Being resilient when science goes wrong | Life of a Chemistry PhD student vlog

TL;DR

Despite a busy week, the content focuses on the disappointment and frustration of the author when their experiment didn't work out as planned in their PhD research.

Transcript

hello happy monday i've had a very busy weekend and i'm going to have a very busy week so i am in the lab it's nine o'clock i'm going to sit down and just really plan my day hour by hour because your girl has a lot of things to get done today we have finally gone around testing my samples hey um so i need to prepare all my samples today and i need ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤝 The author emphasizes the importance of resilience in dealing with setbacks and failures in a PhD journey.
• 🪡 The content highlights the unpredictable nature of experiments and the need for adaptability.
• 🎢 The author's experience showcases the roller coaster ride that is a PhD, with highs and lows.
• 🍵 Time management and careful planning are crucial in handling busy lab schedules and unexpected setbacks.
• 😀 The content emphasizes the need to find silver linings and remain positive, even in the face of disappointing results.
• 🧑‍🏭 Lab closures and external factors can significantly impact research schedules and experiments.
• 👨‍🔬 The author's experience highlights the patience required in research, as experiments may take longer than expected.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the author spend their Monday preparing for their experiment?

The author spent their Monday sterilizing and preparing numerous samples for testing the following day. They also had to do calculations and label tubes and eppendorfs.

Q: What setback did the author experience on Tuesday?

On Tuesday, the author discovered that one of their cultures did not grow, which prevented them from being able to test their samples that week.

Q: Did the author find a solution to their setback?

No, due to additional obstacles and lab closures, the author was unable to complete their experiment as planned. They express frustration and disappointment about not being able to run their samples.

Q: How did the author handle the setback and maintain resilience?

The author accepted the setback and acknowledged that failures and obstacles are common in a PhD journey. They found silver linings in the extra time at home and remained positive for future experiments.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The author spends a busy Monday preparing numerous samples for testing the following day.

• On Tuesday, they discover that one of their cultures has not grown, preventing them from testing their samples that week.

• Due to additional obstacles and lab closures, the author is unable to complete their experiment as planned.