A day in the life of a Chemistry PhD student *during a pandemic* vlog| My PhD and Me

TL;DR

This video provides an introduction to the daily routine of a chemistry PhD student working in a microbiology lab, emphasizing the importance of cleanliness and sterile techniques.

Transcript

hello and welcome to my video so this video is just kind of an introduction to the sort of things that i do in the lab and i'll just be giving you a little tour a little show around the lab where i do my work and yeah so you can see what a chemistry phd student does on the daily basis this video is actually mainly microbiology stuff uh i do actuall... Read More

Key Insights

• ♻️ Maintaining a clean and sterile environment is crucial in microbiology to prevent contamination and ensure accurate results.
• 🥼 70 ethanol is commonly used to decontaminate surfaces and equipment in the lab.
• 😒 The use of a UV lamp in a clean hood can provide additional sterilization.
• ❓ Bacterial growth can be monitored by measuring the cloudiness of the solution.
• 💦 The video aims to showcase the everyday work of a chemistry PhD student in a microbiology lab.
• 💦 The content aims to keep the work fun and fresh while sharing it with family and friends.
• 🖤 The video creator acknowledges their lack of videography skills but hopes to improve over time.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is it important to work in a clean and sterile environment in microbiology?

Working in a clean and sterile environment is crucial in microbiology to prevent contamination of bacterial samples. Any unwanted contaminants can interfere with the accuracy and reliability of experiments.

Q: How is 70 ethanol used to decontaminate surfaces and equipment?

70 ethanol is sprayed onto gloves, surfaces, and equipment, then wiped thoroughly to ensure decontamination. This helps eliminate any potential microbial contaminants that may be present.

Q: What is the purpose of using a UV lamp in a clean hood?

The UV lamp helps sterilize surfaces and equipment in the clean hood by emitting ultraviolet light, which is lethal to many microorganisms. This additional step can further minimize the risk of contamination.

Q: How is bacterial growth tracked in the lab?

Bacterial growth can be tracked by using an instrument that measures the cloudiness of the solution. A higher density of bacterial cells leads to a cloudier solution, indicating increased growth.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video showcases the importance of maintaining a clean and sterile environment in microbiology work, using 70 ethanol to decontaminate surfaces and equipment.

• The use of a UV lamp is recommended to further sterilize surfaces and equipment in the clean hood.

• The video also briefly shows bacterial samples and discusses the process of tracking bacterial growth using an instrument that measures the cloudiness of the solution.