So I officially have someone to work for! I am working for an oceanographer who analyzes heavy metals in ocean water. Basically I will be trying to construct a machine that can be brought to the sites (like the Arctic, etc) and be doing analysis. I can travel with the group if I want to but I don't have to, the travelling is primarily for the oceanographers. I am taking a class in oceanography next semster now, which I am excited about.
Is it studying for ways to draw the heavy metals out of the water (like say getting gold from seawater) or is it more focused on tracking the impact of poisonous heavy metals and how they are spread throughout the ocean? Sounds cool either way.
It's the latter, definitely. Pretty environmentally, which is something I've always liked.
You should go, the Plateau of Leng is beautiful this time of year. Edit - Seriously should go at least once if you get the chance. I know a guy that did some time down in the Antarctic and while hard he said nothing he has done has even come close to it. Just something completely amazing.
Also congratulations. So you went with someone different than you thought you would before?
Yeah, I was originally going to do polymer chemistry, but an interest in analysis perked up after basically sitting in a course, having this revelation of "holy shit I hate synthesis this is why I hated organic chemistry", got up, realized what I wanted to do, and changed all my courses but one. >_> Polymer chemistry people were sort of weird anyway. The lady apparently was a control freak and the guy from my observations seemed really partial towards male students, so yeah.
So I met with two other researchers, the oceanographer and a guy using some type of light sensor stuff to detect cancer cells and try to help in vitro fertilization, I was having trouble deciding and then I got an email saying the latter was taking students anymore. Pretty easy.
