Mentors at Your Benchside

#102 — Fluorescence microscopy images not only look great but also allow us to get a better understanding of cells, structures, and tissues. And confocal laser scanning microscopy lets us construct 3D images from 2D micrographs.

In this episode, learn the basic principles of confocal laser scanning microscopy, how the microscopes work, and some of its applications in bioscience and beyond.

Check out the corresponding artic...

#101 —  Discover what it takes to become an expert at getting funded, from simple habits such as summarizing what you read in the literature, to big steps such as organizing your very own conference to establish your name in your field.

With over 30 years of experience as a biomedical engineering researcher seeking grants, Joel Berry, Founder, and Chief Scientist at Astound Research, shares his hard-won insights on strategi...

#100 — Science attracts so many different and quirky personalities that you are bound to have some people you just don’t get along with. Conflicts happen, and there are many strategies you can take to deal with conflict in the lab. But when your lab supervisor is the problem, it can be a big issue for you.

In this episode, delve into the challenges of dealing with difficult lab supervisors. [1] We identify five common probl...

#99 — So you’ve got your flow cytometry training booked and are one step closer to that precious data.

But if you want to hit the ground running and get some useful data from your samples, there are some little things you'll need to do.

These include reading up on a bit of background theory, understanding the capabilities of different types of cytometers, and thinking about what you want to learn from your experiment.

In this...

#98 — Our labs can contain thousands of chemicals, many of which will be past their given expiry date and many of which are expensive to buy and replace.

Replacing them when you don't need to can be a waste of time and grant money. On the other hand, using expired chemicals can lead to failed experiments and confusing results. 

In this episode of Mentors At Your Benchside, learn what types of chemicals are safe to use past...

#97 — A research interest statement is essential to successfully apply for an academic job. In this episode, we delve into how to craft an outstanding one. [1]

We cover strategies to outline your past, current, and future research in a concise format. We also explain other key elements such as, creating a compelling introduction, detailing research plans, aligning with targeted labs or departments, and writing a strong conc...

#96 — An appropriate microorganism preservation method can make all the difference in maintaining the viability of your microbial strains because it plays a crucial role in ensuring reproducible results and continuity in research.

In this episode, learn the preservation methods for short- and long-term microbe storage, their pros and cons, and the kit you need to do them.

Check out the corresponding article for a list of hel...

#95 — Have you ever accidentally forgotten to add the Kozak consensus sequence to the start of a coding gene? Or forgotten to include the stop codon? Did you clone something, then realize you wanted to tag it with something? Or do you want to add restriction enzymes to your PCR product to make it easier to clone into a plasmid? Overhang PCR may be your answer!

In this episode, we discuss what overhang PCR is, its benefits, ...

#94 — While there are lots of methods to choose from for cleaning up your RNA or DNA samples, for many researchers, phenol-chloroform is the go-to technique.

In this episode, go beyond the basics of how the method works and get expert practical guidance on performing and optimizing it.

Plus, learn the differences between the common solvents, how to check and adjust the pH of the phenol phase, and get tips to reduce the amou...

#93 — Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that combines mathematics, computer science, physics, and biology to help answer key questions in modern biological sciences research.

In this episode, we’ve got the lowdown on the training you’ll need to pursue this career path, and a handy list of resources to get you started on your learning. [1] Plus, check out our related article on some of the ways that scientists fro...

#92 — We all need to lyse cells to extract the goodness—our samples—from them.

However, there are many cell lysis methods. Some are harsh, while some are gentle. Some are laborious, while some are easy. Some require dedicated equipment, while some do not. So which one do you choose?

In this episode, we cover eight cell lysis methods for your experiments. [1] For extra information to help you pick a lysis method, check out ou...

#91 — Genomes are complex and encode a vast quantity of information. One of their key features is genetic variants—aberrations in the genetic sequence, usually in the form of insertions, deletions, repeats, and translocations of genetic material.

This episode explains the different types of genetic variants, introduces their key features, and gives you some top tips for studying them.

Read the corresponding online article ...

#90 — Are you confused about the banding pattern of DNA on agarose gels? DNA can take many structural forms depending on its source and how you have isolated and purified it. And those forms, including linear, nicked, closed circled, and supercoiled, all migrate at different rates on agarose gels.

But how do you identify which band corresponds to which structural form? And why do some of these occur during plasmid preps bu...

#89 — "Achieve more by doing less" sounds like a piece of cheap advice, but there is a lot of wisdom in it.

Research is complicated. You must choose the best questions to ask, techniques, controls, organisms, and equipment, to name just a few things that make up good experiments. With so much to focus on, it becomes harder to do each of these things well.

This episode explains three actionable steps you can take to simplif...

#88 — Getting the best out of your in situ hybridizations requires choosing the correct protocol, deciding if sections or whole mount is better, using the right equipment, making fresh buffers, careful planning for all steps, optimizing your probe concentration, and taking the time to get the development step right. In other words, there are a lot of ways in situ hybridizations can go wrong!

This episode walks you through y...

#87 — Selecting the right blood collection tubes for your experiment is crucial. But do you know what tubes to use for which type of blood sample?

In this episode, we cover the nuances of choosing the appropriate blood collection tubes, a choice that hinges largely on whether you're aiming to collect serum or plasma samples. Understand the vital role that different tubes play in either fostering or preventing blood clotting...

#86 — qPCR primer design is a bit of science, a bit of magic, and a little bit of luck. In this episode, we cover the science of qPCR primer design, a cornerstone in conducting successful qPCR or RT-qPCR assays for gene expression analysis. [1] Get top tips and learn why dedicating time to crafting high-quality primers can save your experiment from poor data and resource wastage. [2]

We guide you through utilizing popular ...

#85 — Working with living cells is a tricky business, and tiny fluctuations in environmental conditions can affect their physiology and impact your experiments. Or worse, it can lead to their death. Game over!

Passaging your cells involves removing them from their growth medium to transfer them to fresh vessels with fresh media.

In this episode, learn how to passage adherent and suspension cells while minimizing the impact o...

#84 — Every experiment starts by preparing some buffer solutions. And every buffer solution starts with weighing out some compounds on an analytical balance.

But these essential yet sensitive pieces of lab equipment are prone to measurement drift—meaning you could be weighing out different amounts every time you use one.
 
In this episode, get three easy tips to avoid measurement drift and learn some reliability test...