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I can't seem to catch a break anywhere. Last week I discovered that the buffer I was using for my protein suspension and liposome experiments had a very high pH. Which is probably why nothing was working that previous week when I switched to the new buffer. So I had to transfer what remained of my protein into the correct pH buffer. Then, the area desided to have a cold snap and dump 8 inches of snow on the ground. My work was open for half the day, but there was no way I was going to be able to make the 30 minute commute safely. Saturday and Sunday was about the same. Sunday B and I did get out to make it to church and see how the roads were, they were awful. Other than the weather I had a feeling that it would be a waste to go into work Sunday night. I was correct, Monday morning I had an email that not only was campus closed, but there had been a leak in my building and no one was permitted to be inside. So, no work Monday either. Yesterday, I got some preliminary work done testing to see if different concentrations of some of my zinc substrates would allow the protein to precipitate or not. It was looking good. I ran the gels today to have more visualization. It's a good thing I did, I almost moved onto the liposome binding experiments, for my protein had degraded and all I was left with were mCherry proteins. So mad. Yesterday and today's work feels like such a waste. Doing all those trials (24 in total) just to find out that my protein was gone and so I wasn't testing on anything of real interest.
Thankfully, I did at least know that I was going to need more protein, so that is made and I just need to purify it and get it into my buffer, then I can start on the work I did on Tuesday again. Too bad it takes me a full day usually to purify and transfer my protein. I'm not looking forward to tomorrow. The purification is the portion I hate the most. I really don't want to do it. But it needs to be done *sigh* Not until Friday can I test stuff again. Sometimes I wish this science stuff was easier, I really hate not having data over and over again. I was just telling one of my former coworkers that it has been nearly 4 months since I had any useful data, all because stuff keeps going wrong wither it is me messing up or my protein or something else has just gone bad. It's really frustrating. I'm not use to having this issue where usually the items I work with last months, if not years, when stored properly. It drives me crazy to make and remake this stuff.
The frustration it causes me really drives me to look for new jobs. But I haven't had much luck even finding something I could apply to in the areas I want to try for. I wish I would have focused on wildlife science more than biology. The biology areas want things I'm not specific in and I don't want to look at the protein sciences since that is what I am struggling with now. I just don't even know where to get started any more. When I got out of school I applied for anything that was basic and was willing to train. Since I have a bit more work experience now I'm still looking for stuff in my pay grade. I don't want to take too much of a pay cut, but like I said nothing seems to be available in my area, and things I'm willing to take a cut at to be retrained on aren't looking for basic people they want experience and usually a PhD. Guess I will just trug on where I am and keep looking.
Thankfully, I did at least know that I was going to need more protein, so that is made and I just need to purify it and get it into my buffer, then I can start on the work I did on Tuesday again. Too bad it takes me a full day usually to purify and transfer my protein. I'm not looking forward to tomorrow. The purification is the portion I hate the most. I really don't want to do it. But it needs to be done *sigh* Not until Friday can I test stuff again. Sometimes I wish this science stuff was easier, I really hate not having data over and over again. I was just telling one of my former coworkers that it has been nearly 4 months since I had any useful data, all because stuff keeps going wrong wither it is me messing up or my protein or something else has just gone bad. It's really frustrating. I'm not use to having this issue where usually the items I work with last months, if not years, when stored properly. It drives me crazy to make and remake this stuff.
The frustration it causes me really drives me to look for new jobs. But I haven't had much luck even finding something I could apply to in the areas I want to try for. I wish I would have focused on wildlife science more than biology. The biology areas want things I'm not specific in and I don't want to look at the protein sciences since that is what I am struggling with now. I just don't even know where to get started any more. When I got out of school I applied for anything that was basic and was willing to train. Since I have a bit more work experience now I'm still looking for stuff in my pay grade. I don't want to take too much of a pay cut, but like I said nothing seems to be available in my area, and things I'm willing to take a cut at to be retrained on aren't looking for basic people they want experience and usually a PhD. Guess I will just trug on where I am and keep looking.
