I’m currently doing my Honours project in a lab on campus and one of the research/lab tech’s contract is not being renewed for lack of funding. He has been in the lab for 11 years and is truly an incredibly helpful and easy to talk to person, who made coming into the lab  this summer painless, pretty fun, and a learning experience. His leaving reminded me of something I’ve thought about in the past. As a lab PI, a business owner, or lots of other positions, your support staff can make or break the feeling and atmosphere in your place of work. Competence is not the only aspect of a job that is important, but also the ability to welcome/help/interact with new people, as well as people who have been around for a long time. Surrounding yourself and your work with good, competent people can make a lot of difference, especially in a situations where people come and go like labs with grad students.