Recap

[Leah Dudley]

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to remind everyone to schedule your time in 2hr minimum chunks.  Also, if you haven't been personally trained by me (and had a follow up session with one other person, me or someone else in the lab) to count seeds, you should be focusing all your time in the greenhouse (with exceptions to those with their personal projects).  We will discuss the paper this Friday.  Great job with project descriptions last week.  The greenhouse may look a little different to you. If confused or uncertain, then take some time to get reacquainted and get guidance if still not clear.  As we get into the rainy season, recall that the greenhouse may be unsafe if there is a heavy rain.  Switch your time to the lab if there is heavy rain.

Leah

[Susan Mazer]

Dear Undergraduate Interns,

Several of the most experienced students in the lab have reported to me that some of you are making CATASTROPHIC ERRORS in the preparation of the seeds.  These errors include:

1) Using Clarkia unguiculata seeds instead of Clarkia xantiana seeds

2) Mislabeling the microcentrifuge tubes with a number that does not match the Tag ID on the envelope or on the labels.

3) Placing the wrong labels in the tubes.

YOU MUST USE THE CHECK-LIST THAT JACKIE PREPARED TO MAKE CERTAIN -- ABSOLUTE CERTAIN -- THAT YOU DO NOT MAKE THESE ERRORS.

This is a terrible, awful thing to hear, and I'm deeply disappointed.  

You must make sure that the Tag ID on the envelope matches the Tag ID on the paper labels that you cut and place in the tubes, and that this is the ID number that you write on top of the microcentrifuge tubes.  

Why are these errors happening?  I know that not all of you are making them, but you are NOT to participate in this process if you cannot avoid making these three inexcusable errors.

Please, each of you, respond to me personally by email TODAY and let me know that you are not making these errors.  I need to know that you are paying attention.

Sincerely,

Susan

Susan Mazer

Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

University of California, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA 93106

cell phone: 805-729-3980

office: 805-893-8011

FAX: 805-893-4724

email: ma...@lifesci.ucsb.edu

http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/eemb/faculty/mazer/index.html

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[Arrash Moghaddasi]

Hi Professor Mazer, 

I am certain that the seeds I have done have been done correctly. I am so sorry to hear this. 

Arrash 

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[Emily Atkins]

Dear Susan,

I can assure you that I am not making those errors. I double and triple check everything that I do to make sure nothing is wrong because I understand the importance of this task. I have even been talking about these types of errors with the people I trained so they know as well. If there is anything that I can do to help sort out the errors made please let me know.

All the best,
Emily Atkins

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[Laura Barley]

Susan -
I am also certain I have been using the correct seeds. Yesterday I had to re-label a family of tubes labeled #1-30 rather than their tag ID. So, at least one family has been corrected.
Laura Barley

On Dec 5, 2012 1:50 PM, "Susan Mazer" <susan...@lifesci.ucsb.edu> wrote:
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[Kellen J. Cavagnero]

Hi Susan,

I hadn't processed seeds since the last time around, so I attended yesterdays training session with Robin.  I worked for a little after the training session with her and no errors were made.  There were, however, very few cxx seeds left to be processed for that block.

Kellen Cavagnero

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From: clarkia...@googlegroups.com [clarkia...@googlegroups.com] on behalf of Susan Mazer [susan...@lifesci.ucsb.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2012 1:50 PM
To: clarkia...@googlegroups.com
Cc: Leah Dudley
Subject: Urgent: Catastrophic Errors in the LAB

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[Hannah Kaye]

Hey Susan,

I am also sure that I have not made any of those mistakes. I am sorry that these things are happening.

- Hannah

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[Albert Lee]

I am certain that I am not making these errors either. Sorry to hear about it. Let me know if I can help in any way. 

Albert 

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[Kyle Swentowsky]

Susan,

As you know, I have been working on Brian's data so there is no way I could have interfered with seed counts. I'd also like to let you and Leah know that after my meeting with Brian tomorrow (we should be done by 11:30) I will be free to work on your project if you'd like me to. 

Kyle

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[Alexandra K. Bello]

Susan-
I am positive I have been processing seeds correctly. I check myself constantly in order to avoid error.

- Alex

-----Original message-----

[Magaly Espinoza]

Hello Professor Mazer,

I am sorry to hear about the errors being done. I can assure u that the errors did not come from my part, I haven't been up in the lab in a couple of weeks, I'm mostly in the green house. I have talked to Leah regarding this. 

Maggie Espinoza 

Sent from my iPhone

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[Katie Sun]

Dr. Mazer,

I am positive that I have not made these errors. I double checked with others in the lab before I started as to prevent these issues from happening. I am sorry to hear about the errors. 

Katie 

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[Alanna Kongkriangkai]

Dr. Mazer,

I am very sorry to hear that these errors are occurring in the lab and I apologize to you, as well as Leah, for the frustration it has caused. I am sure that I have not made such errors because I observe as well as double check with others in the lab before I begin seed prep. I hope we can all help ensure that these errors end ASAP.

Always,

Alanna Kongkriangkai

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[Jenn Botros]

Hello Professor Mazer,

I just had my training yesterday and there were almost little to no seeds left to do, so I only did one tube, which had only one seed.

I am so sorry to hear about this, if there is anything I could do to help, please let me know.

Best,

Jennifer

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[Vaishnavi Vaidya]

Dr. Mazer, 

I'm sorry to hear about all of the mistakes, but I am sure that I am not making them. I double check to make sure that I am counting the correct seeds, using the correct labels and placing seeds into the appropriate tubes/boxes. If I do have any doubts about anything, I make sure to check with other interns as well as Leah. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help. 

Thanks, 

Vaishnavi Vaidya

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Vaishnavi Vaidya

Class of 2014

B.S. Biological Sciences

vva...@umail.ucsb.edu

[Lindsay M. Nord]

Hello Dr. Mazer,
I am certain that I did not make these errors, my training was just Monday so it's still fresh in my mind and I also read over the instruction sheet that was hanging in the lab before starting.
So sorry to hear this,
Lindsay

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From: clarkia...@googlegroups.com [clarkia...@googlegroups.com] on behalf of Susan Mazer [susan...@lifesci.ucsb.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2012 1:50 PM
To: clarkia...@googlegroups.com
Cc: Leah Dudley

Subject: Urgent: Catastrophic Errors in the LAB

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[Brandon Wallace]

Hi Dr. Mazer,

I am quite certain that I did not make these errors.

-Brandon 

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[Bridget Bedsaul]

I am almost certain I did not make any errors while doing seed counts. 

-Bridget

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[Danny Thai]

Hello Professor Mazer,
I am sure that I have not made any errors during my time block on monday that is the only time so far that I have work on the seeds. I am sorry to hear about this unfortunate event.
Sincerely,
Danny Thai

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Subject: Re: Urgent: Catastrophic Errors in the LAB
From: mogha...@comcast.net
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2012 13:56:13 -0800
To: clarkia...@googlegroups.com

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