I have just finished my first week and I am worried. I have basically been left to get on with it! I am in a lab where I don't know anybody and I don't know where anything is. I am unsure of some of the techniques I should use and when I ask somebody I get looked at like I am stupid. I have hardly seen my supervisor all week. Also I have no equipment and have been told that I am to scrounge it from other people.
Is this normal,am I expecting too much support.

Hi I haven't had any expirience like you yet but I am feeling anxious becuse for 2 months I will staring my Phd in new, big laboratory where i will be use more copilcated techniques and i am afraid. It is new subject, new techniques, new people and i don't know that is it fitting to ask people from lab.

I'm really worried about this too - I start in 2 months time and I'm not sure about some of the techniques I'll have to use. But I think I will start reading up first of all and then it'll be trail and error till something clicks!!

Hi Zara I don't know where're You doing your Phd but I'm starting in NL and there is situation that I will not be exactly phd student but worker.And I'm wondering that my knowledge about new topic, and biochemical techniques can make disappoint my Boss. finish will looks that he fire me(I'm not sure that Boss will tell me: "for first 2 months You can only read publications, drink coffee and talking with new friends from lab".

I'm afraid that he will tell me: "this is lab, there is equipment you know what you should do so go to work"

It takes everyone time to find their feet in a new lab. Hopefully, your co-workers will be reasonably approachable, although it is easy to forget what it's like not to know a technique. But in a lab environment, safety policy generally says your supervisor should give a proper induction and if you have to deal with COSHH, getting the paperwork sorted is a good time to ask for tips on how to get the experiment to work.

It`s best to ask questions now and risk looking stupid for ten minutes than to remain silent and look really stupid in a few months time when you still dont know anything. It`s not a measure of your intelligence that you dont know where things are or you dont know techniques you`ve never been taught. You just have to be bold, ignore the odd looks (it`s their problem anyway) and ask!

Why don't you ask your co-workers if they have some time to explain their reseach to you? It shows interest, you get to know what the lab is up to and you can get to know the others. Plus, if you are stuck with a technique you'll know who has experience in it.

The equiptment belongs to the whole lab- not to individuals. So don't be shy to ask. Most people like to hoard things like hamsters, even if they haven't got the right to do so. Order your own equipment (small things) if you can.

Hamsters?!

I think Anon German means that people have hamster-like tendencies to hoard things, not that they stockpile hamsters...unless there are some very odd folks working in her lab... ;o)

Thanks for the clarification Ann, thought it was another animal rights issue I had to get involved in!!

OK, not whole hamsters. CHO chinese hamster ovary cell lines. So only cells of hamsters. ... Or MEF's: mouse embryonic fibroblasts.
p.s. People who hamster CHO's also like to hoard equipment.