Laboratory Practices and Policies

Effective July 1, 2004

To: Residents, Medical Students, Graduate Students, Undergraduate Students, Research Associates, Research Fellows, Post-doctoral Fellows and Visiting Scholars.

	1	Safety Training and Lab Keys
	2	Lab Etiquette
	3	Lab Notebooks
	4	Lab Meetings
	5	Presentations
	6	Publications
	7	Vacation Policy
	8	Conference Travel
	9	Lab Purchases
	10	Invention Disclosures
	11	Lab Injuries
	12	Lab Apparel

1. Safety Training

Prior to working in the Plastic Surgery Research Laboratory, everyone must complete the Research Integrity Module 1 in the University's Research Practice Fundamentals (RPF). After completing the module, hand in the certificate to the Lab Director. See: https://cme.hs.pitt.edu/servlet/IteachControllerServlet?actiontotake=displaymainpage&site=atoz.

All researchers must attend a 1 hour chemical hygiene training session prior to working in the lab: www.ehs.pitt.edu/training/training.htm.

Researchers working with formaldehyde must attend a 30 minute formaldehyde training session: www.ehs.pitt.edu/training/training.htm.

If working with animals, the researcher must also complete RPF Module 3, and attend animal training. Contact Marilee Rose to attend the 1 hr session: mrose+@pitt.edu. See:
www.iacuc.pitt.edu/iac_abouttrng.htm. Also complete the AESP training: www.ehs.pitt.edu/animalusers/animalusers.htm#prog.

If working with human tissue or blood, the researcher must also attend bloodborne pathogen training: www.ehs.pitt.edu/training/training.htm.
And complete RPF Modules 2 and 6: http://rpf.health.pitt.edu/rpf/index.cfm.

After completing all training, the lab member will be given a lab key. The key is not to be given to anyone, and is to be returned when the lab member leaves the lab permanently.

2. Laboratory Etiquette

There is absolutely NO food or drink permitted in the laboratory. All bottles, chemicals, reagents and dishes must be labeled with the researchers initials and dates. Failure to do so can result in a hefty monetary fine. All researchers are expected to leave their area clean after experiments. All laboratory gloves are to be thrown away in the red biohazard boxes.

3. Laboratory Notebooks

Each lab member will receive a lab notebook from the Lab Director. Daily, the researcher is to document his/her activities and data in the notebook, using ink and dating each entry. The notebook is the property of the University of Pittsburgh and is not to leave the lab at any time. The notebook will remain in the lab after the researcher has moved onto another position. The experiments should be written up with great detail so that the next researcher can easily reproduce the experiments.

4. Lab Meetings

It is expected that lab members attend the weekly lab meetings. It is also expected that the researcher present at least twice a year at the lab meetings. If the researcher cannot attend a lab meeting, they are expected to inform their Principal Investigator (PI).

5. Presentations

All researchers are expected to present their research findings at local and national meetings, as suggested by their PI's. Both oral and poster presentations are encouraged.

6. Publications

It is expected that one year of research results in at least one peer-reviewed, first authored publication and one or more other publications. Additional publications may result. The researcher should meet with his/her PI at the beginning of a project to discuss authorship, including author order and potential journals for submission. The PI will cover the costs of publication.

7. Vacation Policy

There are 2 separate policies:

1) Residents, Medical Students, Graduate Students, Undergraduate Students, Research Fellows, Post-doctoral Fellows and Visiting Scholars
2) Research Associates (Lab Technicians)

1) The vacation policy for Residents, Medical Students, Graduate Students, Undergraduate Students, Research Fellows, Post-doctoral Fellows and Visiting Scholars is as follows:

All vacation requests must be received in writing and approved by the PI at least a month prior to the scheduled vacation. During the Christmas/New Years Holiday, generally each lab member will have five (5) consecutive days off. The holiday season will be divided into two periods of five (5) days each, separated by a 1-2 day transition. In addition to the Christmas holiday vacation, members will have two weeks/year. Therefore, the total vacation time per year is 2-3 weeks.

2) The vacation policy for Lab Technicians is the same as the University of Pittsburgh vacation and sick day policy for staff members:

Lab techs are expected to work 37.5 hrs a week, and keep time cards. Due to the nature of a research environment, lab techs are expected to have flexible schedules. Overtime is not permitted except in extreme circumstances (to be determined by the PI).

All lab members are expected to work full-time. If a lab member needs time off for a doctor's appt or other personal reasons, they are to inform their PI or the Lab Director.

8. Conference Travel

Attendance (including a presentation) at ~ one conference/year is suggested, and should be discussed with the PI prior to submitting an abstract. The PI will cover the cost of registration, travel, lodging, and meals up to $40/day for up to 3 days.

Registrations
Meeting registrations may either be submitted four weeks prior to the pre-registration deadline, and a disbursement request will be sent out or they may be paid for in advance by the resident and submitted with the Travel and Business Expense Report after the meeting or conference has occurred. In order to be reimbursed, a copy of the registration receipt and a copy of the credit card receipt or cancelled check is required.

Travel and Business Expense Reports
The travel and business expense report is used to reimburse expenses incurred during business travel (i.e. meetings/conferences). Meals, lodging, transportation and other business related expenses will be reimbursed provided that they meet the criteria set in the UPMC Health System Policy and Procedure Manual. Original receipts are required for all reimbursable expenses. All expenses must be submitted within 180 days of the meeting or they will not be reimbursed. Receipts for each meeting must be submitted at the same time. Lab members are expected to share rooms with others, when possible.

Expenses for spouses traveling with the lab members are the sole responsibility of the individual lab member.

9. Laboratory Purchases

All laboratory purchases will be completed using official order forms and the PI's account numbers. All purchases are made by designated lab members who have undergone specific training. All laboratory purchases must be approved by the Lab Director. No one is permitted to purchase supplies using their own money. They will not be reimbursed. Please allow 2 weeks for orders to arrive. If an order is received, all packing slips need to be retained and the designated orderer must be notified.

10. Invention Disclosures

Any inventions developed in the laboratory will follow the University's policy on inventions: http://tech-link.tt.pitt.edu/inventors_policies.html. If a lab member is submitting an invention disclosure based on research conducted in the Plastic Surgery Research Laboratory, they must inform their PI.

11. Lab Injuries

If anyone is injured in the lab, they must inform the Lab Director immediately. The University policy for injuries is: www.bc.pitt.edu/wc/responsibilities.html.

12. Lab Apparel

Safety glasses must be worn at all times. When using hazardous materials or cell culture supplies, gloves are required. Lab coats are strongly encouraged. If a lab member is wearing shorts or a skirt, a lab coat is required. Open-toed shoes are not to be worn while lab members are working in the lab. An option for lab members who want to wear sandals is to keep an extra pair of tennis shoes or clogs in the lab.

Return the signature form below to the Lab Director

Signature

By signing this form, the lab member indicates that he/she has read the Lab Policy and complies with the content of this policy.

Name____________________________________________

Date_____________________________________________