegetation weren’t doing so nice. After which they study that there isn’t a fertilizer within the soil or within the water (as was the case at UC Davis) however that they should add it individually. Whereas this was most likely irritating, there are worse issues — like rising your non-Arabidopsis vegetation for a lot of months and questioning why they achieve this poorly… That is what occurred to a good friend who moved from UC Davis to a different UC the place there was no fertilizer within the water. Much more misplaced time and frustration than 2-3 months.

There may be a lot that’s the similar between institutes and a lot that’s totally different. One problem just isn’t understanding all of the variations from the beginning. In order I prepare to begin in a brand new place I’m getting ready to study all the plain variations but in addition to seek out the surprising ones. I’m certain there’s many issues I’ll miss and do unsuitable initially, however I’m trying ahead to studying and I hope individuals might be (considerably) forgiving. Fortunately, an skilled technician will be part of my lab which I’m certain will make discovering the fertilizer (and beginning a lab) loads simpler. Within the first month I’ll be attending to know the institute, organising supplies, interviewing for a giant grant, and hiring my first PhD pupil. Want me luck!

[Update Oct 2^nd: Fertilizer is already mixed into the soil here it seems. Interesting]

(1 votes)
Loading…