PHD TRAVEL DIARIES: come on a research field trip across Scotland with me | PhD vlog

TL;DR

The vlog documents a PhD student's field trip to Oban, Scotland to collect marine invertebrate samples for her final year project.

Transcript

hello my youtube friends as you can see i am starting the vlog from the car i am actually not in aberdeen just now i'm in dundee and i am traveling to oben which is on the west coast of scotland i have just stopped off to do the toilet and to grab a starbucks i'm having a oat milk hot chocolate and i also bought a turmeric shot because it's all abo... Read More

Key Insights

• 👻 Field trips are integral to research projects, allowing researchers to collect necessary samples and gather data.
• 👻 Funding plays a crucial role in supporting research trips, allowing students to focus on their work without financial burdens.
• ☀️ Adapting to weather conditions is necessary during outdoor fieldwork, and proper gear is essential to staying warm and comfortable.
• 🖤 Collaboration with partner companies or experts in specific fields can be valuable for researchers who lack certain skills or equipment.
• 👨‍🔬 Planning and organizing samples is an essential step in scientific research, ensuring that data is properly documented and stored for analysis.
• 👨‍🔬 Conference posters are an important aspect of sharing research findings and are often prepared alongside presentation materials.
• 👨‍🔬 Research trips can be physically demanding, requiring researchers to navigate challenging weather conditions and perform tasks outside of their usual comfort zones.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why does the PhD student need to travel to Oban for her project?

The student needs to collect marine invertebrate samples from depths of 10 to 20 meters, which requires the expertise of divers from the partner company.

Q: How does the student fund her field trips?

The field trips are funded by the student's research project budget, allowing her to claim expenses for accommodations and meals.

Q: How does the student cope with the cold weather during the field trip?

The student mentions feeling cold while working with the samples and explains the challenges of keeping warm, especially in her waterproof trousers and welly boots.

Q: What other tasks does the student complete during the field trip?

In addition to collecting samples, the student works on her conference poster and participates in a question and answer session with a science Instagram account.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The vlog follows the PhD student as she travels to Oban to work with a partner company that collects samples for her research project.

• The student explains the importance of collecting samples from specific depths and how it requires the expertise of divers.

• The student showcases her Airbnb, discusses funding for the trip, and shares her experience working on her conference poster.

• Weather conditions prevent the student from going out on the boat, but she visits the dive site and sorts her samples.