Introduction to Laboratory Automation

This full-day short course will cover a wide range of lab automation topics for those in the R&D space (i.e. non-clinical).

Who Should Attend?

Those with little or no experience with laboratory automation and who are seeking an introductory overview of the topic, including:

• Scientists
• Engineers
• Lab managers
• Marketing or sales professionals
• Students

Course Benefits

• Understand the challenges, costs and benefits of bringing an assay from the bench to an automated system
• Learn methods of planning and executing successful automation projects
• Appreciate the strategy and technical features that make up a successful automated system
• Learn about current and future lab automation technologies
• Gain a view of the challenges and strategies for automation generated data sets

Course Topics

• From Bench to System: Challenges in Translating Assays to Automation; Strategies for Process Analysis and System Design
• Laboratory Automation Systems: Instrumentation and Architecture
• Driving to Automation: Build vs. Buy Decisions; Working with External Vendors
• Programming Automation: Schedulers; Protocol Generation and Scripting
• Challenges of Automated Liquid Handling at Low Volumes
• Identifying and Mitigating Upstream and Downstream Impacts of Automation; Staffing an Automated Lab
• Organizational Strategies Critical to Successful Operation, Monitoring and Maintenance of Automation Platforms
• Managing Data: Assay Outcomes, System Metrics, Integration with LIMS, Connected Laboratories
• Automation Technologies: What’s Out There and What’s Trending

Instructors

Ben Carvalho
Natera, Inc.

Ben Carvalho started his career in the lab as a biologist doing high-throughput screening. He transitioned to automation early in his career and has now been integrating laboratory robotics and instrumentation for 25+ years. He has a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. in Computer Science and is currently the Director of Automation at Natera, Inc.

Peter Chase
Bristol-Myers Squibb

Peter Chase has 20+ years’ experience as an automation engineer / scientist in the field of drug discovery executing uHTS, lead evaluation/profiling and sample management operations. He’s currently a Scientific Director, Head of Core Automation, responsible for multimodality screening automation within the Therapeutic Discovery Sciences department. He is also a Schreyer Honors College Graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering.