Lab Competencies for Biotechnology

1) TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS

a) Comprehend a technical vocabulary
b) Follow laboratory protocol
c) Maintain laboratory notebook
d) Interact with vendors, colleague, and clients
e) Write or update protocols, SOP's, manuals, reports, and technical summaries
2) SAFETY
a) Identify first aid supplies, personnel, emergency protection areas and evacuation plan
b) Follow appropriate safety procedures, guidelines, and chemical hygiene plan
c) Follow universal precautions for biological pathogens
d) Follow use of laminar flow, fume hoods and biological safety cabinets
e) Use protective equipment
f)

Take appropriate protective measures while working around UV light

g) Maintain safety equipment.

h) Monitor, use, store and dispose of hazardous materials properly
i)
j)
k)
l)

Observe rules of safety with radioactive materials

Observe rules of electric safety
Recognize safety symbols/signs
Maintain, understand, and follow materials safety data sheets (MSDS) and worker protection
Standards (WPS)
m) Recognize common lab hazards and observe procedures for the safe use of instruments and gas
cylinders
n) Keep work area free from clutter
3) BASIC LAB SKILLS
a) Formulate a clear answerable question
b) Develop a testable Hypothesis
c) Predict expected results
d) Follow an experimental protocol
e) Collect and organize data in a systematic fashion
f) Present data in appropriate way (tables, graphics, figures, etc)
g) Assess the validity of data (including integrity and significance)
h) Drawing appropriate conclusions based on data
i) Obtain and read protocol, test procedure, standard operating procedures (SOPs)
j) Check equipment
k) Sterilize equipment where appropriate
l) Prepare glassware
m) Organize compounds and chemicals
n) Perform mathematical calculations and conversions
o) Operate centrifuges
p) Use titration and pipetting techniques
q) Prepare and dispense stock reagents, buffers, media and solutions
r) Maintain reagent integrity (store properly, avoid cross-contamination, use at proper temperature,
etc.)
s) Sterilize reagents, buffers, media and solutions where appropriate
t) Calculate and prepare dilution's series
u) Monitor physical properties of reagents, buffers, media and solution
v) Determine acceptability and optimum conditions of reagents for tests
w) Perform tests/assays: chemical, biological, clinical, environmental robotic, mechanical

x) Perform histotechniques where needed

y) Perform basic separation techniques
i) Operate chromatography equipment
z) Dispose of samples appropriately
4) SPECIFIC LAB SKILLS
a) Microbiology Skills
i) Maintain Laboratory and equipment hygiene
ii) Prepare, sterilize, and dispense media, buffers, solutions, etc.
iii) Identify and quantify microorganisms and cells
iv) Isolate, maintain and store pure cultures
v) Maintain and analyze fermentation materials
vi) Harvest cells
vii) Transform hosts
viii) Perform bioassays
ix) Decontaminate and dispose of equipment, glassware and biologicals
b) Cell Biology Techniques
i) Isolate and characterize cell lines
ii) Propagate plant and animal tissue
iii) Use cryogenic techniques
iv) Use microscopes
v) Perform cytological tests, i.e. sectioning and staining
vi) Perform bioassays
c) Nucleic Acid Techniques
i) Isolate nucleic acids
ii) Perform restriction digests
iii) Perform gel electrophoresis
iv) Perform nucleic acid sequencing procedures
v) Perform PCR procedures
vi) Use sequence database
vii) Perform basic cloning techniques
d) Protein Techniques
i) Detect specific proteins
ii) Precipitate/solubilize proteins
iii) Separate proteins, isolate or characterize proteins
iv) Concentrate proteins
v) Perform protein assays
5) EQUIPMENT AND FACILITY
a) Check calibration and perform systems diagnostics
b) Monitor/record the environmental conditions of the facility (growth chamber, greenhouse, seed
storage room, animal room or manufacturing suite)
c) Validate or confirm processes, equipment, facilities, kits and vendor products
d) Perform or schedule preventive maintenance
e) Clean work area according to SOPs
f) Maintain equipment logs
g) Trouble shoot and repair equipment (work order)
h) Label equipment and facilities
6) Industry Procedures
a) Good Laboratory Practices
b) Goof Manufacturing Practices
c) Animal Care and Control
d) Appropriate FDA and OSHA regulations