some bits of lab advice for folks starting in science

by Peter Apian-Bennewitz, Physics PhD, fork-lift license, hands-on experience with welding, machining and parts design, long time employee at larger German research organisation, now free-lance working for European, American, Asian research institutes and companies
Nov 2012

Personal note: The overwhelming majority of contacts with other researchers, workshops and companies has been and is extremely interesting, fascinating and good fun, scientifically and personally. Their charm, openness and greatness has made travelling, meeting and working for/with them a comforting and enhancing experience. Big thanks to each friend and collaborator around the globe for your hospitality and time over the years!
Here are some points I would mention to younger folks starting in Science, and to older folks at established institutes with a frozen mindset:

• Established Institutes put impressive signs, plates and prizes along the driveway and in the lobby. Conveniently, government controllers, high-notch CEOs and the general taxpayer (on open-day) are impressed.
  As a working scientist, and as precaution for your own mind set, mock these plaques ! The moment you take them seriously, the little gremlins in your lab will fool you.
• Experimental results do not get better because of that name plate automatically. Neither are they automatically worse at institutions without a big-name plate. Physics are the same for all.
  Treat research and work of others with respect. And consider that past prestige does not guarantee future fame.
• Do not regard free support from companies as mandatory. They have commercial clients working more professionally and under tighter time-frame than you, too.
• Regarding administration at your institute: You may feel that you do the thinking and administration is "only" support. If you feel you're more worth than them, let the results of your work speak for themselves and "shift a gear down".
  Take advice seriously, equip yourself with some interest for administration work. 90% know their job well and will support you if you let them. Do your part in a coordinated cooperation.
• IT administration actually does know more about IT than you do. If you have proof to the contrary, get the IT folks upgraded.
• Do a thorough check before claiming you're the first to have ever done "this". Most likely you're not, and those in the know elsewhere will label your statement and yourself as dump&loud. Some ideas seem to re-surface in a 15-20 year cycle.
• Only put pressure on others if you're sure it is actually needed that fast. Parts made by the workshop under a tight deadline should be collected immediately and not three days later. Urgent parts should have their design double checked first, so they actually fit when finished. Do not waste resources by neglecting the work of others. This will increase the respect others have for your work too.
• Do not cheat those responsible for lab safety. 99% of safety rules are there for a reason, even if you don't feel it. In case of an accident you are not in control, but insurances, safety agencies, attorneys and lawyers are.
  The wave of over-reactions following an accident will interfere with everyone's work and bother all co-workers. Listen in the first place. Plan for time to re-view your set-up under this aspect.
• Do not borrow equipment from the workshop that you don't understand to operate. Return it in the same shape, state, functionality and cleanness as you got it. No exceptions.
  Have borrowed equipment that you broke by mishandling replaced on your project's account and not on the workshop's general account.
• Group or department leaders, who believe that overhead costs of the in-house workshop is too high, shall first ask the ones actually doing the practical work in their group: What has this workshop in fact provided to members of my group in the last half year ? Be specific.
• Take fun in calculating rough estimates and order-of-magnitudes in your head. You too can do a rough inch-to-metric conversion without Google's web-base calculator. Apply your academic training to practical things.
• Your scientific idea is about 30% of an experiment, the rest is technical, but vital to implement your idea. If you like 100% science only, and can't stand the reality around you, consider a career in Theoretical Physics.
• Give proper and fair credit to those who helped to turn your idea into reality. In writing.

happy physics to all, cheers. feedback