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Offlineberdinwall
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Registered: 06/10/12
Posts: 4,276
Loc: West Virginia
Last seen: 2 years, 6 months
Is it possible to independently research and become a decent chemist?
    #21094266 - 01/09/15 08:42 PM (9 years, 4 months ago)

I plan on getting my bachelor's in chemistry after my associates but I dont really have the means to go straight to a school where I can study that. Im attending a community college for their medical lab technician program which is an associates in applied science. After that I wanna continue to get my bachelors in chemistry.  But I dont wanna wait! Where would I even begin to teach myself chemistry?? Is it doable or would I need a lab to really progress? Has it been done? Any input is appreciated! Peace


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InvisibleGrey
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Registered: 11/06/14
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Re: Is it possible to independently research and become a decent chemist? [Re: berdinwall] * 1
    #21094368 - 01/09/15 09:02 PM (9 years, 4 months ago)

Kahn academy has some courses on chemistry/organic chemistry. You can't get real credits, but I think you can earn certificates from Kahn academy.

all free, btw


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:takingnotes:  AMU Q&A  :takingnotes:


If you don't have a plan of your own, you'll become a part of somebody else's.

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Offlineberdinwall
<3 whooooshhh


Registered: 06/10/12
Posts: 4,276
Loc: West Virginia
Last seen: 2 years, 6 months
Re: Is it possible to independently research and become a decent chemist? [Re: Grey]
    #21094390 - 01/09/15 09:08 PM (9 years, 4 months ago)

sounds aweomse Ill check it out, thank you!


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Offlinedevlishtwo
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Registered: 07/06/13
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Re: Is it possible to independently research and become a decent chemist? [Re: berdinwall]
    #21094452 - 01/09/15 09:18 PM (9 years, 4 months ago)

Yes you could but it would take some creative steps to visualize your experients as you would not have a lab.

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Offlineberdinwall
<3 whooooshhh


Registered: 06/10/12
Posts: 4,276
Loc: West Virginia
Last seen: 2 years, 6 months
Re: Is it possible to independently research and become a decent chemist? [Re: devlishtwo]
    #21094704 - 01/09/15 10:10 PM (9 years, 4 months ago)

Yeah there may be some programs that give you a virtual experience of a lab. I havn't looked into yet Im stuck on this awesome kahn academy website still


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OfflineFlackoTheAlien
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Registered: 08/20/14
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Re: Is it possible to independently research and become a decent chemist? [Re: devlishtwo]
    #21094715 - 01/09/15 10:12 PM (9 years, 4 months ago)

Awesome man, First off i want to congratulate you on following your dream of science. I am very passionate about science and chemistry is very fascinating, i believe anything is possible and you should definitely proceed in experimentation and research in any way you can.
    Dont get crazy, like mad scientist status, but read books, study, make small projects, hypothesize, keep a journal of strictly chemistry related studies.
    It never hurts to do more research and conduct more studies.
    Where theres a will, theres a way, and if you are very passionate about expanding your knowledge and ability in chemistry , you will thrive and strive brother.:billymaythumbup:
  Keep up the good work


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Everything in the universe is in your mind.

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Offlineberdinwall
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Registered: 06/10/12
Posts: 4,276
Loc: West Virginia
Last seen: 2 years, 6 months
Re: Is it possible to independently research and become a decent chemist? [Re: FlackoTheAlien]
    #21094769 - 01/09/15 10:28 PM (9 years, 4 months ago)

Quote:

FlackoTheAlien said:
Awesome man, First off i want to congratulate you on following your dream of science. I am very passionate about science and chemistry is very fascinating, i believe anything is possible and you should definitely proceed in experimentation and research in any way you can.
    Dont get crazy, like mad scientist status, but read books, study, make small projects, hypothesize, keep a journal of strictly chemistry related studies.
    It never hurts to do more research and conduct more studies.
    Where theres a will, theres a way, and if you are very passionate about expanding your knowledge and ability in chemistry , you will thrive and strive brother.:billymaythumbup:
  Keep up the good work




thanks man it feels good to have a dream and a goal. I've always been into science (even as a kid) and I've always been philosophical too....I remember when I was little I would look at some material and think well something smaller has to make up that and something even smaller has to make up that etc. etc...it has to be infinite but how is that possible!?

still don't get the answer to that...they say quarks are the smallest fundamental particles, but logically...they have to be themselves created of something smaller right? into forever?

anyway yeah the universe is amazing and chemistry is just an awesome focus point. I'm really excited. thanks for the kind words man.


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OfflinePDU
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Re: Is it possible to independently research and become a decent chemist? [Re: berdinwall]
    #21094803 - 01/09/15 10:36 PM (9 years, 4 months ago)

Not to burst your bubble - I totally support self studying chemistry. I would suggest finding an undergrad first year general chemistry text book from a thrift store and moving through it at your own pace. Learning all of the basics about atomic structure, lewis structures, periodic trends, bonding, stoichiometry, etc... You could also buy a model kit and start learning about organic chem. stereoisomerism and all that goes along with that.

I am in first year general chemistry right now, and find that most of what I am learning is theoretical (not practical.) - We do labs, but I learn waaaaay more from the book, and we only cover about a 1/3 of the chapters in my general chem text. I got THIS from a thrift store for 5 bucks, like new. I prefer it to my assigned chemistry text.

However, If your looking for a career - an undergraduate degree in chemistry will not get your very far. FYI. Prepare for graduate level work, and I believe the career path is very competitive.


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GO OUTSIDE.

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Offlineberdinwall
<3 whooooshhh


Registered: 06/10/12
Posts: 4,276
Loc: West Virginia
Last seen: 2 years, 6 months
Re: Is it possible to independently research and become a decent chemist? [Re: PDU]
    #21094864 - 01/09/15 10:55 PM (9 years, 4 months ago)

thanks for the advice. Yeah I wish I could hop right in but this way I can land a job as a medical lab tech when (or possibly before) I get my associates. and thats a decent foundation for continuing into chemistry. I probably will be looking for a career in chemistry eventually. I'm not worried about putting in the work I believe I'll enjoy it. I won't do it all without a backup plan though.

Are you saying that you don't quit like what they're teaching you? and that's why you got your own book? Or you think it's just the first year stuff they have to teach you?

I'll definitely look into finding a text book. I can't stand reading from a computer. Videos aren't bad but it'll be a lot easier having a book in front of me.


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OfflineAll We Perceive
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Re: Is it possible to independently research and become a decent chemist? [Re: berdinwall]
    #21095069 - 01/10/15 12:06 AM (9 years, 4 months ago)

Yeah, my brilliant cousin has a PhD in chem from Stanford and she sometimes has trouble finding work.  Apparently, the jobs are mostly in pharmaceutical application which she did not specialize in.


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"plus they atually think jambands are good or sumthing, so they clearly know absolutely nothing about music, clearly lol" -Bassfreak

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OfflineGreenfish
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Re: Is it possible to independently research and become a decent chemist? [Re: All We Perceive]
    #21095289 - 01/10/15 01:54 AM (9 years, 4 months ago)

The joke at the lab I work at is if you want to succeed in science makes sure your project lacks all creativity and character, make sure it has had loads of research already done on the subject, and most importantly makes sure it costs a lot of money. Follow that and your guaranteed to get funding.

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Offlineberdinwall
<3 whooooshhh


Registered: 06/10/12
Posts: 4,276
Loc: West Virginia
Last seen: 2 years, 6 months
Re: Is it possible to independently research and become a decent chemist? [Re: Greenfish]
    #21095954 - 01/10/15 08:39 AM (9 years, 4 months ago)

Well jeez kill my dreams why dont ya. Jk if thats the reality of it then fuck...its ok ill find a way to make it work.


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InvisibleSalomon
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Re: Is it possible to independently research and become a decent chemist? [Re: berdinwall]
    #21096030 - 01/10/15 09:00 AM (9 years, 4 months ago)

being a chemist with out a lab and with out grants is only really doable if you hve moneys to throw at it for equipment and chemicals to play with.

plus free time from whatever you do as a job, and life  for time spent on projects and equations.


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EVERYTHING EVENTUALLY BECOMES A DESERT


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Offlineberdinwall
<3 whooooshhh


Registered: 06/10/12
Posts: 4,276
Loc: West Virginia
Last seen: 2 years, 6 months
Re: Is it possible to independently research and become a decent chemist? [Re: Salomon]
    #21096158 - 01/10/15 09:31 AM (9 years, 4 months ago)

Actually the real medical lab tech position im trying to get requires a bachelors in science anyway. And with that job ill b making 60, 000 in 2 years.


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OfflinePDU
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Registered: 12/03/02
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Re: Is it possible to independently research and become a decent chemist? [Re: berdinwall]
    #21096642 - 01/10/15 11:15 AM (9 years, 4 months ago)

Quote:

berdinwall said:
Are you saying that you don't quit like what they're teaching you? and that's why you got your own book? Or you think it's just the first year stuff they have to teach you?





No, I am not saying that - I do enjoy the theoretical knowledge, although question how much of this stuff will come in useful for my degree (geology). I am being trained to think like a scientist, and that requires a fundamental understanding of the nature of matter. Is it interesting, sure? Will i ever draw lewis diagrams, or balance chemical forumla's as a geologist... I doubt it? (that said, i don't really know, either...)

I think the point I was trying to make, is that when i started chemistry (grade 11 upgrading), I figured it would be all lab work. I thought chemistry was test tubes and bunsen burners, and making compounds... But it's not, not until the upper levels - For the most part you need to have a fairly comprehensive understanding of a materials physical and chemical properties, and atomic structure and how these characteristics affect the relationships between various reagents, before you begin to do anything tangible in the lab.

IMO, you could spend a lifetime studying theory (everything that's ever been discovered until this point), and learn more than you would fiddling in the lab without guidance.

At this point in my chemistry career, the labs are just using basic equipment and conducting very basic procedures which involved following very specific and straight forward instructions. So far we've done a couple titrations, using a photospectrometer to produce a standard curve of absorbance data (determining concentration of an unknown solution), calculated ion concentration in mineral water, and also calculated iron concentration in childrens multi vitamins. Our final lab was a synthesis of Asprin.

So, to someone who doesn't have a clue about what these things are, or what they mean - it sounds exciting. I assure you, it is extremely basic, they are training us in how to use volumetric glass ware, fume hoods, handle chemicals, use scales, the use of significant figures in calculations, and use basic lab equipment. The labs reinforce theoretical principles and/or laws we learn about in lecture, but there isn't a strong connection between what we learn in class, and what we do in lab.

TL:DR Lecture (theory, book work) is where you learn everything. Lab is just following instructions.

A science (which i haven't started studying yet,) but which strongly compliments chemistry, is Physics.

Essentially you are attempting to understand the nature of matter, and how everything interacts. Chemistry is more concerned with the atomic level, and physics is more concerned with the macroscopic universe.

BTW - i just prefer my thrift store text because it is laid out and more easily explains the concepts than my college text, The chapters cover the exact same content though.


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GO OUTSIDE.

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OfflinePDU
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Registered: 12/03/02
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Re: Is it possible to independently research and become a decent chemist? [Re: PDU]
    #21096660 - 01/10/15 11:21 AM (9 years, 4 months ago)

FYI - I know an undergrad with a B.Sc in Chemistry, and she works for an environmental company, running samples for the mining industry.

She started at $15/hr and 5 years down the road is at $20. I am sure she is rapidly reaching a glass ceiling.

Total waste of the education, IMO. Could do the same work with an associates.

Teaching highschool would probably be one of the more applicable careers for someone with a B.Sc., otherwise you're likely to end up in a technician position.


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GO OUTSIDE.

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OfflinePDU
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Re: Is it possible to independently research and become a decent chemist? [Re: PDU]
    #21096668 - 01/10/15 11:23 AM (9 years, 4 months ago)



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GO OUTSIDE.

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