Preparing samples, conducting test series with cell cultures, or writing laboratory reports. Laboratory tasks cover a broad range of activities. Technical assistants support researchers in performing and evaluating experiments or carrying out laboratory tests in the medical field. A lab without them? Hard to imagine. However, it is not just scientific and technical understanding that is important. “Certain soft skills are necessary to be successful in your job. This also applies to the scientific field,” says Anette Leue, Head of Digital Marketing & Communications at Promega GmbH. “The focus is often on technical skills, while personal development is neglected. This inspired us to come up with our ‘Develop Yourself with Promega’ program.”
What is Develop Yourself with Promega?
“Develop Yourself with Promega” is a training series for laboratory personnel, focusing on personal development. It covers topics such as “How do I present my results in an interesting and structured way?” or “What do I need to make my lab more sustainable?” The aim is to expand professional competencies through soft-skill training. “At the beginning, we conducted a survey with our partner, the Life Science Learning Lab (in German Glaesernes Labor) in Berlin, among technical assistants to find out which topics are important to them,” Leue continues. These insights became the starting point for the first four trainings:
- Green your lab: How can my lab become more sustainable?
- Presentation training: A few steps to a good presentation
- Project management in everyday lab work
- Time management for technical assistants
Developing Soft Skills from Sustainability to Project Organization
The first workshop “Green your lab” took place as part of the “Lunch & Learn” series of the Life Science Learning Lab. Over snacks and drinks, Anette Leue and Thomas Kluenner, Senior Consultant at Promega, shared practical tips for an hour on how sustainability can be integrated into everyday laboratory work. “The challenge for labs is that sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees,” says Leue. “With ‘Develop Yourself with Promega,’ participants learn which knobs they can turn to save resources specifically.” How can I reduce waste, can I store samples at –70°C, and what exactly is ecomapping? These and other questions will be answered in this free workshop.
Laboratory work consists largely of experiments or lab analyses. To coordinate research projects effectively and present results convincingly, additional skills are required beyond scientific expertise. “In the further trainings, we address the various aspects of presentation and project management,” Leue explains. “We teach lab staff how to logically structure their presentation and look at body language and authenticity.” The third training focuses on various project management techniques. Participants learn how to plan tasks effectively and deal with any conflicts that arise. To meet project deadlines and milestones, optimal time management is required, which is covered in the fourth workshop.
What’s Next?
“The first workshops took place with our cooperation partner on the campus of the Life Science Learning Lab in Berlin. The response was overwhelmingly positive, which is why we want to continue,” says Leue. To reach even more people, the team produced short and informative videos on the topics of sustainability, presentation, project and time management and published them on the company website. Each video is supposed to impart knowledge quickly and in a practical way and thus promote the personal development of laboratory staff.
The videos and further information on the training series are available athttps://www.promega.com/en/c/lp/dys/ Develop yourself with Promega.
This post was contributed by the Promega GmbH branch office.
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