Looking to increase your daily laboratory productivity? The secret is to work smarter, not harder to make the most effective use of your time. However, this is easier said than done.
In the lab meeting or when meeting with your boss, scientist often have discussions about prioritizing experiments.
To make your life easier, @PracheeAC and @ibiology present the following experimental prioritization flowchart to help you to accomplishing the best experiments:
In this experimental prioritization decision tree, the authors identify five different type of experiments:
- Slam dunk experiments: Experiments to do know with very high priority because they are very likely to work and require very short time.
- High priority experiments: Important experiments that directly address your biological question, are likely to work and require long time.
- Experiments to try when you have time: Experiments that are very risky to work but take short time to perform.
- High-risk, high-reward experiments: Experiments that are very risky to work, require long time but there is big payoff if they work.
- Trash it asap experiments: Experiments that not answer any biological question and require long time.
Do forget to have a printed version of this flowchart at your desk and look at it as often as you need.
Featured image: Pixabay