RA FAQ
Last updated
Generally, contribute five hours a week to working on your mentor's specific project tasks, and the other five hours a week on lab general tasks, like recruiting and transcription. Recruiting will take up 1-2 hours and the rest should probaly be transcription. This will shift a little week to week as you help out with study visits and miscellaneous administration tasks.
Connect to the
When prompted, log in with your HarvardKey & password & Duo.
Log in with your harvardkey.
It should take you straight to the lab inbox.
If it takes you to your personal inbox, click on your initials in the upper righthand corner. (This is the same place you would locate to sign out of your email account.)
Select "Open another mailbox"
Type in "bergelsonlab@fas.harvard.edu" in the empty space and click "open."
Archive an email conversation once you've responded-- let's keep the inbox clean!
Check the inbox during every email shift and respond to parents, even if it's not your main study. If there's any uncertainty about what to do, ask the lab manager or study leader, but don't just assume someone else will take care of it!
Always be sure to:
Change all the bold fields to include the appropriate information, then unbold and make the text black
Ensure you are using the correct email draft for the study you are recruiting for (especially when sending an Acuity link!)
Proofread the email before sending
Categorize the email after sending
Make an interaction log in the database! the more detailed notes, the better!
To request access to WJH, fill out this form.
To request access to Shannon, send the lab manager your HUID and have her send an email to facilities staff.
Each study has its own acronym. For a comprehensive list of active studies and what they are looking at, see this Gitbook page.
For terminology beyond study acronyms, check this Gitbook page.
Here are your different options for getting in the room:
Slack lab manager and she can give you instructions for accessing the lock box with the lab key.
Send a message on Slack to ask if anyone is available to let you in.
Go to staff/ postdoc office 1168 and see if anyone can let you into the lab!
Go to the grad student room # 1118. A grad student might be there to help!
Go down the hall to Dr. B's office, 1170 and knock-- she might be able to let you in.
Go to calendar.google.com
Log in with bergelsonlabharvard@gmail.com and the appropriate password
Open Finder --> Applications --> FileMaker Pro
See instructions for how to install RPAD on this Gitbook page.
Ensure you're logging in with your first initial, last name login, and the password you set the first time you logged in to the database
In the basement, there are two vending machines to grab a snack or drink! We also have a fridge and microwave open for use in the kitchenette on the 11th floor, especially during a longer shift.
Bathrooms are located on either side of the elevators.
There is a water fountain next to the men's room on the Thomas lab side of the elevators
Be COVID & flu cautious! If you are not feeling well before or during a shift, err on the side of caution. Our priority is keeping a healthy and safe environment for young families.
Information for sending emails for in-person studies can be found at
For instructions on how to use the database,.