Fundamental Laboratory Research Skills
Instructor: Brett Pellock, PhD, Providence College
Location: URI
Session 1: May 22 – May 24 ( Lab: Room 305 / Lecture Room: Avedisian Rm 403)
Session 2: May 28 – May 30 ( Lab: Room 305 / Lecture Room: Avedisian Rm 403)
Course Overview
This WDT Module is designed to instruct students in basic laboratory concepts and skills broadly used in research labs. Instruction will include both theoretical and practical training. The module includes a review of chemistry basics, including solubility, molarity, and making solutions. Students will receive instruction in use of common laboratory instruments, including micropipettors and spectrophotometers. Participants will learn to titer bacterial cultures and perform agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA. Students will also receive instruction in reading scientific literature. The module will be completed over 2.5 days and participants who complete the module will receive an RI-INBRE Certificate of completion.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand chemistry basics and how to make molar and % solutions.
- Understand how to perform and apply unit conversions.
- Become proficient in using micropipettes.
- Learn to operate a spectrophotometer and generate a standard curve.
- Learn to work using sterile technique and titer a bacterial culture.
- Learn how to pour a gel and perform agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA.
- Learn how to approach reading a scientific paper.
Lab Report
Students will be expected to maintain detailed laboratory notes to include:
- Chemistry basics and making solutions.
- Basic lab calculations and the metric system.
- Use of micropipettors and how to perform a dilution series.
- Use of a spectrophotometer and generating a standard curve.
- Pouring and running agarose gels for DNA separations.
- Strategies for reading scientific papers.
Resources Used in this Module:
- Slide Decks for Lectures
- Lab Handouts
- Various Lab Supplies and Equipment
Timeline
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM-10:00 AM | Basic Chemistry Review (Lecture) | Measuring Bacterial Culture Density Using a Spectrophotometer (Lecture and Hands-on) | Unit Conversions (Lecture and Hands-on) |
| 10:00 AM-11:00 AM | Making Molar and % Solutions (Hands-on) | Sterile Technique and Working With Bacterial Cultures (Lecture and Hands-on) | Scoring Tittering Plate Results and Calculating cfu/ml (Hands-On) |
| 11:00 AM-12:00 PM | Metric System and Pipetting Basics (Lecture and Hands- on) | Using Dilution Series to Titer Bacterial Cultures (Lecture and Hands-on) | Reading Scientific Literature Basics (Discussion) |
| 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Break | Break | WDT Survey and Certificate Distribution |
| 1:00 PM-2:00 PM | Spectrophotometer Basics (Lecture) | Electrophoresis Basics; Pouring and Running an Agarose Gel (Lecture and Hands-on) | |
| 2:00 PM-3:00 PM | Dilution Series and Standard Curves: Spectrophotometer Lab (Hands-on) | Electrophoresis Basics; Pouring and Running an Agarose Gel (Lecture and Hands-on) | |
| 3:00 PM-4:00 PM | Review, Practice, and Wrap-up (Discussion and Hands-on) | Review, Practice, and Wrap- up (Discussion and Hands- on) |