General Updates

Quick updates

A quick reminder to please remove all samples and equipment brought into the Prep Labs once you're done with them, or at the very least, at the end of cycle. If users need help with this, please contact your ISIS contact.

Southside Prep Lab: Recommissioned

The Southside prep lab back rooms had been used by the D-Lab team as a temporary workspace. Now that the D-Lab has reopened it has been recommissioned for general use by the user programme. Part of this has involved the movement of one of the glove boxes away from window; it has been repositioned in the lab.

Glove boxes

The inventory of all items in the glove boxes has been updated, ensuring that they are well-stocked with the items they are meant to contain and rationalising the contents. The glove boxes have been generally tidied up.

In addition to this, waste has been removed from the main three glove boxes in use: The West Prep Lab, North-2 Prep Lab and the Southside Prep Labs. While most users are capable glove box users, it is worth reiterating the proper etiquette for using a glove box at ISIS:

Glove box Etiquette

• Please use the log book; these are situated near the antechambers of the glove boxes. This makes sure we have a good idea of what samples are inside the glove box.
• Please use the calendar where possible for informal bookings, to help avoid multiple users attempting to use it at the same time.
• Please leave the glove box in a suitable state for others to use.
• Please ensure your waste is properly stored in labelled containers out of the way if it cannot be removed.
• If you are not 100% sure that you know how to use the glove box, please check first with lab staff.
• If you cause or discover contamination, a hole in the gloves or a leak in the glove box, please let lab staff know as soon as possible!
  

Retirement of Sarah Langham

Sarah Langham is the Senior Laboratory Support Technician who has been in charge of the sample and preparation labs for about the last decade, predating my starting in the group. Sarah started work at ISIS on 02/02/2004, and previously worked in the Cryogenics team before moving into the Support Labs Group in 2012. In that time Sarah was quickly promoted to Senior Lab Technician, and has taken on innumerable projects to ensure the smooth operation of the labs, not least the active sample cupboard audits, overseeing the building of the Southside Prep Lab, and her lab support before, during and after the Covid lockdowns.

Above: Sarah on the left.

At the end of March, Sarah retired from full time work. For many of us (myself included) Sarah has been the first point of contact whenever we've needed to get something done, whether that's getting a chemical, other consumables, lab equipment, advice on shipping and procurement or a thousand other things, so I'm sure everyone reading this will want to wish Sarah a very happy retirement!

Luckily, a new employee called Sarah Langham started in the same role part time in April (because of how Oracle works). Joking aside, we are extremely fortunate that Sarah has decided to stay on part time, currently working 3 days per week: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Outside of these times please contact Rachel Pearce or James Taylor.

For any further details on the Chemistry and Prep Labs, please contact the Lab Support Technicians Rachel Pearce and Sarah Langham (Mon, Weds, Thurs), or check out the Sample Preparation and Chemistry Labs website.