Chromatography Forum

Hi,

I'm wondering what kind of work you guys give to a high school student who is only 3 weeks in the lab.
Previously we have give them a development of an optimised automatic titration, because it's a process which always can be optimised, but it's not too hard to do for a student.

Kind Regards

That depends on whether the student is an intern or a temporary employee (and whether or not the student is related to a manager ).

In the case of a temporary employee, putting away glassware, sweeping the floor, emptying the wastebaskets, etc. (or whatever they were hired for). If they are enthusiastic and interested in learning, then automated titration, melting point, etc.

In the case of an intern, there is more of a responsibility to provide meaningful experience, even at the expense of productive work. At that point, it depends a lot on the reliability and maturity of the student. Some activities don't require more than manual skills (preparing KBr pellets for IR, for example). Triple-checking calculations in lab notebooks is another possibility. If the student has computer skills, then an internet search is a possibility. If the student is really good, converting repetitive calculations into spreadsheets.

In any case, you obviously have to be careful with anything that might have regulatory consequences.

Other possible tasks:

Checking calibrations of pipets

Preparing and running various QA solutions on spectrofotometers (or other "easy" instruments)

Doing push-ups

Last but not least, Getting coffee for the laboratory technician to optimize their time!!


I wouldn't normally report any of the tests preformed, but if any of them fail I would try running them again but preformed by a qaulified person.

[quote="leadazide"]Other possible tasks:

Last but not least, Getting coffee for the laboratory technician to optimize their time!!

That was my very FIRST thought Leadazide

How about filing, calibrating simple things like pH meter, etc?

Salma

So, you folks are determined to squash whatever interest this kid might have had in pursuing a career in analytical chemistry?

So, you folks are determined to squash whatever interest this kid might have had in pursuing a career in analytical chemistry?

No, we're trying to save the kid: "Run away! Run away while you still can!"

Yes, CSI has a lot to answer for!

It is difficult and it can take up a lot of your time.

From past experience I think that what you don't want to do is to say " sit and read this manual/book". Better for them to go home after the first day having actually achieved a result on something.

Since you have put it on the Chromatography Forum I assume that you have some chromatography equipment? I get them to bring in a sample of their own perfume or aftershave or deodorant or other household products to analyse to see just how complex some things are. On the principle that you learn a great deal through making mistakes and troubleshooting, take a model mixture and see what the effects are of changing the instrument conditions to extremes, injecting too much, leave injector temp off, isothermal vs programming etc. - easier done using a packed column.

Get them to bring in some of their parent's drinks to analyse . Now I'm getting an image of Frank Drebbin's "Police Squad"! --"So you see Jimmy...."

Cheers,

Ralph

We have had many students, and they all loved it and came back later even for summer jobs during college times.

You start of with simple tasks, like making up non-standard reference samples and simple mobile phases. Also, they can load and unload the dishwashers. Once they get the hang of such simple things, you teach them how a pH meter works and how to make a buffer. Also, now you can teach them to accurately weigh out samples. Once they grasp this, which does not take more then maybe 3 days, they can do everything that a standard analyst in the lab hates to do.

As they get bored doing these things, you can teach them how to load sample files etc. NOW you have to really watch, but a smart kid will get through this stuff in no time.

Now they can do all the things that you hate to do, and you can go think or play Solitaire...

With one of the kids that came back for a few years, we ended up assigning him simple projects, which included presentation of the results to the team. Worked like a charm, and he loved it...