In this episode of Practical Biotech, I take a technique focused approach to our typical episodes and provide you a detailed look at a widely used biochemical method. The ELISA is used in research, biotech, quality, and medicine and can be used to test for and identify a variety of large molecules. It is very sensitive due to its use of antibodies. You may have learned about this method in school but may not actually have any hands on time with it. In Technique Focus, I take you through the specifics of the method itself in order to give you an understanding of how its performed but to also illustrate how important it is in the biotech setting. Hopefully, you can take this understanding and build upon it to prepare you for working in industry post academic life.

Lab notebooks and following procedures, a skill first introduced to many general chemistry students in their first year. To many, it seemed like a tedious exercise, however, the reality is that this mundane exercise was actually training you for life after college working in a research lab or in the biotech industry. I remind you have the important elements of a lab manual but also why it is a necessity. I also provide some additional information to the discussion from the last episode on buffers. Please make sure to subscribe if you haven't already and let me know what you think! #science #labnotebooks #practicalbiotech #practicalskills #biotech

This is the very first episode of Practical Biotech where we jump right into the practical skills that you've learned in skill but you think aren't worth your time. We start with one of the topics that is taken for granted by first and second year undergrads and tell you why buffers are the solution to many problems! Okay, bad joke, but seriously, buffers are used everywhere in biotech and I tell you why and how. Definitely not a complete discussion on the topic, but hopefully I give you the most important bits! Let me know if you have any questions! #biotech #buffers #practical #practicalbiotech #solutions #labwork

Practical biotech has the goal of helping students and new graduates with navigating careers in science but also helping them understand and appreciate the skills they may be learning or have learned in school. Additionally, it's important to also help students and graduates know that there isn't one single path for someone with a degree in life science or physical sciences. We aim to have interviews with people working in the biotech industry but we won't be limit ourselves either.