What I actually do here...

So it isn't always fun and games here in Finland, I actually spend most of my time as a research assistant in the department of medicinal chemistry at a pharmaceutical company here. Honestly though, it's pretty fun working there... and laid-back too. Maybe it's a European thing or maybe it's an R&D company and they understand that things take time, especially when you're trying to make something that hasn't been made before (or has been made in some other company but, of course, that information is never shared).

But yeah, I help out by carrying out the synthesis of these targets so I spend almost everyday suited up in the laboratory. I guess the most exciting part of the job is wondering if the reaction will work and then looking at the results. The actual syntheses of targets are usually fairly similar, but of course problems will always arise and you need to rethink your reaction. In the words of one of the researchers, Shit happens and then you die! Words of wisdom, am I right?

But yes, day to day work involves reading up on reactions, finding glassware that fit together, doing reaction and following it up with LC-MS or TLC plates, then work-up and extraction when the reaction is done. If I'm lucky, the NMR is clean and product doesn't need to be purified but that is not usually the case. So that is the usual routine; it can get a but repetitive but it helps me get my technique right and fine-tune things. The part I hate the most is setting up and finding glassware that fit together, finding the right part can take a good ten minutes sometimes (or I just suck it!).

Other than the usual, my days at work are also punctuated by pretty interesting meetings. There are the synthetic meetings that I get to attend where everyone gets an update on what everyone else is doing. There are some people who like to keep it brief while there are others who tell you the entire story. The project meetings involve more people and the pharmacologists, modellers, and project leaders come to talk about the in vitro and in vivo results of our molecules and the next steps. I can't really say much about this, but it's all really, really cool stuff. And it's a great feeling to be able to apply the principles I've learned in school to the results put before me.

Project meetings are a sort of tug-o-war between the medicinal chemists and the pharmacologists because the latter have their ideas, demands, and targets they want to test out but it takes time and energy to synthesize something. At the last meeting, I could actually see the chemists' faces darken when the modeller talked about his plans for a new target molecule. It's not like we don't want to make a good drug, but they don't seem to understand the hurdles and challenges. Well, this seems to contradict the laid-back feeling I mentioned earlier... maybe it's cause I don't have to deal with the people asking for the molecules. Yeah, that's probably it.

Then there are meetings outside of your project group that are meant to be interesting and fun. The other day, the researchers gathered to listen to what others did and learned at symposiums. There is also this recurring meeting called Scientific Mornings where a researcher would present a paper and their opinions on it. I really like to go so I can listen in on the discussion and insight (and these meetings are almost always in English :D).

And that is what I do with most of my time in Finland. Working here is very light-hearted and I like how my supervisors are all so amiable and easy to talk to. There is no pressure or wall between us so I actually don't feel awkward asking them questions. I really feel like I am learning a lot and I hope they enjoy my company as much as I enjoy theirs.

The Pheasant

Several posts ago, I mentioned a pheasant sighting close to work. I happened upon it again a few weeks ago and got to snap a few photos of it.

It was a pretty adorable sight because I first saw the pheasant emerge from a bush and, seconds later, another smaller one emerged from the same spot. And then another, and another, and another, and another! Ughh, it was so cute.

Counting the steps of the sun

There are a many fields of sunflowers in Finland. The best thing is that you don't have to go far to find one, this field of flowers was only a few steps from work. You're technically supposed to pay to pick these flowers... but yeah. In Helsinki, you can pick sunflowers and beans for free though :)

Ah! Sunflower

By William Blake

Ah! Sunflower, weary of time,

Who countest the steps of the sun,

Seeking after that sweet golden clime

Where the traveller's journey is done;

Where the youth pined away with desire,

And the pale virgin shrouded in snow,

Arise from their graves and aspire;

Where my sunflower wishes to go. 

Tuohilampi

I spent the past two days in Tuohilampi (note, lampi means pond in Finnish) participating in some training sessions. Although I'm sure the regular Finn would only find it average, I found it quite beautiful. After sitting for hours in the auditorium, it was nice to go out for a walk and explore the grounds. The training centre was surrounded by forest and walking along the paths led me to a marsh that I traversed through walking on some planks. 

Planks heading out into the marsh. 

The lake. 

Planks heading back into the forest.

If you look closely, you'll see that the clouds form a skull with horns radiating out of it. 

Churches at Kaiseniemi

The weather has been really kind today. It was sunny, albeit a bit windy, and it just seemed too nice to not go out. So I dragged one of my room mates out with me to Kaiseniemi to see Helsinki Cathedral, an evangelical lutheran cathedral built in the neoclassical style. 

It was a sight to behold because of its stark white stone walls that contrast with the deep azure of the sky. There's a giant green dome that is surrounded by four slightly smaller green domes. 

Helsinki Cathedral

I also tried to get some shots of the twelve apostles, but I only got half of them. The walkway just around the cathedral became too narrow to take pictures properly. I guess I could've taken them from below... oh well.

As soon we stepped into the cathedral, organ music started playing. It was a sad tune the whole solemn feel of the place did make me feel repentant. The inside of the cathedral was actually a bit plain. I don't think I'm a revisionist but a plain place of worship seems like it would be a good way to clear the mind and focus too.

When we finished soaking it all in, we exited the church and saw another cross in the distant and decided to go to that one too. Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral, however, was not a tourist attraction and was available for worship only. But it was a really nice looking building.

Actually, the bridge that led up to this church is called Bridge of Love. It's really cute because couples write their names on a padlock and secure it to the side of the bridge to show their commitment to staying together. I'm actually surprised there aren't more locks but it's only been erected in 2008, I'm sure it'll fill up given the time.

And here are whole bunch of other things I saw but am too lazy to describe:

Why did the pheasant cross the road?

I don't know.

Actually, I'm not sure if that was even a pheasant, but it was pretty big.

Either way, the bird was pretty darn cute making a mad dash across the road on its little feet.

I wish I had the opportunity to snap a shot of it though.

Visiting the beach in Matinkylä

It was sort of chilly today but the sun was unobstructed, so I decided to visit the beach in my neighbourhood after work. Haha, I actually live pretty close to the beach... it's probably a 30 minute walk away from my apartment, but I just took the bus anyway.

So the beach is sort of hidden away behind a patch of trees. But then again, you can say everything is hidden away behind a patch of trees just because there are trees everywhere here. Anyway, I decided to walk out onto the pier and just sit my bum down to enjoy the view. It's an odd feeling when you just focus on the waves until it feels like you're the one that's moving instead of the water. And so I sat until some other people came on... I felt like I was being a pylon and it seemed awkward so I just went away.

But yeah, pretty peaceful. I'll definitely come back. Plus, I was told that people go walking on the beach once it's all frozen in the winter. That should be pretty fun and amusing!

I think that pier extends from a restaurant by the beach.

The pier I sat on.

4everrrrrr

There's also a no diving sign.

It was about 19:00

Dinner for today. I've eaten too healthily lately so I just had a cheeseburger.

GEESE

And because I like to be redundant... but the view is nice though!