BIOLOGY LAB

ASSISTANT MANUAL
From the department chair…..
You have been chosen for this task because we recog-
nize certain special qualities in your work. You have Lab Assistant
demonstrated a good knowledge of biology, you take Guidelines
pride in your work, you are reliable, you try to help your
students as much as possible and work closely with
your professor. We know that if we ask you to do some-
thing it WILL be done and done well. We notice all of
this and make sure that you are rewarded for that kind
of work ethic when we do recommendations for you Inside this issue:
Dr. Wood
later.
Your responsibili- 2

Timesheets and FERPA ties

Borrowing from 2
Whether you are working students and supervisors. other labs
tional Rights & Privacy
one lab (6.5 hrs) or two If you have two supervi- ACT). You are covered Photocopying 2
(13 hrs) your timesheets sors, get together with under this act which
should be submitted by them and one will act as means that you cannot Microscopes 3
Friday noon each week lead as far as your time- discuss a student’s
or as arranged with your sheets are concerned. Using microscopes 3
grades with any other
supervisor. Do not wait When completing time- student and you cannot
until the end of the se- sheets, you CANNOT put leave graded papers ly- Safety in the lab 4
mester to do the paper- down times that conflict ing around in the lab
work or you WILL NOT with you class times. where they may be In case of fire 4
be paid. In addition to viewed by other students.
being paid for the lab Fire in your lab 4
Additional considerations Grades should only be
itself, you are paid for regarding you responsi- discussed with your su-
any prep, grading, think- bilities as a lab assistant: pervisor and submitted in In case of tornado 5
ing, and meeting with FERPA (Family Educa- a timely matter.
In case of chemical 5
spills

Dressing for success in the lab Sharps & broken 5

glass
You will find that some of along side of you. With the lab, not their buddy. Fume hood alarms 5
the students you teach in these changing roles, it is Wear clothes that are a
lab will be in your other easy to see how some cut or two above what Next semester 6
classes but with different students may be con- you would wear as a stu-
roles; sometimes they will fused in how to relate to dent and avoid wearing
be the lab assistant run- you. Dressing for the part anything that might be
ning that lab but more as a lab assistant can too revealing. You do not
frequently they will simply help to set the tone. You wish to draw any nega-
be taking the course are an authority figure in tive attention.
Page 2 BIOLOGY LAB ASSISTANT MANUAL

Your responsibilities in the lab

You and your supervisor should thing that needs to come from a
meet during the first week of You will also be responsible for storeroom, make sure that YOU
classes to determine your specific keeping the slide inventory retrieve it and do so using the
responsibilities to them. Be pre- straight on a weekly basis. How appropriate safety equipment
pared to provide your contact in- this is accomplished will vary by (e.g. step ladders). When done
formation and to get theirs. You lab, so check with your supervi- with something which has been
should also write down your super- sor on how it is to be done in borrowed from the storeroom,
visor’s schedule. your lab. At the end of the se- please return it to the proper
mester, be prepared to do a space. If in doubt, please ask.
If you have been asked to give a slide inventory as part of your
prelab talk, be ready to give an end of semester duties.
Grading: you need to find out
informative 15-20 minute explana- when your grades are due to your
tion of what the students will be Considerable care has been supervisor. DO NOT give them to
doing and what some of the diffi- taken by the biology faculty to someone else in the department.
culties might be. streamline how each course Give grades directly to your
operates. One issue addressed supervisor(s) in the form in
Keep the lab clean (no messy has been where specimens which they’ve asked.
benches, equipment/models/ used in class are stored. We
materials put away); work smarter have attempted to design the At the end of the semester, be
- put the responsibility of cleaning labs so that there is no need for prepared to participate in an ex-
up on your students. students to ever go into the tensive lab cleanup as directed by
storeroom to retrieve specimens your supervisor.
or equipment. If there is any-

Borrowing materials/equipment from other labs

If slides/materials/equipment need If you do borrow slides from an- or student worker’s desks
to be borrowed from another lab, other lab, you MUST leave a Post (WSN238/YSC201). If you need
you MUST return those items IM- -It note on the slide cabinet indi- something, let the biology faculty
MEDIATELY after your lab. You cating what has been borrowed, know and we will get you sup-
also need to notify your supervisor who you are and where the slides plies.
that you have had to borrow some- have been taken to (and return
thing from another lab since this immediately after lab). If you need hand soap or paper
may indicate that we need to pur- towels in the lab, let a faculty
chase it for the lab. DO NOT take tape, scissors, etc, member know.
from either the biology secretary’s

Photocopying
If you need to copy materials or Don’t leave photocopying until the
tests for your lab, you will need to last minute, the copier could be in
borrow the key from your supervi- use or your supervisor may not be
sor. They will also give you the around to give you the key. Ask-
departmental code. Note: this ing another faculty member for
may only be used for departmen- their key may be possible BUT
tal copying NOT personal copying they may not be willing to loan
(even for class notes you missed their key if they have their own
because you or a friend missed a classes and lab assistants to
biology class). manage.
DO NOT give the departmental
code to ANYONE!
Lab Assistant Manual Page 3

Microscopes
We have a mixture of ‘new’ and numbers. lems you’ll encounter include
‘old’ scopes. The newer scopes burnt out light bulbs and coarse
will be typically used in upper Do not assume that your students adjustment knobs becoming
level courses and microbiology; know how to use microscopes stripped. The latter can be
the older scopes in freshman and even if they say that they do. Re- avoided by using two hands
other ‘service’ courses where view the proper use of scopes during focusing. Make sure that
rougher handling is expected. and monitor this continually. this is emphasized during the first
Warn your students strongly lab and monitor constantly!
Each scope has been labeled to about misusing the scopes. Do
include the room number to which not use the oil immersion objec-
it is assigned as well as a tracking tive unless given permission by
number (to be used for signing up the course instructor.
purposes). You should not have
to borrow from other labs but, if If a problem develops with one of
you need more scopes, they the scopes, take it to YSC215
should be returned immediately and write a full description of the
after and your supervisor notified problem. Include your name on
so that (s)he is aware that there is the description in case follow-up
a potential problem with scope is necessary. Most common prob-

Use of Microscopes - a refresher

DO NOT SKIP OVER THIS SEC- under the stage, move the slide 11.Once the new objective is in
TION! so that the specimen is directly place, you should only need to
under the center of the objective use fine focus to refocus on the
If we had a dollar for every time lens and in the column of light. specimen.
that we were assured that a stu- 7. Push the two eyepieces together, 12.You may also need to readjust
dent knew what they were doing or pull them apart, until they light levels hitting your specimen.
and then we saw them doing match your eyes comfortably. You can do this by either adjust-
something they shouldn’t do when Note which eyepiece is fixed fo- ing the light’s rheostat or the iris
using a microscope… cused and which is adjustable. diaphragm, or both. Experience
Use the fixed eyepiece for initial will teach you the best combina-
1. To carry the microscope, grasp focusing on the specimen. tion.
the microscope’s arm with one 8. The stage should be moved to 13.Do not touch the glass part of
hand. Place the other hand under the highest position to start. Fo- the lens with your fingers. Use
the base. cus, using the coarse adjustment the lens paper provide to clean
2. Place the microscope on the ta- knob, until the specimen comes the lenses. Note that these will
ble with the arm towards you. clearly into focus. Turn the have to be cleaned periodically
coarse adjustment knob to drop due to oils from our skin and
3. Put the slide (side with the writing
the stage (note which way you mascara.
face up) on the microscope
are turning the knobs). 14.When finished with the scope,
stage, keeping it in place with the
spring-loaded slide-holder. 9. Use the fine focus knobs if nec- put the lowest objective lens in
essary. position and then the stage
4. Turn on the microscope’s light
10.If it is necessary to increase dropped to its lowest position.
source.
magnification, turn the rotating The scope can then be moved
5. The lowest power objective (both hands) to its storage unit.
eyepiece to put another objective
should already be in place but, if
lens in place. Until you are WELL
not, move it into position. Gener-
practiced, look at the microscope
ally you can feel it click into posi-
from the side while you are doing
tion.
this so that the lens is not
6. Using the x-y positioning knobs rammed into the stage.
Page 4 BIOLOGY LAB ASSISTANT MANUAL

Safety in the lab

With events of the past few years, prepared for changes… given time in case you have to
safety in academic settings has evacuate and in case emergency
become a more talked about is- Believe it or not, an important services personnel have to res-
sue. In the following sections are safety tool is your attendance cue someone. Below is an exam-
the current safety procedures. sheet. It is very important that you ple of an attendance sheet that
Learn them, follow them, but be know who is in your class at any we would like you to follow:

Aug 24 Aug 31 Nov 1 Nov 8

Last name, First name In Out In Out In Out In Out

Berry, Straw

Bond, James
Fun, Tunno
Penny, Henny

In case of fire...
If the fire alarm sounds, assume YSC201-214,& WSN230: exit and then continue out the west
that it is the real deal; do not ig- down the east stairwell (library doors. Proceed to Luther Memo-
nore. side) until the first floor is reached rial. If it is raining, you will pro-
Take only essentials (purses, and then continue out the east ceed instead to the library but go
class lists). door. Proceed to the Luther Me- around the building OUTSIDE.
morial (or library if it is raining). DO NOT EXIT OUT THE EAST
Do not use the elevator when DOORS!
evacuating! If a student is unable YSC215-222 & WSN233: exit
to walk down the stairs they must down the west stairwell (Mabee
be carried to safety. side) until the first floor is reached Take attendance again!

#14 = Library
#15 = York Science Center
#16 = Wells Science & Nursing
#17 = Luther Memorial

If the fire is in your lab...

When you first go into the lab, on on). The emergency gas valve is Meantime, have a student get
the first day, familiarize yourself the center red button; when de- your supervisor, or another faculty
with the locations of the fire extin- pressed, the valve is off. This will member, should your supervisor
guishers. Do not wait until there is cut off gas to the entire room. be unavailable.
actually a fire to learn this impor- Usually this is sufficient to stop If all else fails pull the fire alarm
tant piece of information. the fire. If not, use the fire extin- and evacuate with everyone else.
In case of fire, turn off the gas (if guisher.
Above all else, STAY CALM!
Lab Assistant Manual Page 5

In case of tornado….
 Warnings are issued when a (there are now two on campus). down west).
tornado is actually identified in  Take only essentials and  Take attendance again.
the immediate vicinity and will
evacuate to Brindley Auditorium
be signified by a five minute
(YSC102) using the same stair-  Remain in Brindley until the ‘all
steady blast of the Belton emer- clear’ is given.
cases as designated above
gency preparedness siren
(201-214 down east & 215-222

In case of chemical spills

 Minor spills can be washed off showers. Become familiar with can instruct you on the proper
at the sinks with soap & water. their use (pull down metal trian- cleanup method.
gle to trigger) when you first go
 If chemicals are splashed into
to the lab just don’t turn them
the eyes, rinse eyes using the
on (there aren’t any drains to
eyewash station (you may need
remove the water and you will
to run these periodically to
flood downstairs if these are
freshen the water in the pipes).
turned on).
Note the hand trigger.
Advise your supervisor imme-
 Full body contact (& corrosive
diately of any spill so that they
materials): use the emergency

What to do with sharps & broken glass

 ‘Sharps’ constitute anything  For most labs, you will not find them to your supervisor anyway
with a sharp edge but are not these containers, but will have because your version of broken
glass (needles, blades). Dis- to go to YSC214, 217 or 222. might not qualify as broken to
posal of these items should be As always, inform your supervi- us. Sometimes we can do re-
into the container marked sor when there have been pairs. We do have to know,
‘sharps’. casualties of either materials or however, which prepared slides
students. have been broken so that we
 Broken glass (slides, beakers,
can either pull out a replace-
pipettes, jars) goes into the bro-  Before disposing of slides, it is
ment from our back-up slides or
ken glass disposal unit. generally a good idea to show
order new ones.

What to do when the fume hood alarm goes off

 The fume hood alarms are sen-  The easy fix is to lower the  Evacuate the room and get
sitive and may periodically sash and this should increase your supervisor who will assess
sound. air flow and turn off the alarm. the situation and take any re-
quired action.
 Usually this results from the  If you are working with chemi-
sash being left in a raised posi- cals and someone faints or ex-
tion for too long, resulting in a presses feeling unwell. you may
drop of air flow to <70ft/sec for have a ventilation issue.
more than 10 seconds.
 BIOLOGY FULL-TIME
FACULTY CONTACT INFO
Dr. K. Wood (Chair):
The Biology Intranet Webpage is a place
295-4214, [email protected]
Dr. C. Early:
to check out. It has info for our lab assis-
295-5041, [email protected] tants (including blank time sheets & a
Dr. G. Frederick: downloadable copy of this manual you are
295-5534, [email protected] reading), research interests in the depart-
Dr. K. Grant: ment, Biology majors who have received
295-4147, [email protected] awards in the department, contact info for
Mr. A. Koontz:
all Biology faculty, … and announcements
295-4540, akoontz.umhb.edu
of what is coming up next. Of course, it is
only accessible ON CAMPUS. Please
promote this site with your students.

BIOLOGY INTRANET SITE http://campus.umhb.edu/biology/

Next semester….
Advising for the next semester is current lab as-
always just around the corner… sistants, are
We need to see our lab assistants given first priority
ASAP after the schedule for the when assigning
next semester is published. We positions for the
will advise you in the senior time next semester.
period (or even before) so that we
can get you assigned to your new
assignments. We need to know Once you have
this early so DO NOT delay. We committed to
will hunt you down if necessary teaching for us,
but, if this does not work, you understand that
could lose your spot. this is a COM- Chelsea Caspell demonstrating squid anatomy
MITMENT and
withdrawing, except under severe and we will always be there to
We also need you to be con- circumstances, will be severely help you with your class.
stantly looking out for students frowned on. WE RELY ON YOU
who are good potentials as lab to KEEP YOUR WORD! Please Know too, that we VERY MUCH
assistants. We do not take fresh- don’t let us down! APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU
man but if we can identify them DO FOR US!
Having said all of this, have a
early, we like to watch them for a great semester. If you have any
couple of semesters. We will hire problems or questions please see THANK YOU!
juniors, seniors and occasionally your supervisor. We are here to
sophomores. Do not feel threat- help you; you are NEVER ALONE
ened by this request—you, our