Objective: Gain familiarity and understanding of laboratory equipment and procedures.
Evidence Overview: While working in the wet lab at the EPA, I used a variety of new lab equipment in order to grind and sieve my samples. In order to prep the root samples, I used a large grinding machine to finely grind the roots into powder. I then put the fine powder into labeled viles. I learned that if you are ever labeling your samples, you must only use equipment that is marked with colored tape; meaning that labeled samples correspond to labeled equipment. Between grinding each sample, I had to use a special vacuum to clean all the root particles from the machine so that the residue from one sample didn't mix in with another. This proved to be quite time consuming. In order to grind the soil cores, I used a mortar and pestle to grind the soil into a fine power which I then sieved and also put into labeled viles. The mortar and pestle had to be washed in the sink and dried between every sample.
I also used a microbalance in order to put bits of each sample into foil weighing between 4 and 6 mg. Before each use of the microbalance, I had to calibrate the scale and record the calibration in a logbook with my initials. I have provided pictures of each piece of lab equipment I used and some of the samples I processed. When I was first trained to use this equipment, it was very time consuming because I was learning how to be effective. I found however that after some time I picked up momentum and now feel very comfortable using this equipment in a timely and efficient manner. I believe that the skills I have learned from this objective provide me with a basic foundation for using lab equipment. Although I am unsure of whether or not I will be working in a lab in my future career, I believe that gaining learning through hands-on experience is the best way to gain true understanding.
Evidence 1: Provide pictures with a brief description of the lab equipment I was trained to use.
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