New to the Lab? Start Here
1 Welcome
Welcome to the EA Program lab and field research team at Pomona College. Before you begin any lab or field work, you need to complete the training steps below. This page walks you through everything in order.
2 Step 1: Required Safety Training
Complete these SOPs first. You will not be cleared for independent work until you have read and been signed off on each one.
| Order | SOP | What You’ll Learn |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | L002: General Laboratory Safety | Lab rules, PPE, emergency procedures, training sign-off form |
| 2 | L003: Hazardous Materials Handling | Chemical safety, spill response, waste disposal, storage |
| 3 | F001: Field Safety | Transportation, weather hazards, biotic hazards, emergency response |
You must complete both safety SOPs and be signed off by the PI or Chemical Safety Officer before working independently in the lab or field.
3 Step 2: Lab Equipment Basics
Once safety training is complete, familiarize yourself with the equipment you will use most often.
| SOP | What You’ll Learn |
|---|---|
| L400: Soil Moisture | Drying oven, analytical balance, desiccator use |
| L102: Using Balances | Proper weighing technique |
| L11: Micropipettes | Accurate liquid dispensing (coming soon) |
| L14: Milli-Q Water System | Producing ultrapure water (coming soon) |
4 Step 3: Software and Data Management
We use R, RStudio, and GitHub for data analysis and collaboration. You will need accounts and basic proficiency before starting a research project.
- RStudio Server: Access at your institution’s RStudio Server URL (ask the PI)
- GitHub: Create an account at github.com and request access to the marclos/SOPs repository
- SOP L801: RStudio Server and GitHub
5 Step 4: Project-Specific Training
Depending on your research project, you will need additional SOPs. Your PI or project lead will tell you which ones apply. Common starting points:
If you’re doing soil work:
- F400: Soil Sampling and Processing
- L400: Soil Moisture
- L403: Nitrate and Ammonium (KCl Extraction)
- L408: Solvita CO2 Burst
- L406: Loss on Ignition
- L407: Shimadzu TOC-L
If you’re doing water quality work:
6 Step 5: Get Signed Off
After completing the required reading and supervised practice for each SOP, get your training record signed by the PI or designated trainer. Training records are maintained in the EA Program files.
7 Questions?
- SOP questions: Open an issue on GitHub
- Lab access: Contact the PI or lab manager
- Safety concerns: Contact the Chemical Safety Officer or Campus Safety