Types of Laboratory Jobs

[Shamar]

Geology - Geochemistry, Rocks, Minerals | Britannica
Maybe?

It would best be described as Applied Electrical Geophysics. In brief, measuring the flow and distortion of artificial electrical currents in the ground to figure out what is down there. In detail, I could have you excruciatingly bored and desperately looking for a way out in less than 5 minutes. The article you cite does not say much. Actually, nothing.

Look up Key Lake, MacArthur River, and Cigar Lake uranium mines, Lihir Island Gold, and Pebble Beach Copper. I did the initial geophysical mapping for all those, and others.

 

[FayetheAspie]

It would best be described as Applied Electrical Geophysics. In brief, measuring the flow and distortion of artificial electrical currents in the ground to figure out what is down there. In detail, I could have you excruciatingly bored and desperately looking for a way out in less than 5 minutes. The article you cite does not say much. Actually, nothing.

Look up Key Lake, MacArthur River, and Cigar Lake uranium mines, Lihir Island Gold, and Pebble Beach Copper. I did the initial geophysical mapping for all those, and others.

It must have been fascinating to get to work on it.

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

I worked in Molecular Genetics studying Phage lambda transcriptional regulation and found that a component that needed to extend transcription downstream of the right promoter needed to bind to the transcriptase at the promoter to act and not merely diffuse to the point of action. Then, working in Experimental Pathology I measured the DNA synthetic activity of mammary gland terminal end buds as a predictor of sensitivity to a carcinogenic event.

But, eventually I got into Pharma manufacturing and Process Validation, required by 21 CFR Part 211. There I was in my element utilizing Statistical Design of Experiments to identify critical process variables and ensure that a process, whether it was sterilization or reactions such as UV curing of contact lens resin or even identifying optimum containers/closures for product, were in a robust process region that reduced variability of output. SDE is where, instead of doing one-variable-at-a-time experiments you gain statistical power by varying all variables in a design matrix of replicates. Then once the critical values are identified there are other designs (Simple Simplex operations) to "walk" the process to its optimal region.

 

[FayetheAspie]

Unless I can move; which currently seems unlikely, I shall most likely have only three options if I pursue an actual degree in a biology/chemistry field. Botany, environmental science, or even analytical chemistry as a broader field are not currently available at the schools I could attend. I have listed the available options below.

1. Biotech (with a focus on pharmaceutical applications)

2. Medical

3. Forensics

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

When I started my course 1975 it also had three choices, engineering, lab tech or micro biology. As college follows industry demand unlike university, which is pursuit of knowledge, When I started first year they rolled lab tech and engineering in one stream. Second year we had two choices pick a stream for third year only nine of us left four took the microbiology stream two of us took both together. So nine total graduated five in engineering four in micro.
Now years later I went back to visit the college found out the micro guys did not do as well as us who took the other stream. Thirty years later my son graduated high school, enrolled in the same college program I took. I was surprised now their was only one stream. bit of each that I took. I do not know the market so I cannot pick for you. My son is NT went for job interview extravert, good looking, bright Company owned by woman, he comes home I ask him how it went he tells me she hired him as a manager, not the lab tech position he applied for. First job fill the position. So life is not predictable He did in a few minutes what I could not in a complete career.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I guess you just started your course, take your time enjoy the experience, I had no idea where I would end up when I graduated, first job was on a coil coating line painting aluminum siding, ended up on a coil coating line painting. anything that need a coating, paint, laminates , adhesives, Even become an expert on printing to being offered a chairman of a sub division of ASTM for print testing on coil. So you never know how life goes. Do not over plan, a common mistake.

 

[FayetheAspie]

Unless I can move; which currently seems unlikely, I shall most likely have only three options if I pursue an actual degree in a biology/chemistry field. Botany, environmental science, or even analytical chemistry as a broader field are not currently available at the schools I could attend. I have listed the available options below.

1. Biotech (with a focus on pharmaceutical applications)

2. Medical

3. Forensics

I have been doing a lot of research comparing science fields and it seems like biotech is mostly about things like genetic modification and such. I am the type of person who tries to eat non gmo foods. I don't want to find ways of altering products. I want to analyze things and use scientific methods to figure things out. The biowork certificate will get me some basic lab skills so I can hopefully get a lab job even if it is simply cleaning the test tubes. Then I will have to choose my degree path. I don't think it will be the biotech degree even though the certificate I am studying for counts as credits towards that one.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Once you get the certificate you will have a better idea where to go When I was in college I took one semester at a time, had no idea where I would end up, You will most likely find some sort of Q C or Q A position. My first position was as a Q C technician on a coil coating line. Either way focus on the journey not the destination.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Enjoy the course , I did the labs were great using pipettes, getting used to using normality,

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

That sounds like a fun place.
Not that I know many people face to face who would agree.

Was not a fun place for me, just testing, I like being on a process with issues,