• Question: what jobs do you have to do?

    Asked by anon-255770 to Tom, Sebastian, Leanne, Tanya, Ronan, Paul, Katherine, Aisling on 22 May 2020. This question was also asked by anon-258692.
    • Photo: Sebastian Cosgrove

      Sebastian Cosgrove answered on 22 May 2020:

      Hey! A good question!
      My usual job is spent working in a laboratory finding new ways to try and make important chemicals. This ranges from chemicals that make up pharmaceuticals, to other ones that go into plastics. We can make so many different types of chemicals, but more importantly in the future is HOW we make the chemicals. I try to use enzymes, which are naturally occurring and are what do the chemistry of the natural world. We can use genetic engineering to make enzymes do what we want, so we can make them really efficient at producing important chemicals. One of the main parts of my job is to think of ways to make enzymes do their jobs even better so that we can be better at making the important chemicals!

    • Photo: Tom Backhouse

      Tom Backhouse answered on 4 Jun 2020:

      Hi Robyn, good question!

      As a development chemist I have many different jobs. My ultimate goal is to develop cleaner and more sustainable methods to produce chemicals that we use everyday – these include plastics, fuels, food additives, polymers and materials that go onto become clothing.

      Sometimes I’m in the lab with dangerous chemicals, I’ll be in my lab coat and specs. This sometimes requires me to work in a glove box. For example, some materials can self heat and ignite instantly in air and so need to be handled under a safe inert atmosphere.

      Sometimes I’m working on a rig with engineers. On these days I wear overalls and steel toe-capped boots – a good chemist should always feel comfortable with a spanner!

      Sometimes I meet customers and clients to present results or help solve problems, on these days I turn up with my best clobber on!

      Hope that helps!

Comments

  • Photo: Zoe

    Zoe commented on :

    HIya, excellent question! Most of my time is spent in a lab running experiments, such as getting bacteria to produce special chemicals known as enzymes, purifying those chemicals and then trying to figure out what their structure is. I also help to teach on undergraduate lab classes and mark their work and sometimes I go and do science days with schools or the general public.

  • Photo: Radha

    Radha commented on :

    i work in lab, regularly discuss with my students (PhD, masters) and guide them in their work, hold group meetings weekly to discuss latest literature in the field. In the department i also do the role of representing researchers in their early stage of career (making their voices heard to higher authorities). I teach nanoscience lectures and do tutorials (discuss their assignments with a group of 5 students every week). My research in lab includes making tiny capillaries with 2d materials like graphene, and studying how water, gases and ions flow through them.

  • Photo: Kat

    Kat commented on :

    As a research scientist I have several tasks throughout the day:
    Think up and design new experiments – prepare and perform the experiments. Collect the data, send samples away for other tests, analysis of the data and discussing the data with colleagues. Reading other peoples research of a similar topic to understand the data I have collected and think about conclusions. I have meetings with other scientists all over the UK.

  • Photo: Enrica

    Enrica commented on :

    Hi, I am a Project Manager and I normally boss people around :)!!
    I am joking obviously, but up to a certain point.
    I manage the process engineers that do the calculations and produce the relevant documentation for a petrochemical project and facilitate for them the relationship and the communications with Clients. My responsibility it is also to make sure the project is delivered online and on budget.

  • Photo: David

    David commented on :

    It varies a lot! Early in my career I used to fly to remote locations and monitor the operation. I would run daily chemical analysis on the production streams and provide guidance to other site personnel and office staff on chemical programs.
    Nowadays I speak with other chemists and engineers in other companies to ensure our products will meet their application needs.
    I also project manage and share my experience with the field based staff to help solve complicated issues.
    Every now and again I will venture into the laboratory to run a test to help me understand a problem and hopefully provide a solution to a question.