Onboarding

Getting started

Upon joining the institute, HR will provide you with the “Essential ‘getting started’ checklist”. This checklist will help you gain access to the building and settle in. It also directs you to key personnel from Operations, the Library, and the Technical Group (TG) who will introduce you to the support offered and refer you to relevant information on Maxintra (our intranet) and MAX (MPG intranet). You will also be invited to the next mandatory Newcomers Meeting, where you will receive 5-minute introductions from the Library, Communications, TG, Data Protection, HR, Secretaries, Facility, Prevention Officer, IMPRS, and support channels such as Ombudsperson, Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Research Staff Committee, and PhD representation.

Office setup

Whether you are seated in the desk corridor of the lab or in an office, you will be assigned a desk, chair, computer, and phone. Office supplies are available and can be obtained from either the lab support team or the facility team. If you need to work from home, you can request a laptop from TG. More information is available on Maxintra.

Martina or Paulina, the department secretaries, will guide you around the MPI and introduce you to your colleagues in the department, labs, and facilitating roles. You will visit Operations (HR, finance, etc.), TG (technical group; IT), the library, facilities, the canteen, and will be shown where to find office materials in the basement. They will set you up with your desk or office, and explain relevant mailing lists and meetings. Additionally, they will ask you to write a personal introduction for the department and the institute’s newsletter.

Introduction e-mails

On your first day, you will receive a welcoming email from the lab manager. This email will provide you with lab information, introduction forms, and general protocols. You will also receive an invitation and information about our Labfolder ELN (electronic lab network), the lab’s WhatsApp group, and shared calendars for booking equipment, for mentioning absence, and for viewing scheduled maintenance.

General lab introduction by laboratory manager

During your first week, the lab manager will give you a general lab introduction, where you will learn about the setup, design, and workflows of the lab. You will be informed about what is expected of you to blend into our lab culture, how to work safely, and what regulations we are bound to and how they are implemented in the lab. You will also learn about the kind of support you will receive in terms of ordering, supplies, repairs, etc. from lab management.

Room specific introductions by lab responsible persons

Before you get access to a particular part of the lab, you will receive an introduction and training from the lab responsible person who is an expert lab user of that part of the lab. The lab responsible person keeps an eye on the space, equipment, and work practices. The tissue culture lab, RNA lab, histology lab, and microscopy room are some of the parts of the lab where you will receive an introduction and training.

Training and guidance by the guiding employee

When you start working with us, you will be paired with a colleague, who will be your guiding employee. You can approach this experienced colleague for overall guidance and support during the initial adjustment period in your new work environment. They will point you in the right direction about practical lab matters. This could involve learning more about the available equipment, possible techniques, and they could introduce you to useful connections on campus. Of course, all lab users are available to help whenever they can, and will in their separate supportive roles in the lab. However, you can always rely on your guiding employee who has this overall responsibility to help you on your way.

Your direct supervisor

Your direct supervisor will help you get started with your project, and will help you to reach the level of expertise and consistency in lab techniques to obtain and document high-quality results.