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.

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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 the July/August issue, author and lab manager Mark Gibson shares a similar story--describing the advantages garnered from a Six Sigma program that also included the creation of "flex analysts"--individual analysts whose tasks alter, or "flex," based on the workload.

"We realized that what we primarily needed was an individual geared for specific tasks, and not necessarily someone experienced and knowledgeable of the full spectrum of HPLC theory. As a lab manager and chemist, the idea made me feel a bit uncomfortable, as anything less than a fully trained instrument chemist would increase the opportunity for errors and rework. Yet, it was successful. Training our current lab analysts to perform basic process HPLC analysis allowed us to begin balancing our lab work load and enabled samples to move more smoothly through our processes," says Gibson.

Has your lab implemented anything similar? If so, what were the results? If not, what's stopping you?

Please share.

"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 a renewed interest among students in science and technology. For the first time in six years, enrollment in computer science programs in the United States increased last year, according to a university survey last month."

Does this sound likely? And, if so, does it bode well for you and your lab?

Care to comment?

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."

What was your reaction to President Obama's address and, more specifically, to his pledged commitment to science and technology? Given that delivering on such pledges takes time, what action would the President need to take next to move that promise forward? Are you optimistic?

I'd like to hear from you.