A Day In the Lab....

I just spent the whole day in the Lab. Started work at around 10 am and finished at 8 pm. Was working on the UROPS project, trying to synthesize my starting material 2-bromobenzaldehyde. It was a hell lot of work but it was very satisfying to be doing what i was doing. Maybe this is really what I'm meant to do.... We'll see.... When the going gets tough, lets see if i will still be as passionate about this...

pysched,
MJ

My Target Molecule

Met up with Prof lai on tuesday and friday morning to talk about my UROPS project. I was given a target molecule which i have to attempt to synthesis through the duration of my 3rd acadamic year. We also discussed the reaction route and mechanism for the synthesis. There you go! My target molecule (right on top the hexagon looking thingy). So far my meetings with Prof Lai has been rather fruitful and i deeply enjoy these discussion sessions. Looking forward to more; looking forward to start the experiments in the lab! But first, have to do some research and reading up before i start in the lab. Oh well.....

Excited,
Chemist Shawn (mwahahaha!)

UROPS Here I Come!!!

Just talked to Prof Lai over the phone!!!!

He was ok with taking another urops student but needs to meet me to talk about it a little. So i'm meeting him tomorrow morning at 8 30 am. Hopefully all goes well: ) Ha ha...

Excited,
Shawn aka MJ

Just Finished Exams!!!!

Oh what a relieve! Just finished my physical chemistry paper today! haha... Glad that it's over... now that the smaller things are over, time to focus on the bigger things. School starts next week as i am reading a module during special semester. Time to get back in my lab coat and googles and experiment with chemicals! (sounds fun ya??) Then there's still the deciding on whether to do an undergraduate research programme during year 3. Wanna get a chance to work with my favourite lecturer, Prof Lai (awesome organic chem lecturer). Hope to learn from him... Just concerned about the workload though... dun know if i will be able to handle it... Hmmm... so to do or not to do?? I have to decide soon...

MJ

To Futher My Studies Or Not To?

Recently, I have been thinking alot about furthering my studies after i complete my bachelor's degree. I been discovering a growing passion in learning Chemistry and i wonder if i would be interested in doing research; since that's pretty much what i'll be doing if i do my Master's or even a PhD. Then there's the question of whether to go for a Master's first or to go straight for a PhD. And then there's the question of whether i should do my Master's or PhD right here in NUS or to do it overseas, since i can always take up a scholarship for my graduate studies. But first and foremost, i need to be thinking about whether i should even embark on this journey at all. Hmmm... big big major decision... I need to find out more... Hence, i think i will be doing a Undergraduate Research module next semester just to see if it's something that I want to do; something that i will be excited about.

I wonder what God thinks about this... Need to be praying about this while finishing up my bachelor's in next 2 year.

Oh well, i think about all this after my exams!!! Right now still need to slaughter my physical chemistry paper and a arts/science general elective module. God help me!

Prof Chow in the making???
Shawn aka MJ