How I'm feeling about Youtube and my PhD | PhD lab vlog

TL;DR

A PhD student shares their frustrations and challenges with their lab work, including issues with bacterial growth and changing growth media.

Transcript

laughs Hello friends it is Wednesday and we are starting the Vlog today because not to start the Vlog on a nasty note but I have not been feeling the most motivated when it's been coming to my work again what a shock and yeah that also means I've not really had the energy to film either at the moment because I feel like when I'm not excited about m... Read More

Key Insights

• 🖤 Lack of motivation and energy can significantly impact productivity in lab work.
• 💱 Changing the batch of nutrients for the growth media can result in changes in bacterial growth.
• 🧑‍🎓 Troubleshooting experiments can be frustrating and time-consuming for PhD students.
• 🈷️ The final months of a PhD can be incredibly stressful, with unexpected challenges and setbacks.
• ⏮️ Justifying changes in methods can be difficult when the initial data and previous methods conflict.
• 🧑‍🎓 Learning to adapt and troubleshoot experiments is an essential skill for PhD students.
• ❓ Collaboration with supervisors and seeking their guidance can be crucial in resolving issues.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why has the PhD student been feeling unmotivated and lacking energy for their lab work?

The student explains that they lack excitement for filming their work when they are not motivated or excited about their research. This lack of motivation has been impacting their productivity.

Q: What is the possible reason for the bacteria not growing as expected?

While the student initially thought the issue may be due to a genetic shift in the bacteria, it turns out that changing the batch of nutrients for the growth media can impact the growth of the bacteria.

Q: How has the student been troubleshooting the growth issue?

The student has been testing different media and checking if the bacteria are growing too fast or if they are leaving them for too long with the new nutrients. However, the student doesn't believe these are the causes of the issue.

Q: How does the student feel about the situation?

The student expresses frustration and stress about needing to troubleshoot experiments that were previously working perfectly. They are concerned about the limited time they have left to complete their PhD.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The PhD student has been struggling with motivation and energy for their lab work, resulting in a lack of excitement for filming their progress.

• They have been experiencing problems with the growth of their bacteria, despite using new bacterial stocks. The only change has been the batch of nutrients for the growth media.

• The student's frustration arises from the difficulty of justifying the use of one media over another, as it impacts the growth of the bacteria.