A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF A CHEMISTRY PHD STUDENT | PhD vlog

Dr Jessica Gomez
11 Nov 202213:04
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRJessica, a final year PhD student at the University of Aberdeen, shares her weekly lab experiences in a candid vlog. Amidst the challenges of bacterial cultures, NMR data analysis, and thesis writing, she also collaborates with fellow researcher Poppy on sponge extractions. Jessica's determination to finish her experiments by November and her strategic presentation to potential collaborators highlight her commitment to her research and future opportunities.

Takeaways
  • 🎓 Jessica is a final year PhD student at the University of Aberdeen, specializing in chemistry.
  • 📅 It's Halloween and Jessica is busy in the lab on a Monday, aiming to be more productive this week.
  • 🧫 She is working on reviving new bacterial cultures for her experiments and hopes they will work perfectly.
  • 📆 Jessica has set a goal to finish her experiments by the end of November, allowing three months for writing and submitting her thesis by the end of February.
  • 🌊 This week, she plans to run bacterial experiments, starting with filtering seawater and preparing samples for an assay.
  • 🎶 Jessica enjoys listening to music while working and is currently assisting Poppy, another PhD student, with sponge research.
  • 🧬 She is analyzing NMR data and trying to confirm the structure of a compound she discovered, facing some challenges with the results.
  • 🔬 Issues with her bacteria have arisen, but she is not blaming herself and is seeking advice from a microbiologist.
  • 📈 Jessica is preparing a presentation for a potential future collaborator, which she finds both exciting and nerve-wracking.
  • 💪 Despite feeling nervous, she uses techniques like the Pomodoro Timer to stay focused and make progress on her thesis writing.
  • 🥳 Personal life events, such as a friend's wedding, also bring excitement and distractions to her busy schedule.
Q & A

  • What is Jessica's current academic status?

    -Jessica is a final year PhD student at the University of Aberdeen.

  • What field of study is Jessica's PhD focused on?

    -Jessica's PhD is in the field of chemistry.

  • On what date is the video script set?

    -The video script is set on the 31st of October, which is Halloween.

  • What is Jessica's goal for her experiments?

    -Jessica's goal is to finish her experiments by the end of November.

  • What does Jessica plan to do after completing her experiments?

    -After finishing her experiments, Jessica plans to spend three months writing, editing, and submitting her thesis by the end of February.

  • What specific task is Jessica performing in the lab related to her thesis?

    -Jessica is filtering seawater and preparing samples for an assay as part of her bacterial experiments, which are needed for finishing a chapter of her thesis.

  • How does Jessica feel about her recent NMR data?

    -Jessica is not satisfied with her recent NMR data, as part of it is not great, and she is running different experiments to confirm the structure she found.

  • Who is Poppy and what is her role in the video script?

    -Poppy is a PhD student in the same lab as Jessica, working on sponges. Jessica helps Poppy get started with her work and plans to film some of their activities.

  • What presentation is Jessica working on?

    -Jessica is working on a presentation to give a project update to a potential future collaborator who showed interest in her work at a conference a few years ago.

  • How does Jessica manage her workload and stress?

    -Jessica uses techniques like the Pomodoro Timer to focus on tasks and manage her workload. She also takes breaks to de-stress, such as making tea and practicing her presentation.

  • What is Jessica's attitude towards her thesis writing?

    -Jessica acknowledges that writing her thesis can be challenging and sometimes feels like a mental block. However, she emphasizes the importance of just getting started and focusing on the task at hand to make progress.

Outlines
00:00
🎥 Halloween Lab Vlog: Jessica's PhD Journey

In this segment, Jessica introduces herself as a final year PhD student at the University of Aberdeen, specializing in chemistry. It's Halloween and she's back with another weekly lab vlog after a busy week. She shares her goal to complete her experiments by the end of November and her plan to finish writing her thesis by the end of February. Jessica talks about her tasks for the week, which include running bacterial experiments for her thesis, and mentions a recent challenge with her bacterial cultures. She also discusses helping a fellow PhD student, Poppy, with sponge research and her plans to film their work. Additionally, Jessica talks about her struggles with NMR data and her attempts to confirm the structure of a compound. Despite the challenges and the rainy weather in Aberdeen affecting her mood, Jessica remains optimistic about her work.

05:01
📈 Preparing for a Crucial Meeting: Presentation and Research Updates

Jessica shares her nervousness about an upcoming meeting with a big company interested in her research. She is preparing a presentation to update them on her projects. Despite the pressure, she finds the process of making presentations enjoyable and creative. After finishing the presentation, Jessica plans to unwind with a gym session and squash game. She also talks about her work routine, involving checking on bacterial growth, biofilm development, and utilizing lab equipment like NMR and LCMS. Jessica ends the segment by showing her progress on staining biofilms for quantification, highlighting the infectious happiness and motivation in the lab.

10:01
🖋️ Overcoming Procrastination: Thesis Writing and Lab Work

In this part, Jessica discusses her struggle to get into the mindset for writing her thesis, but she overcomes it by using the Pomodoro Technique. She successfully completes the introduction of one of her chapters and reflects on how focused work can lead to significant progress. Jessica emphasizes the importance of just getting started to overcome mental blocks and shares her strategy for maintaining motivation. She also outlines her plans for the rest of the week, including writing, lab work, and attending a friend's wedding. Despite distractions, Jessica is determined to stay productive and make the most of her time in the lab.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡PhD student
A PhD student is an individual who is engaged in doctoral studies, conducting research, and writing a thesis under the guidance of academic advisors. In the video, Jessica identifies herself as a final year PhD student at the University of Aberdeen, highlighting her advanced academic pursuit in the field of chemistry. This establishes her credibility and sets the context for the scientific work she discusses throughout the video.
💡Chemistry
Chemistry is the scientific study of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter. As Jessica's PhD is in chemistry, this field is central to her research and the experiments she conducts. The video provides insights into her work with bacterial cultures and biochemistry experiments, which are key components in chemical research.
💡Bacterial cultures
Bacterial cultures refer to the cultivation of bacteria outside their natural environment, typically in a laboratory setting, to study their growth, characteristics, and potential applications. In the video, Jessica revives new bacterial cultures for her experiments, which is a crucial step in her research process. The success of these cultures is vital for her to proceed with her studies and thesis work.
💡Seawater filtration
Seawater filtration is the process of removing impurities, such as particles, microorganisms, and other contaminants, from seawater. In the context of the video, Jessica needs to filter seawater as part of her bacterial experiments. This step is essential for maintaining a controlled environment for her experiments and ensuring accurate results.
💡Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is a powerful analytical technique used in quality control and research for determining the content and structure of a wide variety of materials. In the video, Jessica discusses her use of NMR to analyze the structure of a compound, which is a significant aspect of her chemical research. She faces challenges with the data she obtains, indicating the complexities and problem-solving aspects of scientific inquiry.
💡Thesis writing
Thesis writing is the process of composing a document that presents the findings of a research project, typically required for completion of a graduate degree. In the video, Jessica talks about her goal to finish her experiments and then focus on writing her thesis, which is a critical component of her PhD journey. The act of writing her thesis represents the synthesis of her research and the communication of her scholarly contributions.
💡Collaboration
Collaboration in academic research refers to the act of working together with others to achieve a common scientific goal. In the video, Jessica mentions a potential future collaborator and the importance of presenting her work to them. This reflects the interconnected nature of scientific progress, where partnerships can lead to new insights and research opportunities.
💡Microbial growth
Microbial growth is the increase in the number of microorganisms, such as bacteria, in a controlled environment. In the video, Jessica checks the microbial growth of her bacteria, which is essential for understanding the effectiveness of her experiments and the behavior of the bacteria she is studying. Monitoring microbial growth is a fundamental aspect of microbiological research.
💡Biofilm
A biofilm is a structured community of microorganisms, such as bacteria, that is attached to a surface and enclosed in a self-produced protective extracellular matrix. In the context of the video, Jessica is interested in the biofilm growth of her bacteria, which is relevant for understanding the bacteria's behavior and potential applications in her research. Studying biofilms can have implications for various fields, including medicine and environmental science.
💡LC-MS
LC-MS (Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) is a scientific technique that combines the physical separation capabilities of liquid chromatography with the mass analysis properties of mass spectrometry. In the video, Jessica prepares samples for LC-MS analysis, which is a significant part of her chemical research. This technique allows her to identify and quantify compounds within complex mixtures, contributing to her understanding of the chemical properties of the substances she studies.
Highlights

Jessica introduces herself as a final year PhD student at the University of Aberdeen, specializing in chemistry. (Start time: 0s)

It's Halloween and Jessica is in the lab trying to accomplish many tasks. (Start time: 7s)

Jessica shares her goal to finish her experiments by the end of November and her plan for thesis submission by the end of February. (Start time: 21s)

She revived new bacterial cultures and is hopeful they will work perfectly for her research. (Start time: 32s)

Jessica is running bacterial experiments for her thesis and plans to filter seawater while listening to music. (Start time: 1m 3s)

She is assisting Poppy, another PhD student, with sponge research. (Start time: 1m 30s)

Jessica discusses her recent challenges with NMR data and her attempts to confirm the structure of a compound. (Start time: 2m 3s)

She mentions her collaboration with a microbiologist to understand issues with her bacterial cultures. (Start time: 2m 45s)

Jessica sterilizes equipment in the micro lab and helps Poppy with bioacid plating. (Start time: 3m 30s)

She is preparing a presentation for a potential future collaborator. (Start time: 4m 15s)

Jessica expresses her nervousness about the meeting with a big company interested in her work. (Start time: 5m 30s)

She shares her daily routine of checking microbial growth, biofilm growth, and NMR functionality. (Start time: 6m 45s)

Jessica uses the Pomodoro Technique to focus on her thesis writing. (Start time: 7m 45s)

She emphasizes the importance of just starting when faced with mental blocks on certain tasks. (Start time: 8m 15s)

Jessica is excited about her best friend's wedding but remains focused on her lab work. (Start time: 9m 30s)

She mentions her plan to do a second extraction of invertebrates for LC-MS analysis. (Start time: 10m 15s)

Transcripts

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