I work at a university in which my main job is to assist with various projects. At my request, about two months ago my PI got me an additional position in the more industry-focused portion of the university. This was in addition to my already existing responsibilities. Things were going more or less fine, there were a few hiccups but nothing that was my fault or that affected the data (it was a proteomics core if that helps frame things). However, the other day I messed up when preparing samples and was immediately let go from the position. What happened is that sample prep is a two day process both of which I've always done myself, but I didn't realize that the first day's prep had already been completed on a particular batch of samples. I was told to do the extraction (which is day 2), but in my mind I ultimately always do extraction, so it did not click that day 1 was already done. So I basically washed away and dumped all of the proteins. There is also a reporting system that would have told me that day 1 had already been completed, and, upon having a suspicion that something was wrong, I remember believing that I had checked it. The core manager told me to just go back to my previous lab, and she'll just contact me later about possibly coming back.

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I still have my previous position, but I feel that I let everyone down. I had made great relations with a majority of the people in the proteomics core but I let them all down, I betrayed my PI's trust, and I don't see anyone trusting me with any additional tasks now that this has happened. The core manager said that she'll contact me, but I am not holding out hope. I know that a lot of the people there would surely stick up for me, but I'm not counting on emotions to win out over practicality. I feel devastated that this happened, and that it'll seriously hinder me from here on out.

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TLDR: I messed up the sample prep and was relieved of my responsibilities.

Edit: spelling

Edit 2: replaced lab with core (because it is important for context)

Edit 3: it was my first day coming in the week, so it is assumed that I would have started with day 1