How would a day in the life of a research technician look like?

Hey Walner,

Simply searching different topics in google in my opinion can be a great way to expand your knowledge. If you were to work in the field of research there wouldn't be as much freedom. I don't say that to scare you. I use the word freedom loosely, but I mean that depending on what field of research you choose and within that field of research the topic that your employers focus on will dictate the scope of your research.

For example I am a graduate student at a laboratory in the hospital. As a graduate student my career now revolves around research. The laboratory that I chose to do my graduate degree in specializes in the study of the lungs. Furthermore, although there are many other laboratories within the city that also specialize in the lung, my lab looks at the development of acute lung injury and also consequently development/prevention/therapeutics for ventilated induced lung injury that develops in patients that have acute lung injury who are treated with mechanical ventilators. In terms of the topics I just highlighted currently the knowledge of my supervisors is focused on macrophages and surfactant (a lipid protein complex that lines the lung & maintains stability as well as lung compliance). Even still you see how specific it gets there is a world of aspects to research within the lung --> acute lung injury --> ventilator induced lung injury AND the role of macrophages and surfactant in prevention/development/progression/exacerbation/therapeutics. Also within our lab we have another supervisor that deals with cystic fibrosis! There are so many options.

I am only telling you what I know from my experience.
It is outstanding how important research is and how there is an everlasting need to continue to do research and on a broad many of topics!

All the best!