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Starting and operating a laboratory is a vast and challenging undertaking. While securing the funding for a new lab represents progress and positivity, some intricacies exist in purchasing, hiring, and performing daily operations that are crucial for success. More than just a depth of scientific understanding is needed to set up a lab to guarantee years of fruitful and efficient…

Women in science, particularly in lab management roles, are reshaping the landscape of research and innovation. Yet, their journey is often met with unique challenges. From navigating gender biases to overcoming systemic barriers in lab operations, female scientists bring resilience and expertise to the table while facing obstacles that can impede their success. This article delves into the challenges faced…

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year, food-borne illnesses sicken 48 million people (or 1 in 6), send 128,000 people to the hospital, and cause 3,000 fatalities in the United States alone.1 With these kinds of figures, it is evident that being ready for a recall or other potential catastrophe is crucial when a…

Imagine waiting a lifetime for an idea to become a reality, and then it is over in 100 trillionths of a second. That’s exactly what happened to a group of scientists at the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California at 1:03 a.m. on December 5, 2022, when 192 giant lasers blasted a tiny cylinder of hydrogen…

In 2010, the United States Department of State launched the Feed the Future Initiative. Coordinated by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the objectives were clear: advance global agricultural development, increase food production and security, and improve nutrition in vulnerable populations. Since the launch of the program over a decade ago, Feed the Future has developed a network of…

The New England area around Boston is known today for medical and biotechnology research and development, overtaking the dominance of the computer industry that flourished here for decades. In the mid-1800s, another industry — textiles — dominated the area with mills spotted throughout eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Today, if you drive along route I-495, you’ll find many brick textile…

A laboratory information management system (LIMS) can positively impact multiple aspects of operations for many different types of laboratories, including food and beverage laboratories. These labs exist to ensure safety and quality in the production and management of food and beverage production operations. These laboratories use various informatics solutions to ensure operational efficiency by improving, for example, inventory management, sample…

Download PDF Implementing a laboratory information management system (LIMS) can streamline every aspect of your lab’s operations. From sample management to client communications, and from workflow efficiency to regulatory compliance, a LIMS automates processes to improve consistency, accuracy, and productivity. But finding a LIMS that works with your lab’s unique combination of services and clients can be challenging. Changing processes…

The agriculture industry and its affiliate laboratories cover a wide range of operations related to the cultivation of food crops. Global reliance on agriculture makes it essential to diligently test everything from fundamental soil and irrigation water to the pesticides used to cultivate much of our global food supply. In particular, testing the effects of chemicals such as pesticides is…

Cybersecurity plays a more prominent role in today’s laboratories. Digitalization, remote work, and cloud applications make labs more connected and vulnerable to security breaches. Strong password policies and multi-factor authentication (MFA) improve security, though at a price. Security practices force laboratory workers to enter log-in credentials several times an hour, interrupting their workflows throughout the day. The resulting security fatigue…