this post was submitted on 12 Jun 2023
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Science

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I've been curious how many working researchers we've got in this community, and what you all do!

If you're working in science (physical or social), engineering, etc in a research capacity, give a shout in the comments and let us know what you work on! Same goes for students and amateur scientists at any level. (And by amateur I mean those of you who are working on your own experiments but just not being paid for it / not working on a degree; I'm upset that "amateur" has a negative connotation, it shouldn't.)

I'm currently a PhD candidate, working on transmission electron microscopy and electronic materials (mainly ferroelectrics). In the past I've been involved in research / product development in a few different industries, including medical devices, aerogels, and materials for RF devices.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I'm a PhD candidate too - my contract is finished now, but I am still writing my thesis. So I am currently at the awkward intersection of finishing a thesis and looking for a job.

My PhD focus is in applying time-resolved spectroscopic techniques to study the excited state dynamics of molecules. Basically, these are experiments in which a pulsed laser is used to excite the sample and a second probe light is used to measure a change in the absorption in response to the light. By measuring these changes in the absorption as a function of time, and applying quantum chemical methods to calculate the spectra of potential intermediates, one can sort of recreate a molecular movie of what the molecule is doing after it absorbs light with a time resolution of femto to picoseconds. The materials that I study are organic dyes that are useful for microscopy, as well as molecules that respond to EUV light for applications in photonanolithography (for making the very small transistors in computer chips).

I am also an "amateur" scientist when it comes to biology, as many of my hobbies are nature-based and it's not like I can turn off the science bug when it comes to hobbies.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well that's fascinating! The technique sounds a little bit like a cross between Raman and EXAFS/XANES? (Probably just because those are two techniques I happen to be familiar with though.)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Raman and EXAFS/XANES are techniques to probe different types of molecular transitions. Vibrational raman probes molecular vibrations, and XANES probes electronic transitions due to excitation of core electrons. Each technique will help you obtain different molecular properties. The standard approach is to apply these methods to do "static" absorption studies, meaning that one studies the transitions induced by these light sources in order to obtain molecular information of a given sample. The time-resolved techniques expand these measurements along the time dimension, so you can measure these properties but in a sample that is changing extremely quickly in response to a trigger (usually light).

So, it is not that the technique is a cross between these, but rather an approach to take Raman, or XANES, or IR-spectroscopy, or UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, and then apply it in a time-resolved manner. You can usually take any spectroscopy technique and add "time-resolved" at the beginning and you will find someone doing that. Of course, some techniques are easier to perform in practice than others. I have done some time-resolved XANES experiments, and for those we need to go a synchrotron and the experiment is really tricky. A time-resolved UV/Vis can be done in many university labs. I don't have practical experience with Raman experiments.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

That's a really clear explanation, thank you!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm a research professor of neurology, and my research focuses on developing novel cognitive assessments for measuring early-stage Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's a field where it seems (to an outsider) like a lot has been happening recently! Glad to have you here!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

You'd be correct! The new anti-amyloid drugs are very exciting, and it makes my work on preclinical Alzheimer's even more fulfilling as it can have a real impact on getting people tested and treated as early as possible.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

PhD in Geology. Now am a research scientist working in more general materials science/chemistry/gas adsorption. My thesis was on lunar petrology where I studied Apollo 16 samples. My current research is much less exciting. Haven't touched a rock in ages and my geologist heart hurts from it haha

[–] saltysel 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's science-y enough but I'm definitely not considered a scientist so much as a technologist. I work as a MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Technologist. Previously a X-Ray Technologist.

My machine does all the science for me but it's a pretty neat concept. Using magnetic gradients and RF pulses at hydrogen protons to acquire accurate digital imaging.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Happy to have you! The science behind MRI is fascinating, and the machines themselves are really cool. Have you ever seen a magnet quench? I don't think they're really supposed to happen during normal operation, but some of the videos I've seen have been rather dramatic.

[–] saltysel 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It is pretty crazy people were able to figure that all out and we are able obtain crazy detailed pictures without radiation.

No I haven't seen it! Hoping to see a controlled quench someday but also hoping to avoid needing to use it in any emergency situations; it'll have to be a damn near life/death situation to hit that button. Very costly decision. I guess there's also a dwindling supply of helium in the world so that could get interesting as time goes on.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I'm a software developer who works on Backend/APIs/Cloud/AI.

Currently browsing Lemmy instead of actually doing work in my home office...

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Currently browsing Lemmy instead of actually doing work in my home office…

Some days just turn out that way lol

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Development engineer working with autonomous vehicles.

Worst part of it is having to interact with Tesla bros who think that they have self-driving figured out despite what experts in the field tell them.

Best part of it is being able to code functionality then sit down inside an actual physical vehicle and see, hear, and feel it act out what you programmed. Incredibly satisfying.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I'm a Mechanical Engineer who designs automation equipment. Basically lots of 3-6 axis robots, multi-axis gantries, various conveyance mechanisms, and other specialized automation equipment integration. Its fun because it is a job all about things moving from point A to point B.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

PhD candidate, archaeologist in a physical geography department. I read dirt to reconstruct ecosystems over time.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Graduate student in ecology, just finishing up.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I work in mine closure. I create plans to re-integrate them back into the surrounding landscape, and provide valuable end land uses (not just those centred around ecosystem re-establishment).

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (4 children)

working in a cultivated meat startup, msc in biotechnology, but now disillusioned and wanting to do something academic/more down to earth and helpful

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

If it's not too personal, may I ask what lead to your disillusionment with the field? "Lab grown" meat (assuming that's what you mean by cultivated) has seemed like a promising idea to me for a while, in terms of environmental impact and the ethical consideration of animals.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I work a day job in IT, have a side business doing IT, work an occasional shift at my buddy's liquor store, and sell furniture on the side.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm a Data Scientist (physics PhD) for a large enterprise company. I've been in this field for the last decade and I'm kinda bored with it. I'm not exactly sure what to do next though....

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I'm a PhD candidate in inorganic and biochemistry! Loving the chem representation here, and loving OP's username.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I work at a company that makes large and small rocket engines (e.g., the ones on SLS/Artemis, and solids for a number of defense programs), and various electrical power systems (e.g., for the ISS and some of the Mars rovers). I manage the space software engineering organization.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Look at this rocket surgeon, over here. SMDH.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I've got a PhD in nonlinear vibrations. I've left academia for the space industry though.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm an associate professor in computer science, currently working on stochastic algorithms (like genetic algorithms).

Until now, I've been working on quite abstract optimization problems, but I'd like to switch to more useful applications, like social inequalities or climate change.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I’m a staff bioinformatics scientist at an academic institution, got my PhD a few years ago and wasn’t interested in a postdoc. I get to work on a huge range of research questions and lots of different technologies. It’s great!

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

@realChem I retired from being a chemical engineer in the environmental remediation of hazardous wastes and petroleum. Went sailboat cruising, and stopped along the way to teach high school chemistry four years. Now I volunteer with OpenAir Collective working on CO2 removal (from atmosphere, not point sources - later is called "capture" instead of "removal" for some reason). Without chemicals, nothing would exist!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I'm a PhD in chemical engineering and work in a testing laboratory for electrical engineering insulating materials. My dissertation was using predictive modelling (some data mining and machine learning, some more classical statistical methods) to estimate material properties from spectral data. I'm trying to combine a full-day engineering job with writing more journal articles in my spare time. Currently not going well but at least I'm not lacking for data!

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

PhD student working in reinforcement learning (the branch of machine learning, not the neuroscience kind). Trying to figure out how to make more general agents, and I'm hypothesizing that making things bigger is a key ingredient.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Social sciences, expert/consultant position. We have our own in-house research, and collaborating with them is always good fun

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I have a MSc and PhD in earthquake engineering and I am working as a senior full stack software developer. Life is weird sometimes.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm a postdoc, working on laser-plasma/ interactions and electron accelerators. My PhD work was on ultrafast electron diffraction.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

ultrafast electron diffraction

That's pretty fascinating stuff! I know a lot about electron diffraction in general (in the context of TEM/STEM/4D-STEM), but not ultrafast. What kind of processes were you studying with that method?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Our beamline is still very new (my main focus was actually on building/commissioning it), so for now, we've just been looking at relatively simple processes like the Debye-Waller effect, where the diffraction spots become weaker as the temperature rises.

The ultrafast capability comes from the electron beam having a sub-picosecond duration, which essentially corresponds to the shutter speed of a camera. By varying the delay between a pump laser and the electron probe and observing the change in intensity of the diffraction spots, we can figure out how the heat deposited by the laser diffuses through the sample, and make a "molecular movie" of this process. It's in the same spirit as other pump-probe experiments, like what @Salamander does.

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