The Q: The Quartzy Blog for lab managers and scientists

As anyone who has ever worked in a lab knows, scientific research requires significant resources.  From energy-intensive equipment to boxes of nitrile gloves, the environmental impact of a single laboratory can be enormous… and there are a lot of

You are at the forefront - pushing the frontiers of scientific discovery and innovation. You know all too well of the seemingly endless bench work and rapid consumption of biotech consumables. We’re talking plastic dishes and plates, carcinogenic

So you’ve been asked to review your first scientific article - congratulations! Being asked to review an article indicates that you’ve made an impact through publishing and presenting your own research – whether you were invited directly, or asked

Gatherings of experts in the field play a major role in science. We all occasionally attend seminars, workshops and conferences – and not just because of the free coffee. We aspire to extend our scientific network, catch up on latest research or

It can be the most dreadful time of the year – no, not the stressful few weeks leading up to the holiday season – but lab inspection time. Typically occurring yearly, a lab inspection ensures that both the lab space and lab members are adhering to

What is a successful lab? Some may argue that a well-funded lab is a successful one. Others may say that frequent publications define success. Happy students, researchers, and employees. Cutting edge research. Patents. World Impact. No matter how

We all feel it: the pressure of publishing. I first felt it when I was at the beginning of my second year as a PhD student. My group and I had flown overseas to the conference of the American Society of Cell Biology. A meeting that attracts each

Happy New Year! With the start of a new year often comes the opportunity to plan changes you want to change in the coming year. And while most people make resolutions related to their personal life, scientists should think about making career-focused

Labs always tend to be quieter during December, as people wind down their experiments and travel for the holidays. It can also be a challenging time, as reagent stocks, equipment, cell lines, and animal colonies still need to be maintained, but with

The holiday season can be challenging for scientists if the timing of experiments prevents you from taking the time off you wish that you could. This holiday season, I challenge you to reframe your mindset, so that even when things aren’t going your