MORE ways to improve your lab efficiency! (plus actionable tactics!)

Doing more high-quality work faster is an ongoing aim in research. I asked lab scientists to share their best productivity hacks. Here are actionable suggestions to optimize workflows:

• Prepare stock buffers and reagents in bulk batches. Calculate the gram or mL amounts of components needed to make 1L, 2L, 3L or 4L all at once. Keep this handy cheat sheet near the scale so you don't have to keep recalculating.
• Automate repetitive experimental prep workflows like PCR master mix setups or cell culture media changes using liquid handlers or robotic platforms. Saves major time versus tedious manual pipetting.
• Maintain Google Sheets calculators with formulas pre-programmed. For example, have a sheet where you enter the number of cell staining samples needed and it calculates exactly how much buffer and antibodies to add based on set concentrations. Access the sheet easily on your phone.
• Schedule full experiment days hour-by-hour in a calendar spreadsheet, stacking workflows efficiently. For example, cast gels during incubation steps. Prime instrumentation while grabbing coffee.
• When freezing down bacteria for long term storage, simply combine 1 mL overnight culture with 1 mL 50% glycerol directly instead of pelleting cells and resuspending in glycerol. Saves you an extra centrifugation/resuspension step.
• Set up the maximum parallel number of constructs, samples or conditions you can reliably handle at once when designing experiments. By keeping variables constant across runs, you minimize re-calculating component volumes each time.

What other efficiency-enhancing tips and tricks have you discovered? Please share in the comments!