Lab Manager Magazine®

Articles Authored by Pamela Ahlberg

The medium IS the message

Published: May 8 2013

How we communicate with those we work for and those who work for us is dictated by a variety of factors. Your boss prefers weekly face-to-face meetings, you prefer brief emails, others on your team favor long-winded phone conversations, while your newly hired college grads are happiest texting. Despite the many new channels available for getting your message across, all are not created equal when it comes to the communication challenges you and your organization face. The takeaway from this month’s cover story is that choosing the appropriate communication technique and medium should not be left to chance. Rather, a lab manager needs to carefully assess every situation, every business goal, every team, and every individual to determine the most effective ways of communicating. “Telephones, email, and social technology modalities have their rightful place in labs as a quick and easy means of conveying and/or broadcasting information, but managers who use these methods to the point of minimizing or excluding real-time person-to-person communication on a reasonably consistent basis should not be surprised if levels of staff motivation and trust start to flag.”

EDITOR'S NOTE : Green is Good

Published: April 8 2013

It’s the week before Easter, but outside my window there are still patches of snow on the ground. To which I say, enough already! Bring on Spring and make it snappy.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Confident/Somewhat Confident

Published: March 9 2013

The good news from this year’s confidence report is that the laboratory industry, by and large, is moving in the right direction—forward—though in slightly smaller steps than we would have hoped. But as author Angelo DePalma writes in this month’s cover story, “Steady as She Goes,” “Survival is not a dirty word in a world recovering from catastrophic financial shenanigans, and toward that end treading water is not such a terrible strategy.” If you didn’t participate in this year’s survey, let me know if these results are in line with your own feeling of confidence as you head into 2013.

EDITOR'S NOTE : More New Year's resolutions

Published: January 30 2013

Perhaps you’ve made your usual New Year’s resolutions: Get to the gym more often, be a better friend, eat more fruits and vegetables, for which I commend you. However, if you’re looking to make resolutions that will have a direct impact on your job performance and career development, you’ve come to the right place.

EDITOR'S NOTE : More New Year's resolutions

Published: January 30 2013

Editor's Note

Published: December 10 2012

Talking to your staff, your customers, and to upper management is common sense, natural and instinctive, right? Think again.

Editor's Note : Boasting for Dollars

Published: November 9 2012

In many quarters, bragging about oneself or one’s accomplishments is considered bad form. Modesty and humility are the virtues most ascribe to. However, things have changed.

The Sixth Annual Salary & Employee Satisfaction Survey

Published: October 6 2012

As in our previous Salary & Employee Satisfaction surveys, the results this year continue to reinforce the idea that laboratory professionals are for the most part happy in their careers and derive meaning and satisfaction from the work they do. However, there were a few surprises this year with regard to career growth opportunities. But before we get to those details, let’s find out more about the participants in this year’s survey.

Great Expectations

Published: October 6 2012

In this month’s cover story, author John Borchardt describes the changes that have taken place since 2008 in priorities for hiring new laboratory employees. Most significant is that today’s employers, rather than hiring newly graduated

If you can’t beat them, join them

Published: September 17 2012

Driving back to my office today, I heard an interview on NPR with Lisa Randall, Professor of Physics at Harvard University. She was there to talk about new discoveries in the field of physics, including new evidence for the existence of the Higgs

Are Data Management Systems Right for Your Lab?

Published: July 9 2012

It’s been a while since our last INSIGHTS supplement, but never fear, this feature is still alive and well at Lab Manager Magazine with the next issue set for Septem - ber 2012. September’s INSIGHTS will focus on data management systems,

Opposite Ends of the Earth

Published: July 6 2012

Last month we provided important and practical information about project management techniques and their usefulness in laboratory management. This month we turn our attention to a different management challenge that becomes more commonplace every

The Third Annual Laboratory Safety Survey

Published: June 16 2012

Three years ago we began surveying our readers to find out about their lab safety practices and to track how those practices change moving forward. Last year’s survey indicated fairly substantial improvement over 2010 despite the continuing

Managing Projects

Published: June 6 2012

According to PMI (the Project Management Institute), project management is the application of knowledge, skills and techniques to execute projects effectively and efficiently. It is a strategic competency for organizations, enabling them to tie

Yes, There Is an App for That

Published: May 9 2012

Some expect the mobile apps market to quadruple over the next four years, from $6.8 billion to $25 billion. Others forecast revenues at $29.5 billion by 2013, increasing from $7 billion in 2010.

Springtime… Green time

Published: April 6 2012

Here in my neck of the woods in Northwestern New Jersey, spring arrived weeks ago, which the early and abundant forsythia flowers outside my office window testify to. No guarantee, however, that we won’t see snow on Easter. But because of their

Modest Optimism

Published: March 2 2012

“The year 2011 was tumultuous for the laboratory industry. In comparison, the outlook for 2012 looks only slightly positive. Laboratory decision makers generally expect their funding conditions either to remain the same or to minimally improve.”

Frugal Resolutions

Published: January 20 2012

On January 1st, 2012, the front page of The New York Times Sunday Business section featured a large, squalling New Year’s Day baby. The headline read: “I Just Got Here, But I Know Trouble When I See It.” The sentiment—echoed a

Space Cases

Published: December 9 2011

When you walked into your lab today, did you notice your environment? Or did you take for granted the open, airy spaces, floor-to-ceiling windows, fabulous views of the outdoors, art work and potted plants? Or maybe that doesn’t exactly describ

Speak Up

Published: November 4 2011

“Scientists and engineers tend to communicate poorly because their professions have not valued explanation and their career advancement doesn’t depend on having lay-level explanatory skills, leaving scientists strategically maladroit when

Skills to Master

Published: October 7 2011

In our Fifth Annual Salary & Employee Satisfaction Survey, the majority of you told us again that you were happy in your current work situations and had no plans to change careers. However, 13 percent fewer of you than in 2010 answered in the affir

The Fifth Annual Salary & Employee Satisfaction Survey

Published: October 4 2011

What has been true over the past four years of conducting this survey remains true: Those working in the scientific research field like what they do and have no plans to change careers. Although the number was down 2% from last year, those who sa

Crossing the Border

Published: September 9 2011

A few weeks ago some colleagues and I drove from the New York City area north to Ontario, Canada for Lab Manager Magazine’s annual sales meeting. Five hours into the trip—somewhere near Buffalo—I realized I’d forgotten my pass

Is There an App for That?

Published: July 15 2011

We recently surveyed our readers on their use of mobile technology in the lab. Thirty eight percent told us they were currently using mobile devices in their labs, 23 percent said they would be in the future, and 39 percent said they had no plans to.

Raising the Workplace Safety Bar… Voluntarily

Published: June 3 2011

“We must not think of OSHA as ‘the enforcer’ here to levy hefty fines when we are caught doing things wrong. OSHA is a resource, one that can help in big ways,” says Vince McLeod in this month’s cover story. For labs wis

Science Apps for Smartphones and Tablets – Hype or Useful?

Published: May 4 2011

According to some sources, smartphones have become ubiquitous in laboratories as increasing numbers of apps are now targeted to scientists...

Etiquette Rules

Published: May 3 2011

Unlike the recent British nuptials, where strict social etiquette dictated every nod, handshake and curtsey at the ceremony, rules of behavior in today’s laboratories are slightly more relaxed.

If You Can’t Beat Them...

Published: April 13 2011

Two weeks ago I didn’t text, I didn’t Skype, and my Facebook page was a sad, unrevealing shell of a thing because, at the time, I had no interest in sharing either my deeds or my thoughts with my "friends." But all that changed when...

Only Slightly Fewer 2011 Pittcon Attendees than Last Year

Published: March 24 2011

Pittcon in Atlanta attracted 10,042 attendees compared with the 10,098 attendees last year.

Swimming, Not Sinking

Published: February 16 2011

"After a year of caution and conservatism, many lab managers, regardless of whether they are optimistic or pessimistic about the future, seem to believe that it is time to sink or swim and will therefore be taking an aggressive approach in 2010."

Happy New Year!

Published: January 13 2011

“Maximizing profits” and “competing for market share” are not typical phrases most people associate with laboratories. Right? Well, maybe they should be.

The Fourth Annual Salary & Employee Satisfaction Survey

Published: October 7 2010

In reviewing this years survey results, it is not surprising to discern a noticeable belt-tightening on the part of management and a rise in the subsequent stress felt by lab employees.

Social Science and the September Issue of Lab Manager Magazine

Published: September 10 2010

The September issue is en route to all our subscribers and the feature this month is Social Science. Is climate change real or the hysterical imaginings of environmentalists? Is seafood from the Gulf of Mexico safe to eat? Are organophosphate pestic

Evaluating and Investing in New Technologies and Reagents for qPCR

Published: August 31 2010

Expert Dr. Greg Shipley's latest webcast on Real-Time qPCR is now posted, view the video. Ask the Expert: Utilizing Whole Cell Lysates Directly for Real-Time qPCR Dr. Gregory Shipley is director of the Quantitative Genomics Core Laboratory at The

Webinar on Goal Setting for Yourself and Your Lab

Published: August 30 2010

Join Karla Brandau for a free webinar on Goal Setting. The event is titled: Tips That Will Help You Set and Achieve Goals for Yourself and Your Lab. Be sure to sign up and take part this Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 1:00 – 2:00 ET. View details a

Creative and Fun Video Contest

Published: August 3 2010

The web is full of new and interactive ways to engage with lab products and marketings minds are getting more and more creative. This week I came across the BioTek video contest that you might like to explore. You can submit a short video describing

Adjusting to a Flat World

Published: July 28 2010

In Thomas Friedman's The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century, the author examines the impact of the "flattening" of the world, and argues that globalized trade, outsourcing, supply-chaining and political forces have changed t

Professional Science Master’s Degrees

Published: May 13 2010

olicymakers, universities, and employers should work together to speed the development of professionally oriented master's degree programs in the natural sciences. Graduates of these programs -- which build both scientific knowledge and practical wor

Project Management in the Lab

Published: April 1 2010

For many, Project Management means graphs, charts, and procedures, often implemented through a software package, designed to plan and guide to completion repetitive and highly predictable work. If that's what it means, does it have a place in today

Pittcon 2010

Published: March 5 2010

Pittcon 2010 ended yesterday afternoon at the Orlando Convention Center. As expected, the attendance numbers were down slightly from last year. If you weren't there, please tell us why. If you were, please share your impressions.

Who Polices Police Labs?

Published: February 1 2010

There is currently no governmental body, no state or federal agency that oversees the forensic labs that run tests on DNA, fingerprints, ballistics, even on the blood of drunken driving suspects.

Know Your Xs from Your Ys

Published: December 23 2009

All generations are not created equal nor are they motivated the same way. How much attention do you pay to the personality characteristics that differentiate boomers from Gen Xers from Generation Ys?

Interviewing Do’s and Don’ts

Published: November 30 2009

When interviewing a job candidate, do you adhere strictly to a grading scale or do you sometimes modify the job requirements based on the unique qualifications of the candidate?

“Editor’s Buzz” becomes Editor’s Blog

Published: November 20 2009

Welcome to the updated "Editor's Buzz," now a blog. As editor-in-chief of Lab Manager Magazine, I have a unique bird's eye view on the world of lab management. With this perspective, I will be weighing in on a variety of topics that should be of keen

What A Mess!

Published: November 13 2009

Last week I received a phone call from a lab manager asking if there was literature or guidelines for cleaning up the glassware clutter and chemicals in his research lab. I had nothing to offer. Do you? While not the most glamorous of lab managem

Cross-training to Alleviate Workflow Bottlenecks

Published: September 20 2009

In our June Leadership & Staffing article, author Allison Champion describes her lab's cross-training program in which technicians develop capabilities in more than one area and adjust their focus as needed to alleviate workflow bottlenecks. In th

Cross-training to Alleviate Workflow Bottlenecks

Published: May 8 2009

Based on a recent Lab Manager Magazine survey, we learned that nearly 44 percent of you have applied for Federal Stimulus Plan grant money - 46 percent from academia, followed by 12.7 percent from hospital or medical centers, and 12.7 percent from ph

Twitter

Published: April 29 2009

On the Twitter homepage (http://www.twitter.com) is the following explanation: "Twitter is a service for friends, family, and coworkers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are

Spending in Research

Published: April 15 2009

"The sciences could well rise in the new pecking order of career status. The Obama administration wants to double federal spending in basic research over 10 years and triple the number of graduate fellowships in science. There are already signs of

Purchasing Decisions

Published: April 7 2009

As consumers rely more and more on the internet to make high-end purchasing decisions, is the same true when it comes to purchasing equipment for your lab? Have you developed effective online search or research methods to help learn more about a p

Blogs, Discussion Boards, Wikis...

Published: March 26 2009

In the current issue of Lab Manager Magazine, Gloria Metrick provides an overview of the blogs, discussion boards, Wikis, and online social networking and data sharing sites available to laboratory professionals. (http://www.labmanager.com/articles.a

Pittcon

Published: March 17 2009

With everyone braced for a smaller turnout in terms of exhibitors and attendees, this year's Pittcon surprised many with its vitality and respectable attendance. Vendors I spoke with acknowledged less booth visitors, but commented that the quality of

Editor's Buzz - Mar 17/09

Published: March 17 2009

If you were in Chicago last week for Pittcon, what was your impression of the show? Did you find what you wanted and learn what you needed to?

Safety and Training

Published: March 3 2009

"Poor training, poor technique, lack of supervision and improper method," said Neal Langerman, former head of the American Chemical Society's Division of Chemical Health and Safety, about the lab fire that killed UCLA research assistant Sheri Sangji.

Research Goals

Published: February 18 2009

The NIH is expected to receive $10 billion, including $8.5 billion for research and $1.5 billion for university research facilities. The NSF will receive $3 billion, including $2.5 billion for research, $400 million for infrastructure and $100 millio

Due diligence

Published: February 5 2009

Due diligence in purchasing requires an investment in time and resources to manage risk and obtain the most value for the money. This requires some oversight of the actual buying cycle and is not a trivial task. How complicated is the process at your

President Obama

Published: January 20 2009

He also said, "We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do."

Invention is...

Published: January 19 2009

Invention is "new technology that really changes things, that is radical disruption," explains Dr. Lienhard. One reason for this disruption is that invention is cumulative, as noted by Merton Flemings, director of the Lemelson-MIT Program, a nonprofi

Uncertainty breeds

Published: January 7 2009

How the technical or lab manager anticipates and responds to the constant and turbulent change that envelops an organization is frequently the difference between commercial and personal success and failure. Most technical and business people disli

Job and Financial Security Resource Center

Published: December 18 2008

The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society's Job and Financial Security Resource Center offers resources that can help professionals search for employment, develop qualities beyond the technical competencies that are valued by employers and learn how t

Challenges for Small Labs

Published: December 15 2008

Based on some cursory research (visit: http://www.epa.gov/sbo/labguide.htm), the following areas seem most challenging for small labs: Professional development opportunities Training Expenditure for internal audits Becoming a GL

Communication on the Campus

Published: November 19 2008

David P. Friedman, Ph.D., professor of physiology and pharmacology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, says that until the 1980s, the scientific community did a very poor job of communicating with anyone beyond their own campuses. That, he

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Published: November 6 2008

The American Association for the Advancement of Science, AAAS, posted a letter on its website yesterday, congratulating President-elect Obama and urging him to "act quickly to nominate--by inauguration day on January 20th--a cabinet-rank Assistant to

Motherhood, The Elephant in the Laboratory

Published: October 24 2008

According to their "About the Project" page, www.sciencemoms.wordpress.com began as a single post to a list serve with an excerpt and link to a New York Times article about the . It quickly became a forum for discussion of the difficulties (and joys)

John Ford of Project Solutions

Published: October 21 2008

In one presentation, John Ford, of Project Solutions, spoke of the need for mentoring within the lab and the benefits derived for both mentor and mentee. Is there a mentoring program at your lab? Is it formal or informal? Has it been successful and,

McCain and Obama answer Science Questions

Published: October 10 2008

I recently came across a web site in which McCain and Obama answer the top 14 science questions facing America – sharing their views on issues of environment, health and medicine, and science and technology policy. It's worth checking out. http://

Welcome

Published: October 3 2008

Welcome to the Lab Manager Magazine web site. Beginning today, I will be using this part of the site to regularly comment on industry trends and events, update you on product, research and event news, point out new features and functions of the site,

Editor's Buzz - Oct 3/08

Published: October 3 2008

Join Editor-in-Chief Pam Ahlberg every Friday as she comments on the top stories, research trends, technology breakthroughs and other developments impacting commercial, government, R&D and academic laboratory managers.