LAB VLOG: it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas on campus | My PhD and Me

TL;DR

A PhD student in Aberdeen shares her daily activities in the lab, including meetings, webinars, sample testing, training students, and securing funding for a research trip to France.

Transcript

let's go so hello good morning happy tuesday it's very very very cold and dark and it's eight o'clock in the morning welcome to the scottish winter which is very dark and very gloomy we are lucky if we get six hours of daylight in winter the joys of living in aberdeen but yes i'm just walking into the lab when i get into the lab i'll give you an up... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🎓 The life of a PhD student includes various activities such as presentations, webinars, training, and sample testing.
• ❓ Natural products chemistry poses challenges in isolating enough of one compound for structure determination.
• 🧑‍🎓 Securing funding for research trips is an important achievement for PhD students.
• 👻 Working from home allows flexibility and the opportunity to focus on administrative tasks.
• ☀️ Snowy weather in Aberdeen impacts the daily routine but offers a change of scenery.
• ❄️ Limited daylight during the winter in Aberdeen affects motivation levels.
• 👂 The PhD student values taking breaks and listening to her body's needs.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the challenges of isolating compounds in natural products chemistry?

In natural products chemistry, it can be difficult to isolate enough of one compound for structure determination due to limited availability. Dead ends and insufficient amounts are common challenges in the field.

Q: How does securing funding for a research trip benefit a PhD student?

Securing funding for a research trip allows a PhD student to work in a different lab, gain experience with new techniques and instruments, and enhance their research progress. It also adds value to their CV.

Q: How does the PhD student manage her workload before the Christmas break?

The student plans to purify samples and isolate compounds using HPLC. She acknowledges the challenges in natural products chemistry but remains determined to identify compounds before the Christmas break.

Q: Why does the student choose to work from home on Thursday?

The student is on dog-sitting duties and takes advantage of the opportunity to work from home. She focuses on tasks such as creating error bars for graphs and writing monthly reports.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The PhD student starts her day by making a presentation for her supervisor meeting, followed by attending a webinar on biofouling in the offshore renewables industry.

• She spends time testing the solubility of samples and training an undergraduate student on software usage.

• The student finishes her day by discussing projects with her Erasmus student and picking up her dog from daycare.