SLAS2020 Short Courses

Liquid Handling Essentials (Interactive Course) – Afternoon

Optimizing Assay Performance Through Liquid Handling Management

This half-day course is designed to highlight and demonstrate important concepts that affect assay performance through the management of your liquid handling. A strong focus will be on understanding the keys to optimizing your workflows, including liquid handling behavior characteristics, liquid classes, low volumes and method transfer. The course offers a balanced mix of engaging discussions and opportunities to apply the practical learned concepts to live systems. The course will have two offerings this year, a morning section and an afternoon section. 

Who Should Attend

This course is designed with the new or beginning user of liquid handling devices in mind. However, anyone interested in basic principles of liquid handling and troubleshooting pipetting performance issues are encouraged to join.

• Scientists, engineers and analysts who work with automated liquid handlers
• Laboratory managers and supervisors
• Quality-Focused and regulatory compliance professionals

Course Benefits

• Understand key liquid handling behavior characteristics and how they translate to assay-specific tasks.
• Learn how to identify common factors that affect method transfer.
• Recognize quality aspects of liquid handling and the importance of accuracy and precision on liquid volume delivery.
• Learn how liquid handling parameters affect pipetting performance.
• Gain confidence in robotic performance and in assay results.
• Become more proficient in liquid handler use and problem solving

Course Topics

• Liquid Handling Overview: Review liquid handling fundamental concepts and factors that affect liquid delivery.
• Examining Liquid Classes: Understand the dynamics of liquid class differences and how those properties can affect pipetting performance.
• Aspirating, Dispensing, and Mixing Strategies: Explore the critical components of liquid transfer steps and examine how various parameters influence performance.
• Low-Volume Liquid Handling: The importance accuracy and precision.

Instructors:

	Nathaniel Hentz Artel, Inc. Nathaniel Hentz, Ph.D., is an industry leader with years of experience developing HTS assays, automating and optimizing laboratory equipment and investigating new technologies with Eli Lilly & Co. and Bristol-Myers Squibb. During his tenure at North Carolina State University, Hentz specialized in hands-on instruction and development activities to assist with the growth of the biomanufacturing industry. As Director, Scientific Market Development at Artel, he focusses on developing new applications to solve problems for the assay development community.
	Dana Campbell, M.S. Artel, Inc. Dana Campbell, M.S., is a seasoned life science professional with extensive experience in genomics and automation in a variety of laboratories throughout North America. As a field Applications Specialist at Artel, Campbell works directly with laboratories to solve complex liquid handling and process issues that are often critical to their productivity and compliance, and to the integrity of their test results.
	Kaziya Lee, Ph.D. Artel, Inc. After nearly a decade at the bench as a research scientist in neuropharmacology and genomics, Kaziya Lee, Ph.D., understands the real-world challenges of the lab. As an Applications Scientist at Artel, she leverages her extensive scientific knowledge to provide customized solutions to complex liquid handling issues and optimize assay workflows in order to maximize productivity and data integrity.