Buffer, Learning and More Buffer- Week 2

I was awoken at 5 am by my alarm and by 5:30 my journey back to NYC began. I arrived to the lab a bit early and waited for Brismar to arrive so we could start analyzing data from the previous week. I found out we had to gather some more data since analytical chemistry requires multiple trials of the same experiment. This way the compiled data is the most accurate.

We thought we were finished making the buffer last week, but as it turns, in making another batch, that we may have added to much KOH. So to test our assumption we checked the pH and found that the buffer we made last week had a pH of 7.09 not 7. Even though it may seem like this is not a big difference, the pH that the solution is buffered at is really important. Especially when using it for our experiments, where a small change in pH could completely upset the fluorescence of a compound or its binding ability. In the ended we ended up having to spend two days making new buffer, but this time we carefully added KOH so that the pH was exactly 7.

This week NYU had a guest speaker in the chemistry department discussing bio-imaging, similar to what our lab does. With our professors suggestion, we all went to the seminar. I found the presentation extremely interesting. Him and his group are developing fluorescent probes that are able to detect different types of cells in the human body. The fluorescent sensors choose certain cells based on unique proteins and other characteristics unique to a type of cell. For example, his one probe detects stem cells, so when injected into an organism only stem cells would fluoresce. This able to show where concentrations of a type of cell exist. The goal is to be able this with all different types of cells.

In addition to this presentation, our professor gave us a presentation on presenting science, whether it be presenting research within our group or at a conference. Some of the major points I took from the presentation were 1) thinking about who your audience is, 2) what do you want them to know, and 3) make sure it's professional, not only so your audience takes you seriously but also takes your science seriously. She made it clear, multiple times, if you don't seem serious, then why is your science serious, or if you appear sloppy and your presentation is sloppy, then who knows if your science is sloppy.

The week ended with planning and preparing for an experiment Sarina and I will start Monday. We will be studying the fluorescence of three compounds in different solvents. I'm so excited to start another week because the learning never seems to end!