Mar 25, 2025
In fact, chemists are just piles of molecules studying other piles of molecules
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In fact, chemists are just piles of molecules studying other piles of molecules
Spent much of the day with this as my nemesis. Got the clog out of the gradient valve, changed the pump seals, and then the Agilent geniuses tried to ruin my day with these bass-ackwards metal lines running into the pump head. I finally got it back in, after a round of gangster rap style cursing in my head.
Oh, yeah, *still* doesn’t work. I think maybe the valve clog fried the pump motor. Not sure.
I bought an iPad pro! I actually like it better than writing on paper (I’m a bad person, I know). That’s the motivation I needed to start studying for next chem’s exam (just after Christmas break, so sad).
*job interview (for internship) as a Biological Chemistry undergrad*
Interviewer: so why do you think you should work here?
me: have you heard of a series with the name of Breaking Bad?
interviewer (most likely a boomer): I think I've heard of it.
me (eyes shining with delight) : it's about a chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with lung cancer and is cornered to manufacture drugs to pay for his medical bills and still be able to provide for his family in his potentially premature departure
*interviewer stares in concern*
me: as chemistry students, we all want to be Walter White but not in the sense of building a meth empire and becoming a druglord. What's really inspiring about this lead character is his ability to apply his knowledge and skills in chemistry to overcome the many setbacks he has to face.
*interviewer still not seeing my point*
me: throughout the duration of the story we see how Heisenberg (the pseudonym he goes by, chosen after the physicist behind the uncertainty principle) uses his abilities, from teaching General Chemistry(chapter 1) to applying his knowledge in Analytical, Organic and other branches of chemistry, Thermodynamics,Toxicology, Quality Control, you name it (classes that were part of my curriculum). We also get a glimpse into the harsh reality of cancer patients as we accompany Walter in his diagnosis and screenings, treatments, symptoms and side effects.
Interviewer: so how does this answer my question?
me: after working so hard at college, we look up to Mr. White because we know that our potential as chemists is huge and we just need the opportunities to demonstrate our skills and to keep learning. I speak for my fellow chemists when I say that in my academic community we want to provide for our households and develop our true professional selves.
Interviewer: thank you for your time, you will hear from us soon. *proceeds to go home and binge watch BB, BCS, El Camino, all those minisodes and conspiracy theories about the Gilliganverse*
"oh, dear... if this is their role model, all of those chemist interns must be complet psychopaths*
YOUR'E GODDAMN RIGHT!
(JK, my sales abilities are not that great, I have no idea how synthetic addictive drugs are made, chrystallography is not something I could talk for hours about, and I would never run my car over my competition, let alone poison a child)
Sometimes I feel like 50% of my work is waiting for polymers to dissolve.
I’m fairly certain I’ve gotten ethanol or acetone or toluene in the corner of my eye, but I’m too lazy to go to check and washing it out...
the fact that people read what I write is truly amazing to me.
It's a Monday and I've been busy all day. Seriously, this day went by too fast. My work day is technically over but I need to finish some stuff. One more day closer to the weekend I guess.