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One day in the life of a brain researcher |
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8.45
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Cafeteria
A new day in the lab starts after the obligatory cup of coffee from the kitchen of the institute.
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9.00
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In the animal house
In vivo work demands an attentive and accurate contact with the laboratory animals. The operated animals are examined in detail, weighed and if necessary provided with drugs.
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9.45
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Meeting with the diploma student
Irin and her diploma student Kaspar discuss the course of today’s experiment, enabling him to work independently.
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10.15
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Behavioral experiments with healthy rats
The young rats are accustomed to contact with people in a playful way and can get used to the devices which, later on, are used to test their motor skills.
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12.00
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Group meeting
Today we have lunch during the weekly group meeting. Colleagues present their newest results here or consult other researchers.
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13.50
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Tissue freezing
In the afternoon already conserved nerve tissue is prepared for further processing and is frozen at a temperature of a least -40°C.
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14.30
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Cutting at the cryostat
Subsequently, Irin can produce thin cross sections of the spinal cord in order to stain specific nerve fibers.
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15.50
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Staining
Stainings can sometimes take up to a few days. They can be started directly after cutting the tissue and comprise many different incubation- and washing steps.
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16.10
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Irin in the cold room
Tissue is incubated in the cold room overnight.
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16.30
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Irin in leggings
Sport is an important compensation to the lab work. After jogging in the woods, Irin is happy to spend some time at the microscope.
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17.30
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At the microscope
With a 40x magnification, fine nerve fibers can be seen and counted. This activity is very time consuming and requires a great deal of concentration.
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19.00
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Animal care
In the evening, Irin checks on the animals once again. Because the rats are active in the night, Irin supplies the small rodents with everything they need before the light switches off.
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19.45
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At the computer
Last but not least, she takes a look at the most important publications of this week, reads her emails and designs a plan for the next day.
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20.30
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On the staircase
At the end of her day in the lab she looks forward to a well-deserved beer ….
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Irin Maier is a PhD student at the Brain Research Institute of the University of Zurich and member of the PhD program in Neuroscience
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Text: Irin Maier
Photos: Roland Schöb, scientific photographer at the Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich |
