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I'm a 2nd year graduate student (biological sciences). I've been developing a new research tool, which builds upon a system developed by a different lab. However, I've had issues replicating the previous system, owing partly to a scarcity of certain details that would be useful for someone who is still new to most of the technical aspects of this type of research.

I'm debating whether I should contact the corresponding author of the source literature to ask for clarification (e.g. if they could send me specific plasmid maps). However, based upon the research history of my lab, I'm concerned that the other lab may be able to deduce what enhancements I'd like to make to their system (since they've attempted to do similar things in the past). As such, I'm not sure if they would be willing to provide such information.

I've thought about discussing with my advisor. However, I also don't want to seem like I don't have the initiative/independence to seek out what I need myself. If general protocol is for students to directly contact corresponding authors, I'm wondering what is the best way for me to phrase this inquiry.

Thanks so much!

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    Ask your advisor. In this context I think it's more important to show you have some forethought to realize the situation could be potentially tricky and that you know when to ask for advice, versus showing your initiative/independence. You're a second year graduate student.
    – Bryan Krause ♦
    Jun 13, 2017 at 19:00
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    I get contacted by students every so often, for instance trying to ask a clarifying question. I think there is nothing wrong with reaching out, but given you are concerned about disclosing too much, I agree with @BryanKrause that this calls for looping in your advisor.
    – Fred Douglis
    Jun 13, 2017 at 19:35
  • @BryanKrause Make that an answer?
    – Kimball
    Jun 14, 2017 at 8:25
  • @Kimball Will do; expanded a bit on some of the reasons an advisor is helpful in this situation.
    – Bryan Krause ♦
    Jun 14, 2017 at 14:42
  • As a side note, I've found that even the best-intentioned labs' plasmid maps are often wrong, sometimes absurdly so, to the point that I no longer bother to ask for them. Sequencing today is fast and cheap, and if that's an option it's going to be faster and easier than asking for a map.
    – iayork
    Jun 14, 2017 at 19:16

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Ask your advisor. In this context I think it's more important to show you have some forethought to realize the situation could be potentially tricky and that you know when to ask for advice, versus showing your initiative/independence. You're a second year graduate student.

There are several issues that your advisor will know more about than you regarding your relationship with this other lab, in terms of publication strategy, any personal contact they already have, avoiding your request sounding like an accusation or making you look foolish, etc. Your advisor might also know about the reputation of the other author: maybe this is someone who would be responsive to a student email, maybe it's someone who would ignore you and your advisor needs to intervene on your behalf. Your advisor can also give you recommendations on your own work and help you discover if there are other causes for your inability to replicate results so far, and save you both from some embarrassment if the problem is your own.

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It depends a bit. If the plasmid sequence is published, that's open information and there shouldn't be a problem in getting the plasmid map. In any case, the corresponding author should provide you with all information needed to repeat their experiments so you can actually check their conclusions. There's nothing odd about that.

This changes when we're talking about protected intellectual property. It might be that contracts or patent applications prevent the corresponding author from giving that information. So success is not guaranteed.

Nevertheless, even though I would definitely discuss this with your advisor, just requesting information on the procedures or even the plasmid map shouldn't give an indication as to what you're going to do. Unless the author is aware of what's going on in your lab (i.e. you're direct concurrents in the same field) and guesses the general direction of your own research. Which is a good reason to talk to your advisor (as Bryan said already).

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