Abcam scientists’ top tips for resuming research post-COVID-19

​​​As different countries and states begin to ease the shelter-in-place restrictions from COVID-19, many labs are once again opening their doors, and researchers are coming back to the bench.  

To help with this transition, we asked our returning scientists for their top tips to get experiments up and running as smoothly as possible. Hopefully, there’s something that might help with your project.

Download our tips in a printable format

Preparing to head back to the lab

1. Review your processes and future experiments beforehand to make sure that you have the equipment, reagents, and solutions ready once you are back to the bench.
2. Plan your work schedule ahead of time, coordinating it with other lab members.
3. Avoid planning too much for one day - things will take longer than you expect.
4. Don’t expect everything to run smoothly.

Planning your supplies

1. Do a stock-take, to make sure you know what needs ordering and start ordering as quickly as possible.
2. Understand what the most critical supplies are and identify back-up suppliers in case current ones fail.
3. Make sure to allow extra time for ordered products and reagents to arrive.

Getting started

1. Give yourself at least a day to figure out how everything works now: new booking systems, different ordering systems, or one-way routes around the lab or building.
2. Add a bit of extra time to the first experiments back on site to account for equipment set-up.
3. Re-commission any equipment that was de-commissioned during the lock-down, eg NanoDrops and pH meters.
4. Calibrate any instruments that have been left on standby and perhaps do a dummy-run, in case you need to call out an engineer. 
5. Wipe-down all the benches and give the lab a clean before starting, there may be a lot of dust.

Communicating

1. Coordinate shifts with your colleagues so you can get together for a coffee or lunch break.
2. If you rely on the help of your colleagues from different teams or facilities for a certain technique or application, try to arrange your experiments at the time they are on-site too. This will help you overcome any potential hurdles during your experiment.
3. Try to maintain good communication between teams/labs within the company or university. See if you can combine your efforts in reviving cell lines or maintaining consumable stocks.
4. Be kind to people around you as it might be scary coming back to work after lockdown. Keep in mind that your lab mates can’t see if you smile behind your mask. So try to smile with your eyes or use words of appreciation more often to keep a friendly atmosphere in the lab.

Getting the right motivation

1. Start the day with a good playlist.
2. Try stretching your body before heading off for the lab to set up a routine and signal your mind that you are going back to work. It’s a good idea to stretch a few times during the day too.
3. Celebrate each small success – don’t wait for the publication-quality results. In current times, just being back to the lab and running an experiment is already a success!