Dr Clíona Farrell - Optimise, troubleshoot, repeat - Beginning a new project
April 4, 2026·6 min
Dr Clíona Farrell opens by describing being three months into a new postdoc position, noting that starting fresh in a new environment never goes as smoothly as imagined. She explains she's currently troubleshooting experiments, framing this as a universal research experience especially prevalent in wet lab work. Specific examples include antibodies not giving bands on western blots, cell treatments not behaving as expected, and adapting protocols to new equipment. Farrell shares her personal challenges adapting an old PCR protocol to a new machine and trialing new siRNAs on cells while trying to future-proof her work. She reflects on how PhD experience has improved her planning abilities and comfort with asking for help, contrasting this with her previous tendency to rush into mega-experiments without deep reflection. The discussion turns to experimental design, emphasizing that while negative controls are common, positive controls are crucial for troubleshooting but often omitted due to cost or access limitations. Farrell provides concrete examples like using toxic conditions for cell toxicity assays or knockout models for protein expression studies. She then explores additional troubleshooting strategies, starting with talking to people beyond just supervisors—casual conversations with colleagues can yield valuable information or contacts. Another approach involves contacting scientific supply companies' technical teams who know their products intimately and can provide insights based on shared data. The episode acknowledges that even with good design, things go wrong, requiring perseverance through level-headed problem-solving. Farrell concludes by framing optimization as a continual part of the scientific journey where celebrating small wins is essential, ending with a personal note about continuing to optimize, troubleshoot, and repeat.
