In a recent article for Nature, Marissa Coppola and Jessica W Tsai (University of Southern California) discuss the process of planning and setting up their lab space for efficiency. Coppola and Tsai write that they began by considering how the lab would be used to support research and requesting information about any shared equipment. The authors designed a floor plan that considered issues such as contamination and sterility, exit doors, and high traffic areas. Once the equipment was in place, Coppola and Tsai created and tested a system for storing supplies in drawers and shelves; once the system was finalized, they put up clear labeling to ensure that all items had a clear location.
Nature
