"A lot of importance is attached to your ability to work in a team, and that remains the case throughout your training."
Natalie K., Laboratory Chemist, Research and Development
My name is Natalie K. and I'm an apprenticelaboratory chemist. In my current department, we develop measuring methods that serve to check the quality of our products. We actually start at a relatively early stage of the development process for new products, in that we're already working with the active ingredients we intend to bring to market while the production process is still being set up. We then go to develop measuring methods to check both quality and quantity. These methods will later be integrated into the daily routines of the laboratories responsible for quality assurance during production. However this is just one of many specialist areas in which a laboratory chemist can be employed.
There are five of us in my laboratory. We get on very well with our boss and talk to each other while we're working about our lives outside work and general interests. But of course we're not an isolated team as we're closely linked to staff who carry out the everyday measurements in the production process. After all they work with the methods that we develop. Sometimes we also finish developing methods that have been started in other locations in the USA or in Biberach. This is why communication with other departments – even in other countries – is a key part of our work.
My typical day of work
7:00 am
My work day starts early. I first read my emails of course, then I check to see if my measurement from the previous day has run smoothly.
7:30 am
There is normally time for a coffee break afterwards. We like to have breakfast together with all our colleagues from different laboratories in our department and discuss what we're doing.
8:00 am
I start the new working day. I then weigh, dissolve and dilute samples.
10:00 am
The measuring device has to be prepared in order to start the new measurement.
11:30 am
Lunch, which I like to have with colleagues.
12:30 pm
I evaluate the previous day's measurement on my PC using a special computer program.
2:45 pm
Weights, measurements and results must now be documented in databases and Excel tables.
4:00 pm
Time to go home