Lab automation is becoming a game-changer in biomedical research, enabling scientists to work faster, get more reliable results and try out experiments that weren’t possible before. And with artificial intelligence taking the world by storm, the impact is only growing larger.
Recognizing the opportunities and challenges of this rapidly growing field, the Institute for Protein Innovation (IPI) partnered with Emmanuel College’s School of Science and Health this summer to introduce undergraduates to the fundamentals of laboratory automation.
Over the course of several days, students engaged in a program designed and led by IPI’s Director of Automation Curtis Walton and his team, including Eloy Salinas and Sophea Sann-Rorth. For the first time, students got their hands “dirty” by using liquid handlers to perform experiments.
Students built and tested assay workflows while learning the principles of precision and accuracy and gaining practical experience with Opentrons Protocol Designer and OT-2 liquid handling robots. The Emmanuel group also explored programming in Python, learning how to modify existing code to run a new method on the machines. To wrap things up, students toured the IPI automation facilities, witnessing integrated liquid handling systems in action.
In addition to lab training, students chatted with visiting speakers Melody Wang, an automation engineer at Generate:Biomedicines, and Samuel Mohler, head of lab automation at Aera Therapeutics, gaining a broader purview of career pathways in laboratory automation.
For their part, the Emmanuel students dove in with curiosity and moxie, engaging with the material and brainstorming ways to apply the techniques in future projects.
The whole experience underscored the importance of integrating automation concepts into workforce training in an ever-evolving scientific landscape. The Institute is exploring additional courses and new ways to engage the next generation of researchers and protein scientists — equipping students not only with practical skills, but also an understanding of how to harness technological advancements to transform biomedical research. Stay tuned!
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Writer:
Caitlin Faulds, caitlin.faulds@proteininnovation.org
Photos:
Sabrina Liu, sabrina.liu@proteininnovation.org
About IPI
The Institute for Protein Innovation is pioneering a new approach to scientific discovery and collaboration. As a nonprofit research institute, we provide the biomedical research community with synthetic antibodies and deep protein expertise, empowering scientists to explore fundamental biological processes and pinpoint new targets for therapeutic development. Our mission is to advance protein science to accelerate research and improve human health. For more information, visit proteininnovation.org or follow us on social media, @ipiproteins.