Elizabeth Williams
I recently graduated from University of Maryland, College Park with a B.S. in Microbiology. I currently work as a Research Tech at Children's National Medical Center. I have a passion for science communication and love sharing my love of science with anyone who will listen. When I am not in the lab, I can be found out dancing Tango!
Articles by Elizabeth Williams:
The Good, the Bad and the Expensive of Whole Genome Sequencing
Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) is still very cutting edge, sequencing technology and while there are a lot of perks to using it, there are also a few drawbacks. The good, the bad and the pricey are outlined below to help you navigate when it’s worth using WGS! Whole Genome Sequencing: The Good Lots of Data…
Chromium Release Assay: The Old School Way of Testing Cytotoxic T Cells
There are several methods you can use to see if your T cells are cytotoxic, but a chromium release assay using radioactive 51chromium (51Cr) is one of the oldest. It gives good results, and is great for labs that can’t afford or don’t have flow cytometry readily available. Here, I will outline a simple method…
How to Leave the Lab in the Lab
Let’s face it, when you leave the lab for the day, your mind is still racing with ideas and questions about your experiment: how to fix this or what went wrong or what does this data point even mean. It can be difficult to actually shut down and decompress when you walk out of the…
An Introduction to Shotgun Sequencing: Fire in the Hole
In the midst of all the cool new sequencing techniques and technologies out there today, you may have overlooked the tried and true method of Shotgun Sequencing. What is Shotgun Sequencing Anyway? Shotgun sequencing gets its name from the concept that a large sequence is essentially broken up in to many, many smaller pieces, similar…
Ergonomics: How To Make Friends With Your Lab Environment
Proper laboratory ergonomics is often overlooked, but it’s crucial to the longevity of your research career. Ergonomics refers to the study of human efficiency in the working environment. This includes limiting stress on the body because a sore body is a less efficient body. If you have ever had a backache from sitting at the…
Tips for Handling Radioactive Materials in the Lab
Sometimes, you have to work with radioactive materials in the lab. If you happen to be one of those lucky individuals, it is important to take extra precautions in your work to ensure your safety, and good results! Here are my tips to make sure you radiate confidence doing your experiments. Know Your Element It…
Multifocal Structured Illumination Microscopy: The Fast Food of Super-Resolution Techniques
While most of us have heard of super resolution microscopy, many of you may not have heard of MSIM, or Multifocal Structured Illumination Microscopy. This under-the-radar imaging technique is relatively quick, cheap (by comparison) and will allow you to get a lot of data, fast. So What is MSIM Anyway? MSIM, as I mentioned earlier,…
Could you Passage my Cells? How to Handle Lab Favors
Let’s face it, at least once in your lab life you are going to need a favor. You may need to go on vacation, you may be sick or you may just be a little overwhelmed at the bench. At least once, you will need to ask for a little help and someone will surely…
