What’s an average day in the Bernhardt Lab? Four weeks in and I can’t really answer that. First thing I do when I walk in is set my stuff down at my desk. After that, who knows?!
One day, we headed out early and collected water and sediment samples from ponds all over the Triangle Area. Another day, I was reading papers and cleaning vials. My project allows me to experience the entire research process. From contacting WWTPs and reading (an infinite number of) papers to collecting and analyzing samples. My workdays so far included: wading through swamps, acid washing, running/learning to run the DLS (see previous post), identifying spiders, drying spiders, driving to the mesocosms, trying to find a vehicle for me to use while sampling, dining with the lab, and asking questions (many, many questions).
Next week, I will begin to analyze my first samples. I am sure that it will include a host of new procedures to learn and will totally ruin any schedule I was starting to develop. . . But I really enjoy the unpredictability of my lab. For example, some lab people I won’t see for days because they might be sampling or vacationing or attending conferences. It’s a dynamic and lively community of researchers that I am very glad to be a part of this summer.
A picture says a thousand words. But this one from my lab says two very important ones (again):
