At my current lab, we recently got an automated liquid handler, and while it’s definitely cut down on repetitive pipetting, I noticed that some of the techs feel like their roles are shifting more toward troubleshooting and system monitoring instead of hands-on bench work. I’m curious if this is a common trend in other labs too. Does automation actually free people up for more meaningful tasks, or does it just replace parts of the job we used to take pride in?
In reply to ron swon
Re: Automation of lab processes: how does it change the role of lab technicians?
by joy joy -
We had the same experience after installing a robotic workstation for ELISA runs. The manual workload dropped a lot, but people had to quickly get comfortable with software interfaces and maintenance routines. I think it changes the skill set more than it eliminates the role. In fact, finding techs who can handle both traditional techniques and automation is becoming pretty valuable. When we ordered new systems through https://gentaur.co.uk/ , the training support was actually super helpful in making that transition smoother. So in a way, automation didn’t reduce the need for lab techs — it just changed what we expect them to be good at.
In reply to joy joy
Re: Automation of lab processes: how does it change the role of lab technicians?
by tommy cooper -
I once visited a teaching lab that had introduced automation mainly for routine prep work, and the students were still required to learn manual methods first. The instructors said it gave them a better appreciation of what the machines were doing, so they could step in when something went wrong. That balance between automation and hands-on experience seemed to keep everyone more confident in the results.