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Vish
Student
Alameda, California
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What is a normal day at work for a research scientist?
#research #science #worklife
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2 answers
Joseph Neilson
Radiation Detection Physicist
219
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Oxford, England, United Kingdom
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Joseph’s Answer
As Michael said, it varies - depending on what field of science, the kind of work you're doing, and often from one day to the next can be very different.
I'm personally a scientist working in nuclear research; for me, a day can vary between working in the lab or in the field taking measurements; to testing things in the lab trying to get a new instrument to work; to sitting in the office analysing data and writing reports, to attending conferences and meetings to discuss results. Sometimes it's working on the same project doing the same thing for weeks at a time; other times I can be doing several projects all at once and moving between all those things and more within one day.
I'm personally a scientist working in nuclear research; for me, a day can vary between working in the lab or in the field taking measurements; to testing things in the lab trying to get a new instrument to work; to sitting in the office analysing data and writing reports, to attending conferences and meetings to discuss results. Sometimes it's working on the same project doing the same thing for weeks at a time; other times I can be doing several projects all at once and moving between all those things and more within one day.
Alejandra Zelaya
Senior Analyst
54
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New York, New York
Updated
Alejandra’s Answer
Hello Vish!
Agreed with the above about, it depending on what you're researching. I worked in a neurobio lab, which required me to direct ant brains and study their brain structure through a unique 3D imaging technique. Because you need many brain samples, and you won't know until the end if the brain samples are successfully directed, as well as correctly chemically treated (we staggered our work so that at any given time I would be working on multiple steps). So for example in a typical week, this is what my days might look like:
Monday- (Full lab day)Feeding and taking care of ants, then picking some out and directing them and preserving their brain in the correct liquid. Then I would do step 2 of 5 in brains I had already started chemically treating.
Tuesday- (Half lab/Half imaging room)- I would direct more ants, do step 3 of 5, and then I spend most of the day imagining brains in a room.
Wed- (Full day imaging) Full day imaging in a room on my own
Thu- (Office day)Taking the imaging and tracing them on a computer in the office with other colleagues.
Fri-(Full day lab) Doing step 3 of 5 for brains and 4 of 5. Then doing more diescting
Some things to note fro my response:
- a lot of the time I working independently besides meetings with the team or talking with my boss. A lot of people find this part of research as negative as there is not a whole lot of socializing when it comes to every day work
- you're doing multiple things at once, and it requires a lot of organization and good notes taking. If you see in a month that some brains did not stain correctly in the lab, I would have to reference my notes and ensure I did the right steps
- There is a variety of skills I am practicing every day. Although it can get exhausting doing one thing all day, usually my week is mixed
- Towards the end of the research it becomes very tedious, and down to numbers and math; this part can be a big change from being in the lab most of the week
I hope that helps!
Agreed with the above about, it depending on what you're researching. I worked in a neurobio lab, which required me to direct ant brains and study their brain structure through a unique 3D imaging technique. Because you need many brain samples, and you won't know until the end if the brain samples are successfully directed, as well as correctly chemically treated (we staggered our work so that at any given time I would be working on multiple steps). So for example in a typical week, this is what my days might look like:
Monday- (Full lab day)Feeding and taking care of ants, then picking some out and directing them and preserving their brain in the correct liquid. Then I would do step 2 of 5 in brains I had already started chemically treating.
Tuesday- (Half lab/Half imaging room)- I would direct more ants, do step 3 of 5, and then I spend most of the day imagining brains in a room.
Wed- (Full day imaging) Full day imaging in a room on my own
Thu- (Office day)Taking the imaging and tracing them on a computer in the office with other colleagues.
Fri-(Full day lab) Doing step 3 of 5 for brains and 4 of 5. Then doing more diescting
Some things to note fro my response:
- a lot of the time I working independently besides meetings with the team or talking with my boss. A lot of people find this part of research as negative as there is not a whole lot of socializing when it comes to every day work
- you're doing multiple things at once, and it requires a lot of organization and good notes taking. If you see in a month that some brains did not stain correctly in the lab, I would have to reference my notes and ensure I did the right steps
- There is a variety of skills I am practicing every day. Although it can get exhausting doing one thing all day, usually my week is mixed
- Towards the end of the research it becomes very tedious, and down to numbers and math; this part can be a big change from being in the lab most of the week
I hope that helps!
Thank you so much!
Vish