In order to run smoothly, a lab needs to be well-managed. No matter the sort of research which is being performed, it's important to have an efficient and well-thought-out research management system in place. For most laboratories, these three major elements will be especially important for assuming that your lab runs like a well-oiled machine.
When deciding how to manage your research lab, keep the following in mind.
Managing Research Data
Whether you're a wet lab or a dry lab, doing biology or sociology, you're going to create data. Probably a lot of data. The first thing you need to decide is how that data will be collected, recorded, and stored. You may choose to use a cutting-edge electronic lab notebook, or the terms of your grant might require the use of a traditional paper notebook, but either way, everyone must be on the same page (literally and figuratively) about data management.
You will also need to determine policies for data sharing, in the event that you end up collaborating with another laboratory. How you record and store data will impact how you share it, so keep that in mind when establishing your research management system even if you're not sure if collaborative opportunities will ever come up.
Good Project Management Principles
Project management isn't just for the corporate world. Any project which involves multiple people working on a variety of tasks towards a common goal can benefit from the presence of a project manager. This may be an additional role which is taken on by the lab manager as part of their research management system, or it may be handled by someone else within the lab who has some project management skills.
These days there are many software platforms for project management, which can be especially useful for a distributed laboratory, and can also make project management easier if there's no trained or dedicated project manager working in the lab. You may even find that your electronic lab notebook has some project management capabilities.
Good project management practices can ensure that everyone knows who is working on what, when things are due, and more. It gives everyone a good idea of where the project is, which makes it easier to provide status reports for academic advisors, grant boards, shareholders, or anyone else who has a stake in the research.
Inventory Management or Subject Management
Not every laboratory has an inventory, but for those that do, good organization is a must. No one wants to have their research delayed because the lab has run out of a key reagent, or they can't find the samples they're supposed to analyze. A good inventory management system will ensure that the lab manager knows when it's time to order more reagents, and where every sample is stored.
For social science labs or those conducting medical trials, inventory management can be replaced with subject management. While subjects' data and personal information would be part of the research data management plan, in psychological and sociological experiments, there may be a certain amount of other management to consider, such as scheduling, making sure subjects are paid with their time, and performing any necessary follow-up after the study (for example, letting participants in a medical trial know whether they received the placebo or the drug).
A Good Research Management System is Important
It's worth taking the time to really think about the right research management system for your lab. Make sure you have a comprehensive plan for data, project management, and the people or supplies involved in your research.
