WORKING ON A NEW METHOD | a week in the life of a research scientist vlog #3

TL;DR

A research scientist documents their week of data processing, grant writing, and lab work, facing challenges with power outages and instrument malfunctions.

Transcript

good morning friends and happy Monday I am at work of course as you can see and today is a data processing sum making summary slides tuning into meetings in the afternoon kind of day so I do have a little bit lab work to do I do need to clean up the column from the samples that we're running on the lcms over the weekend but the priority today is to... Read More

Key Insights

• 💦 Working from home requires discipline and strict adherence to routines to maintain productivity.
• 👨‍🔬 Data processing and creating summary slides are crucial tasks for a research scientist.
• ✊ Power outages can cause significant disruptions and potential instrument damage in a lab setting.
• 🧑‍🔬 Troubleshooting and seeking technical support are necessary skills for scientists to overcome instrument malfunctions.
• ✍️ Grant writing involves careful planning and editing with input from supervisors.
• 💦 Supervising students' academic work requires additional time and responsibilities.
• 💦 Routine lab work can be monotonous, and listening to audiobooks or podcasts can help alleviate boredom and make the work more enjoyable.

Questions & Answers

Q: What priority tasks does the scientist have for the week?

The scientist's top priority is data processing and creating summary slides. They also have some lab work to do, specifically cleaning up samples and running them on the lcms.

Q: How does the scientist stay productive while working from home?

The scientist sticks to a routine similar to their in-office work and uses the Pomodoro method, setting timers for 25-minute work intervals to stay focused on their grant application.

Q: What challenges did the scientist face during their lab work?

The scientist encountered power outages that affected their instruments, causing them to lose valuable time and potentially damage the equipment. They also had issues with the mass spec, requiring troubleshooting and potential technical support.

Q: What additional responsibilities does the scientist have?

In addition to their research work, the scientist is also acting as an associate lecturer, supervising students' MSC dissertations and providing mentorship and guidance throughout the process.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The research scientist is focused on data processing and creating summary slides, prioritizing getting the data processed and delivered to their supervisor.

• They diligently stick to a routine and use the Pomodoro method to stay productive while working from home.

• The scientist also describes their lab work, including method validation, sample extraction and cleanup, and troubleshooting instrument issues.