Do you automate?

As every researcher knows, discoveries are exciting, but the experiments that lead to them can involve repetitive tasks that leave you wishing for a robot to do the job. Whether it's mass spectrometry, cell culture, quantitative RT PCR or high-volume genetic screens, several companies have solutions for sale. But what factors do you have to consider in deciding it's time to invest in expensive automated equipment?

For an upcoming Lab Tools article, we want to know how you've approached your automation woes. What technique did you decide to automate, and what pushed you to make the decision? Which equipment did your lab invest in? Are you happy with the off-the-shelf robotic system you purchased, or have you tweaked it in creative ways to make it conform to your needs? Are there experiments you wish you could automate, but no solution on the market that would get it right?The Lab Tools department aims to bring you tips on lab techniques beyond what you'd find in a published protocol and to act a springboard for readers to share further tips. So send us your ideas for a topic relating to automation we should explore, and look for your ideas in our January article on automation in the lab. The Scientist staff mail@the-scientist.comLinks within this article:J. Perkel, "Automation for the small scale," The Scientist, January 1, 2007. https://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/38043/A. Constans, "Automation advances in proteomics," The Scientist, March 23, 2003. https://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/14028/L. Schultz, "Cell culture automation," The Scientist, March 1, 2004. https://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/14483/

The Scientist ARCHIVES

Become a Member of

Related Research Resources

Epic Fail: Sea-Monkeys Sabotage Fieldwork

Research Resources

Podcasts

Webinars

Videos

Infographics

eBooks

Improving rAAV Production for Viral Vector Manufacturing

Advancing Respiratory Immunity Through Tissue-Resident Memory T Cell Research

What Dictates PCR Success Before Amplification Begins?

Overcoming Immunotherapy Resistance in Liver Cancer

Products

Product News

Sino Biological Launches European Newsletter Campaign with Exclusive Welcome Gifts

Sino Biological Launches SuperNuclease ® Pro with Free Trial Program

Sino Biological Launches Precisely Characterized Full-Length p-Tau217 Protein to Advance Next-Generation Alzheimer’s Biomarker Assay Development

Resipher: Continuous Live-Cell Mitochondrial Respiration Monitoring in 96-Well Plates