Sewall

Lab rules

Welcome to the Sewall Lab!

We hope you enjoy your time here. Please read the following instructions/rules both for your safety and
for the safety and consideration of others in the laboratory. You will be asked to sign the bottom saying
that you have been instructed to read and abide by these instructions/rules.
Lab environment:
1. Everyone joining the lab will begin on a 1 month trial period followed by a 6 month probationary
period. Anyone can be asked to leave the lab for issues of safety, performance, work ethic and
interpersonal issues at any time. Students are expected to maintain high academic standards
and attend all one-on-one and group lab meetings.
2. Always follow instructions given to you by the principal investigator, the laboratory manager or
any other senior lab members. If you are unsure of something (or have been given contradictory
advice/ instructions), please ask for help.
3. If you are having a problem with someone in lab, please talk to him/her about it rather than
talking to anyone else about it. Only if you are dissatisfied with the outcome, then talk to the lab
PI about it.
4. Approach. The lab is a team, and members may be asked to take on duties that are for the good
of the lab as a whole without direct advantage to themselves. Similarly, one may be asked to put
off something for the good of the lab.
5. Undergraduates: always call or email your direct supervisor by 9 AM if you will not be coming to
work that day. Make sure you have the lab phone number available at your home to do so.
Graduate students, technicians, and postdocs: please let the PI know directly (e-mail is fine) of
any anticipated significant deviations from your normal schedule (i.e., travel or illness) or if you
will be missing a one-on-one or general lab meeting.
Lab citizenship:
6. If you notice any supply that is used up or nearly so please email Dr. Sewall with the name of the
item, source (e.g., Fischer) and product number from the container. If you need a reagent/kit,
know that orders are places on Mondays and allow time for shipment from the manufacturer.
7. Pick up after yourself! Always try to leave the lab more clean and organized (or at least as clean
and organized) as when you entered it. Please remember that all lab benches are shared, so
dont leave things output your notebooks or personal items away in your drawer or else-
where, and put away any lab equipment that you used. Make sure all field equipment is
cleaned, batteries are removed and recharged and equipment is properly inventoried and
stored after use.
8. Lab notebooks. You must log all of your experiments in detail in your digital lab or field note-
book. For lab work this includes the date, the full recipe used (e.g., concentrations and amounts
of all reagents), all sample names and information, and the outcome of the work. Lab note-
books may not leave the laboratory for more than 30 minutes (a conflict best avoided by keep-
ing a digital lab notebook). Field notebooks must be returned to the lab after field research is
concluded and you may request scanned copies. Field samples must be properly labeled and
stored immediately upon returning from the field. You may be required to enter data from your
 lab and field notebook into the central lab database. Legally, all data collected in the Sewall lab
are owned by Virginia Tech.
9. Computers. Priority for laboratory computer use goes to lab-related activities over personal
(e.g., e-mail) or academic/course activities. Please yield use of the computers in accordance with
this priority. Store all your computer files in the computer file designated for the experiment
you are working on or, if you are working on an independent project, in your own lab folder. Do
not clutter the hard drive with your files, and do not leave your files on the desktop or in ran-
dom other folders, as they will be deleted. Do not download or install any software on the com-
puters without explicit permission from the laboratory PI. Do not use computers for any illegal or
questionable purpose.
10. The lab and lab office doors (3026, 3023) will only be unlocked if at least one person is present
in that room. Lock all doors when you leave the lab.
11. Do not give any personal information about others working in the laboratory to anyone, includ-
ing home phone numbers, home addresses, etc. It is your responsibility to keep the lab informed
of your current phone number as well as any emergency contact information (and changes in
any of that information).
12. Be responsible. If you make a mistake, dont hide it, as that will make the situation much worse.
Lab safety:
13. General safety. All lab members are required to complete the lab safety training and take the VT
online safety training courses consistent with their duties. Consult with the laboratory PI at any
time regarding any concerns you have about chemicals you are using. Ultimately, your safety is
your own responsibility. Take the initiative to determine the potential hazards around the lab,
and feel free to ask for help.
14. Food and Drink. Use the microwave and refrigerators marked food only for all your food and
only for food. Food and drink are not allowed in the wet lab space, near the microscope and
computers or in the animal facility.
15. Chemical safety. You reviewed all the chemical safety sheets and safety standards as part of
your lab safety training and are responsible for knowing the location and hazards of all lab
chemicals. Never touch anything containing a hazardous chemical unless you are wearing nitrile
gloves. Label all containers containing reagents with the chemical, your last name and date, and
discard upon expiration following appropriate protocols. Always remove your gloves before
touching the telephones or doorknobs. Always properly clean work areas after using any lab
chemicals. Appropriate lab attire includes close-toed shoes and long plants. Be careful to dis-
pose of any gloves and lab waste in the appropriate waste containers.
16. Field and animal safety. You reviewed animal safety concerns and completed IACUC training if
you are working with animals and are responsible for understanding and avoiding all risks in-
volved in animal care and handling. You are responsible for educating yourself about potential
risks of fieldwork, as concerns can vary by location, and for avoiding any potential dangers. Ask
the PI or other senior lab personnel for guidance when preparing for fieldwork.
17. If you are conducting independent work that involves captive animals you are responsible for
checking all the animals that are in captivity for your research, daily (or ensuring that someone
else in the lab who is completely trained and has IACUC approval has checked them). This in-
cludes holidays and weekends if animals are in captivity for your work you must adjust your
 travel and personal plans around their care. You are solely responsible for the care and wellbe-
ing of all animals that are part of your research; while you may arrange for another student to
check your animals if you are away, their health and safety is your responsibility, just as it is for a
pet.
18. In case of an emergency. If you or someone else is seriously injured in the lab or field call 911.
Contact your supervisor or Dr. Sewall immediately if you observe potential for serious injury or
property damage. Inform Dr. Sewall (540-231-5617) about any incident as soon as possible.
Student Acknowledgement and Agreement
I have read and understood the above document. I agree to abide by these guidelines and to use my
best judgment to ensure the safety and scientific integrity of myself and other members of the Sewall
Lab. I acknowledge that membership in the Sewall Laboratory is a privilege that may be revoked at any
time.

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Signature Date
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Printed Name