What should one learn when first entering an analysis laboratory?
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I want to work in a laboratory as an analyst. . . I learned it in college, but I’ve forgotten it long ago. And there is no practical experience yet. After 2 years of working on it, I’ve almost forgotten about it. . Where should we focus our efforts if we start over from scratch now?
This post was last edited by zbx on 2009-9-7 at 11:17. Start by learning the basics of analytical chemistry; take the opportunity to spend more time in the laboratory and seek advice from those who are more experienced there
It all starts from scratch; first, one needs to review previous theories. The focus should still be on practical operations. Nowadays, most work in laboratories involves adhering to national and industry standards – it’s about carrying out specified tasks. If a product is special and no applicable standard exists, then one’s true expertise comes into play: it’s necessary to draw on certain standards, make relevant adjustments, and then use those standards to correct the results. Start by focusing on each small experiment that needs to be done, take lots of notes, ask experienced colleagues for advice, and do thorough research. Don’t just focus on the technical aspects alone!
As long as one has some basic knowledge of chemistry, it is possible to continue with analysis work. Whether it’s a person who has just graduated from an analysis-related program entering an analysis laboratory or someone who conducts analyses in accordance with the company’s guidelines, as long as they are willing to learn, they will adapt quickly. I know a few people who aren’t majoring in chemistry but still do analysis very well.
First is practical operation: if there’s no good teacher, don’t try to learn from others, so as to avoid picking up many flaws； One has to read the books by themselves and figure things out on their own ； It is essential to lay a solid and proper foundation ； Second, it is necessary to continuously study theoretical knowledge and explore what lies behind experiments. Otherwise, one can only be a skilled operator. In fact, many things are not as difficult as they seem; it’s the willingness to take things seriously that matters~~~
One needs to observe carefully how others conduct experiments, and then go back to gather information to learn; while verifying what others have done, one should learn to keep the good methods and discard the bad ones. Identify problems at any time and learn promptly*, learning while working*.
First, learn about the management regulations and safety precautions of the analysis laboratory; next, study the analysis methods for the projects under your responsibility, as well as the proper use of instruments and the locations where samples are taken for on-site analysis. Then, gain a thorough understanding of the principles behind these analysis methods and their reliability, in order to prepare for evaluating and improving them in the future. It is also advisable to understand the relationship between analysis tasks and manufacturing processes, so as to be better prepared to address any discrepancies that may arise between analysis results and process parameters in the future.
First, you need to learn the *basic operations and understand how to conduct the analysis tasks you will be handling; this is the foundation. Once you’re familiar with them, you’ll be able to work more quickly. But to understand the analysis, you also need to be familiar with the theoretical knowledge related to the project you are analyzing. To achieve precision, you must be good at observing, drawing lessons from experience, and improving experimental methods – in short, you need to put in the effort to truly comprehend it.
For the operations, you can consult colleagues with higher expertise; you should also review relevant materials, as the key points of these operations are described in detail in many of them. To improve further, one must broaden their knowledge and build a solid foundation in chemical theory.
It’s similar to my experience; when I used to do small-scale tests, it seemed simple once they carried out the analysis, but it turned out to be quite troublesome when I tried to do it myself~!