• Question: what is the ratio of paperwork to tests and experiments in your average day or week.

    Asked by to Amy, Anita, Daryl, Nimesh, Sandra on 20 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Sandra Chiwanza

      Sandra Chiwanza answered on 20 Jun 2014:

      Hi,
      For me, it depends on the day of the week and how many sampled come in on the day. They will determine hoe much paper work. The actual sample processing or testing does not take long. So I would say the ratio is 2 is to 1 on average
      It is a necessary evil given the nature if my work, which is to collect data and make sure it is all present and very correct.

    • Photo: Anita Thomas

      Anita Thomas answered on 20 Jun 2014:

      Hi gabecpr2706,

      I’m finding that the longer I work in Science, the more paperwork I need to do. When I first started, I was mostly doing experiments. These days I’m mostly doing writing (of papers, grants and lectures). It’s probably a 1:5 ratio now – and I’m not happy about it!

      Cheers,
      Anita.

    • Photo: Amy Monaghan

      Amy Monaghan answered on 20 Jun 2014:

      Hey Gabecpr2706

      I do a lot more actual science than paperwork, mostly because I don’t like paperwork, and doing most of the administration is my boss’s job not mine! I have to do quite a bit of data analysis but I don’t mind doing that as that’s when you see your results come together and what they mean.

      Amy

    • Photo: Nimesh Mistry

      Nimesh Mistry answered on 20 Jun 2014:

      I sadly spend more time in my office now and have undergraduate students to do the experiments now. I spend a lot of time coming up with new project ideas and writing the results to publish in journals.

    • Photo: Daryl Jones

      Daryl Jones answered on 26 Jun 2014:

      At the moment I’m doing a lot of paperwork!!!! It usually varies from month to month, but right now i am about to publish some experiments, which means LOTS of writing and paperwork. It can be a good break from the lab though, so i don’t mind it 🙂

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