When Van Leeuwenhoek discovered the world of microorganisms, after he figured out how to get a fantastic x200 magnification from fabricated glass (i.e. the microscope), his observations were mostly of bacteria, protozoa and yeasts. Back then his detailed descriptions were sufficient to impress the Royal Society and later he was recognized as the “father of microbiology”. Today it’s difficult to appreciate how many [1] strains of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other unicellular organisms exist.
Most microbiology labs utilize not only a couple of dozens of wild-type strains but hundreds or even thousands of sub-strains that are the product of years of hard bench work. With the growing strain collection it is imperative to have a well organized in-lab collection of glycerol stocks as well as backup copies located in an off-site deep freezer. The key step is to start cataloguing from day one of the lab’s life. Here are some tips for proper cataloguing conduct:

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Computers and Technology Equipment
Start planning ahead regarding what computers and technology you will order for your lab (and how many), as bulk orders often receive discounts.

• Computers – don’t think of just office computers.  Most major lab equipment (i.e. protein purification machines, HPLCs, gel boxes, dark rooms, etc.) requires its own computer station.  Plan accordingly.
• Printers – same advice as above
• Cameras, microscopes, and lenses

Equipment – Large
These are major equipment purchases that will either be one-time or very rare.  Most of the equipment will be very expensive, so unless it will be crucial to your day-to-day research, ask neighboring labs or research centers if they have a piece of equipment that you might be able to use every once in a while before investing in it right from the start.

Buy equipment that you are familiar with and that you know how to operate. When considering product A over product B from different companies (carrying different price tags) it is better to pay more to include an extended warranty as current experience with manufacturer’s products show that these products operate without a hiccup up to the warranty limit and not much more than that. Always try to negotiate for an extended warranty. The costs of technician visits and parts can be outrageously

Every PI knows that carrying out great research requires great staff.  Every PI also knows that interviews are critical for recruiting the best person for the job.  It can be difficult to carry out interviews effectively, especially if you haven’t done so before.  So here are a few tips to get you started:

• When interviewing, whether formally or informally, start by introducing yourself and the lab’s main themes.  Pose some questions to the student to see if he/she knows you or what you are doing and then elaborate more precisely. This is a good litmus test to asses if the student took the time to read about your project in your website or to talk to the rest of your lab.
• Interview undergraduates (for graduate school) – Ask mainly about what field(s) interest the applicant, what he/she aspires to learn and do in their project. Try to assess their motivation levels
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As you start out working on budgeting and money management – arguably the most crucial aspects of keeping any lab afloat – use the major checkpoints outlined below:

• Assess total start-up costs and formulate a rough budget for your first few years of operation, leaving room for either new staff or unexpected project related costs. Item to consider include:
• Recurring staff costs (i.e. monthly salaries).
• Basic equipment and all lab technology – you can keep adding on later, but start with what the essentials of setting up the lab will cost.
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Congratulations!  If you are reading this, it means that you are either a newly minted assistant professor, or well on your way towards becoming one.  Running your own lab is an exciting venture filled with success, discovery, and the opportunity to pursue novel research. With such excitement comes great responsibility, whether in the form of mentoring graduate students, helping postdocs find jobs, publishing a steady stream of research, and securing tenure at your university or research institute.  In addition, the combined logistics of managing startup (and additional grant) funding, ordering supplies and setting up a functional lab, not to mention relocating and finding housing, can be very overwhelming and stressful, to the point of impeding productivity.  But it doesn’t have to be.

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