Context

A group of seven senior technicians from the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the University of Essex utilised T-PIKE funding to undertake Gilson Pipette Service & Verification Training and bring new expertise in-house.

At UEA, the group included Daniel Newland, Jasmine Downes, Matthew Bull and Paul Candon, who provide technical support across the Schools of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, preparing glassware, chemicals and equipment for practical laboratory sessions. Julie Eldred is a Research Laboratory Technician in the UEA Biomedical Research Centre, where she provides technical support for both the centre and the wider faculty.

At the University of Essex, senior technicians Niloofar Shahsavari Baboukani and Beata Nowak Garcias work within the School of Life Sciences, supporting the Genomics and Computational Biology group and the Protein Structure and Mechanism of Disease group.

Engagement with T-PIKE

Prior to receiving funding from T-PIKE, both universities relied on external providers such as Gilson Scientific and Starlab to provide annual pipette clinics or to carry out off-site calibrations and repairs, an approach which was both time-consuming and resource-intensive. Through T-PIKE, UEA was able to connect with other Eastern Arc partners to explore shared technical needs and opportunities for collaboration. When it became clear that this particular expertise was not available within the network, T-PIKE funding enabled technicians from UEA and Essex to undertake specialist training together, allowing these skills to be developed collaboratively and embedded locally.

Outcome

The training has influenced how technicians at both institutions approach pipette maintenance and verification. Attendees gained practical skills in servicing, testing and calibrating several pipette models, enabling this work to be carried out internally and improving responsiveness for research and teaching staff. At UEA, pipette cleaning, maintenance and calibration will now be incorporated into annual summer tasks within the CPP teaching lab, supporting improved equipment lifespan and user experience. At Essex, the training will support progress towards LEAF certification within the Research Quality category. There are plans at both universities to cascade this knowledge through in-house training sessions, written guidance and the development of standard operating procedures, helping to build confidence and capability across technical teams.

Key takeaways

Through support from T-PIKE, the technicians have been able to:

  • Develop technical skills and confidence through targeted training
  • Bring essential pipette service and calibration expertise in-house
  • Establish collaborative links with colleagues across the Eastern Arc consortium

“I found the course very informative and engaging… Gilson led the training to the pace of our group, and we felt confident with each stage including cleaning, identifying and replacing parts, general maintenance, testing and calibrating”

Jasmine Downes, UEA

“I learnt a lot. The course was extremely useful, informative and well taught. I would recommend this in-house approach to other colleagues.”

Beata Nowak-Garcias, Essex