Roughly two weeks ago my lab got a trial sample of a new formula for a common reagent from a vendor, which my labmate tried out and then recommended for me to try out.
I ran an experiment with it, it worked really well, and in a fit of data-induced ecstasy (or possibly I was just giddy from the beauty of those melt curves) I sent back a quip to the labmate via email -- something about magical properties, I believe.
Turns out? Labmate thought it was funny. In fact, labmate thought it was funny enough that she forwarded the email to the vendor sales rep. Who somehow decided that he should forward it to the marketing department.
So today, in a completely novel and unexpected turn of events, the sales rep turned up while I was mid-experiment, holding a sample in each hand, and wanted to know if the company can use my email for their product advertisement.
I blinked at him slowly over the tabletop centrifuge while my labmate made apologetic faces and other labmates looked on in confusion and decided that, "Wow, this is really awkward."
He was very smiley and left me his business card (which was was shiny as his teeth) and said I should get in touch should I decide that the answer is "yes." I'm left wondering what the hell just happened -- or at least until I remembered that oh right: two samples still need to be processed.
The lab's opinion so far seems to be that if I'm allowed to remain anonymous as the source, I should see if I can somehow leverage this to get more free or reduce-priced reagents for lab. I should mention that the professor is not aware of any of this. Yet.
On one hand: What.
On the other hand: this is really hilarious.
1 comment:
On yet another hand: awesome!!! I think you should go for it :D
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