A REALISTIC day in the life of a PhD student in Chemistry | PhD vlog

Dr Jessica Gomez
24 Jan 202207:37
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script offers an insightful glimpse into the daily routine of a chemistry PhD student, highlighting the importance of time management and adaptability in a scientific research environment. It begins with the student's morning routine, emphasizing the significance of small achievements like making the bed and having an organized schedule. The student's day at the lab involves various tasks such as using a rotovap, checking solvent levels, and preparing for HPLC purification. Unexpected challenges, like a sample not drying as planned, showcase the unpredictable nature of scientific research and the need for flexibility. Despite the setbacks, the student remains productive and engaged, demonstrating resilience and a positive attitude towards their work. The video ends with a reflection on the student's day, emphasizing the reality of scientific research and the importance of perseverance.

Takeaways
  • 🛌 Starting the day with a made bed sets a productive tone for the day.
  • 🚿 Having a morning shower and getting dressed promptly helps transition into the work mode.
  • 🍳 Eating a bite before heading to the lab can be important but varies based on personal preference.
  • 🕒 Arriving at the lab early allows for prioritizing tasks like using the rotovap.
  • 📅 Checking and organizing the day's schedule is crucial for effective time management.
  • 🧪 Performing lab duties such as solvent inventory and preparation is part of the routine.
  • 🌐 HPLC purification requires careful preparation of mobile phases and equipment checks.
  • 🥶 Unexpected setbacks, like samples not drying as planned, are common in scientific work.
  • 🍔 Lunch breaks offer a chance to socialize, plan, and recharge for the afternoon's tasks.
  • 🤔 Adapting and being flexible with the day's plan is necessary due to the unpredictable nature of science.
  • 📝 Regular meetings with supervisors are essential for discussing research progress and next steps.
  • 🌟 Publishing papers is a significant part of a PhD student's responsibilities and achievements.
Q & A

  • What is the first rule the chemistry PhD student mentions in their morning routine?

    -The first rule mentioned is to always make the bed, as it gives a sense of accomplishment early in the day.

  • What does the student usually do after arriving at the lab?

    -Upon arriving at the lab, the student checks their schedule for the day and creates a time-blocking schedule to organize their tasks.

  • Why does the student switch on the centrifuge for their colleague Federica?

    -The student switches on the centrifuge for Federica because she won't be coming until later in the day, and they ensure it's set at four degrees for her experiment.

  • What is the student's task involving the rotovap?

    -The student's task is to dry their water sample using the rotovap, which is a device that efficiently evaporates water samples.

  • What duty is the student assigned to on the day of the video?

    -The student is assigned to solvent duty, which involves checking the lab's solvent supply and ordering any necessary solvents.

  • What is the significance of de-gassing the mobile phase in HPLC?

    -Degassing the mobile phase in HPLC is important to remove air bubbles, ensuring accurate and efficient operation of the system.

  • What issue does the student encounter with their sample in the freeze dryer?

    -The student's sample doesn't dry as expected because they had been ill and couldn't check on it, leading to the sample melting in the freeze dryer.

  • How does the student adapt when their plan for the day doesn't go as expected?

    -The student adapts by looking through their notes to find other samples ready for purification or considering alternative plans to fill their day.

  • What does the student discuss with their supervisor during their 3 pm meeting?

    -During the meeting, the student discusses their paper that is ready for submission, and they work on formatting it for publication.

  • What is the student's final activity of the day?

    -The student's final activity is hanging up their lab coat, signifying the end of their workday.

  • What is the student's perspective on the unpredictability of science?

    -The student acknowledges that science can be unpredictable, and that the plans made at the beginning of the day may not always be completed, which is a normal part of doing a PhD in science.

Outlines
00:00
🛌 Morning Routine and Lab Preparation

The video begins with the chemistry PhD student establishing their morning routine, emphasizing the importance of making the bed and getting ready quickly after a shower. They eat something before heading to the lab, where they start their day by 9 AM. Upon arrival, the student assists a colleague by setting up the centrifuge and checking the lab's solvent inventory. They also prepare mobile phases for HPLC, ensuring there's enough for the day and degas the liquids before use. The student's first task involves drying a water sample using a rotovap, but they encounter an issue with the sample not being completely dry, leading to adjustments and alternative planning.

05:03
🍔 Lunchtime, Supervision, and Publication Preparation

The student's day continues with a lunch break at the student union, where they discuss their lack of meal planning. After lunch, they return to the lab to find that their sample has melted in the freeze dryer, requiring a restart of the drying process. In the meantime, they complete their solvent duty and engage in computer tasks. The student has a productive meeting with their supervisor, discussing a paper they're preparing for submission. Despite the day's challenges, they manage to make progress, including putting samples in a nitrogen dryer for overnight drying. The video concludes with the student reflecting on the unpredictability of scientific research and the need to adapt plans, ending their day on a positive note.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡morning routine
The concept of a morning routine refers to the sequence of activities that a person performs upon waking up, which can set the tone for the rest of the day. In the video, the chemistry PhD student emphasizes the importance of making the bed and having a bite to eat as part of their morning routine, symbolizing the start of a productive day and the idea that small achievements early on can positively influence one's mindset.
💡lab schedule
A lab schedule is a structured plan that outlines the tasks and activities to be performed in a laboratory setting, often used to manage time efficiently and ensure that all necessary work is completed. In the video, the student checks their schedule upon arrival at the lab, highlighting the importance of organization and time management in a scientific research environment.
💡Rotavap
A Rotavap is a type of rotary evaporator, a laboratory apparatus used to evaporate solvents from samples. It is essential in chemistry for sample preparation and is known for its efficiency in evaporating water samples, as mentioned by the student. The use of a Rotavap illustrates the specialized equipment and techniques employed in scientific research.
💡solvent duty
Solvent duty refers to the responsibility of managing laboratory solvents, including checking inventory and ordering supplies when necessary. This task underscores the logistical aspect of scientific work and the need for researchers to ensure that the lab is well-stocked with essential materials for experiments.
💡HPLC
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is a widely used analytical technique in chemistry for separating, identifying, and quantifying each component in a mixture. The student's reference to HPLC indicates the advanced methods employed in their research and the precision required in scientific analysis.
💡degassing
Degassing is the process of removing dissolved gases, such as air, from a liquid to prevent interference with experimental procedures. In the context of HPLC, as mentioned in the video, degassing the mobile phase is crucial to avoid air bubbles that can disrupt the chromatography process and affect the accuracy of results.
💡freeze dryer
A freeze dryer is a laboratory device used to remove water or other solvents from a sample by freezing the sample and then reducing the surrounding pressure to allow the frozen water to sublimate. This process is essential for preserving the sample's structure and ensuring it is ready for further analysis, as highlighted by the student's struggle to dry their sample throughout the day.
💡supervision
Supervision in an academic context refers to the guidance and oversight provided by a senior researcher or faculty member to students or junior colleagues. In the video, the student's role as a supervisor indicates their responsibilities and involvement in the education and research development of others.
💡publishing
Publishing in the context of academia refers to the process of making research findings available to the public through scholarly articles, journals, or other media. The student's excitement about their paper being ready to submit reflects the significance of publishing in the scientific community, as it is a way to share discoveries and contribute to the collective knowledge.
💡unpredictability
Unpredictability refers to the inability to predict or foresee outcomes, which is a common characteristic of scientific research. The student's narrative throughout the video demonstrates the unpredictable nature of scientific experiments and the need to adapt to changing circumstances.
Highlights

The importance of making one's bed as the first rule for a productive day.

The routine of getting dressed and having a bite to eat after morning shower.

Arrival at the lab and switching on the centrifuge for a colleague.

The practice of checking the daily schedule and making a time-blocking plan.

The process of drying water samples using a rotovap early in the lab.

The responsibility of checking and managing solvent levels and ordering if necessary.

The detailed procedure of preparing and checking mobile phases for HPLC purification.

The necessity of degasifying mobile phases to prevent air bubbles in the HPLC system.

The unexpected challenge of a sample not drying due to illness and its impact on the day's plans.

The improvisation of preparing an alternative mobile phase while waiting for the sample to dry.

The importance of reviewing notes and having a backup plan for scientific research.

The routine of having breakfast and planning for the upcoming weeks.

The setback of a sample melting in the freeze dryer and the need to restart the process.

The multitasking of doing computer work while waiting for a sample to dry.

The social aspect of having lunch with colleagues and discussing ongoing projects.

The excitement of a research paper being ready for submission after a meeting with the supervisor.

The reality of scientific research where plans may not always be completed as expected.

The resilience and positivity of a PhD student despite a day of challenges and setbacks.

Transcripts

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