What Is a Week as a PhD Student Like? #1

Transcript

good morning everyone boys welcome to the 1st no phd's loves today's day one and it's actually Wednesday but I'll do Wednesday two wins but you better going to get an insight into what a PhD is like in biology I'm doing sort of cancer research my day-to-day life is like and how variable and dynamic it can be as well which you're definitely knows it... Read More

Key Insights

• ✍️ PhD student's life in biology involves a blend of research, experiments, data analysis, and thesis writing, interspersed with personal activities.
• 💦 Balancing work and personal life is crucial for maintaining mental well-being and productivity during the demanding PhD program.
• 👨‍🔬 Daily challenges like troubleshooting experiments and Western blots require patience and perseverance in the research process.
• 🧑‍🎓 Engaging in leisure activities like travel, reading, and cultural visits helps the student rejuvenate and find inspiration amid the research demands.
• 😒 Liquid nitrogen use and maintenance of lab cells provide insights into the technical aspects of working in a biology research setting.
• 💋 Transitioning from lab work to thesis writing marks a significant phase in the student's research journey towards completing their PhD.
• 💦 Exploring different environments for work, such as libraries and museums, enhances creativity and provides a change of scenery for productivity.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is a week as a PhD student in biology like?

The week includes saving research data, planning experiments, working at a lab bench, analyzing microscope images, and performing Western blots. The student is also finishing experiments and preparing to write her thesis while fitting in activities such as the gym, reading, and cycling.

Q: What does the PhD student research?

Her research examines proteins in the cell cortex and how they affect processes such as cell division, cell migration, and interactions involved in making actin filaments. The main aim is to understand which proteins control the cortex’s assembly and organization and how they do so.

Q: Which proteins does the PhD student study?

She studies several proteins, including actin and myosin. She investigates whether knocking down or deleting particular proteins changes cell division and other cell processes.

Q: How does the student analyze cell division?

She images cells for about 19 to 20 hours and observes how they divide over time. She checks whether they progress normally through stages including interphase, prophase, and metaphase, then assesses whether removing certain proteins has an effect.

Q: How does the PhD student organize her research schedule?

She uses weekly Post-it notes to list what she wants to accomplish each day and plans both on the day and in advance. She also keeps a calendar containing microscope bookings, meetings, and other dated commitments, including weekend work when necessary.

Q: Why does saving microscopy data take so long?

Microscope-based research generates a large amount of data, which the student stores on a hard drive. She says saving one night of data takes 35 minutes, and she may have multiple nights of results to save.

Q: What is the purpose of the Western blot in the vlog?

The student uses the Western blot to check whether a targeted protein has actually been deleted. She expects a band in the control sample, where the protein was not deleted, and no band in the sample where it was deleted.

Q: What challenges does the student encounter with Western blots?

Western blots contain many steps, so when something fails, she finds it difficult to identify where the problem occurred. Her blot does not go well during the week, leaving her frustrated because she needs the result but feels the process is wasting time.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• A PhD student shares insights into their daily life in cancer research, highlighting the dynamic nature of their work with data, experiments, and planning.

• The student navigates through research, lab work, experiment analysis, and thesis writing while balancing personal activities like travel and reading.

• The week culminates in troubleshooting experiments, Western blots, and leisure activities like cycling and visiting museums.