# Episode 129: Automating museum experiments - Yuen Ting Chan

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2025-10-17
- Length: 25m
- Episode: 129
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-17-episode-129-automating-museum-experiments-yuen-ting-chan
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-129-automating-museum-experiments-yuen-ting-chan

## Summary

Yuen Ting Chan, a senior automation scientist at the Natural History Museum, explains how robotics automate molecular biology workflows, specifically DNA sequencing for specimens like butterflies and soil samples. She details the use of Techne Fluent Dream Prep and SPT Labs Mosquito instruments to cut processing time from a week to two days while maintaining data integrity. Chan discusses the significant challenge of convincing researchers to trust automated systems with irreplaceable historical DNA by proving consistency and preventing cross-contamination through rigorous quality checks and bespoke scripting.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-17-episode-129-automating-museum-experiments-yuen-ting-chan#t=7) Introduction: Yuen Ting Chan and Lab Automation at the Natural History Museum
- [2:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-17-episode-129-automating-museum-experiments-yuen-ting-chan#t=150) Automating DNA Sequencing for Specimens: Butterflies, Soil, and the Darwin Tree of Life
- [5:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-17-episode-129-automating-museum-experiments-yuen-ting-chan#t=314) Instrumentation: Techne Fluent Dream Prep and SPT Labs Mosquito for Liquid Handling
- [7:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-17-episode-129-automating-museum-experiments-yuen-ting-chan#t=455) Overcoming Researcher Skepticism: Proving Consistency and Preventing Cross-Contamination
- [11:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-17-episode-129-automating-museum-experiments-yuen-ting-chan#t=699) Scripting Challenges: Creating Modular, Bespoke Protocols for Diverse Research Projects
- [15:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-17-episode-129-automating-museum-experiments-yuen-ting-chan#t=942) Future Needs: Robotic Arms for Inter-Lab Transport and AI-Driven Protocol Optimization

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Techne Fluent Dream Prep (product)
- SPT Labs Mosquito (product)
- Natural History Museum (company)
- Darwin Tree of Life (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [83. Ultrasound Scanning Stickers & Autonomous Protein Discovery](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-08-16-83-ultrasound-scanning-stickers-autonomous-protein-discovery) (The Next Byte Podcast)

## Citing this page

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