The Blogging Scientist
I ended up in Chemistry because I love being able to understand how everything around me works! My job is basically like playing with Lego, only instead of plastic bricks, I use molecules to build whatever my imagination leads to! Pretty cool, right?
My typical work day can focus
around several different aspects: admin, lab work, analysis, writing,
literature review and teaching. My average work days range from 8 to 12 hours
long (longer if there is a deadline coming up). I’m also taking some extra
courses (online) to expand my expertise. At the end of the busy day, I look
forward to dinner at home, a big glass of red wine and then a chance to get to
blogging.
My workspace is a little
different to most peoples – because in addition to my office desk, I also have
a lab! It looks rather different to the labs you may have seen on TV shows (we
don’t have infinite money to buy all the shiny things, and there aren’t any
flasks filled with coloured liquid standing around) but it’s where the magic
happens! Of course, no day in the lab is complete without the right playlist to
keep you going! My music choices vary with my mood, but lab days normally require
upbeat music that I can sing/dance along to! (Admit it, most days become better
with some 80s music!)
Sometimes when you’re stuck in
the lab, struggling by yourself, it helps to gain some perspective – you’re not
alone! PhD Comics is excellent at
describing the life of a PhD student!
Another excellent way of keeping
up with the adventures of other scientists is with twitter! I love seeing what
other chemists are doing on a daily basis through the hashtag #RealTimeChem
(from the informative to the humorous). Another good one is #OverlyHonestMethods
– scientists confessing what really
happens behind the results! Of course, being a blogger, I also follow a lot of
chemistry-themed blogs.
Think that being a scientist might be for you? Here are my top tips:
Want to go into science but don’t know what field you would like to go into? That’s ok! Many people start off with any BSc (Bachelor of Science degree) that covers Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology in the first year, and then in their second year switch to a degree program that specialises in the field that has caught their interest. Flexibility/ changing fields is always an option, especially as you learn more and get exposed to what different fields really entail.
Currently in an undergraduate program and unsure
of what you want to do next? Speak to your lecturers! They’re all (a) real
people who went through what you’re going through and (b) 90% of the time,
genuinely interested in helping you. Even if they can’t help you personally,
they can always point you in the right direction.
Have any specific questions that you would like
to ask me? You can tweet me (@laurajane0103) or email me at
laura[at]whimsyisforever[dot]com.
Images - Laura Jane's
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