Last week in the Lab Technician community, conversations spanned a range of practical and professional topics. Members were particularly focused on job opportunities, with remote roles in wastewater services catching attention. There was also a buzz around metallurgical testing positions and discussions about transitioning skills from stability to formulation work. Additionally, practical tips on handling unusual samples and the essential software for lab data management were shared, providing valuable insights for daily lab operations.
This Week’s Hot Topics
Weekly Lab Technician Jobs: Remote roles in wastewater services available
If you’re considering remote opportunities, wastewater services are opening up some interesting positions. This could be a great fit for those with relevant experience.
Weekly Lab Technician Jobs: Metallurgical testing role in demand
For those with an interest or background in metallurgy, there’s a notable demand for lab technicians in this area. It’s worth exploring if you’re looking to pivot or specialize.
pH probes for viscous suspensions
The discussion on pH probes for viscous materials is drawing attention, especially for those dealing with challenging sample types.
Moving from stability to formulation
Transitioning from stability testing to formulation work is a hot topic, with members sharing insights on skill adaptation and career growth.
Unusual Samples Tested in Labs
Dive into some of the unique and challenging samples lab technicians encounter. It’s a reminder of the creativity needed in our field.
Essential Software for Lab Data Management
Managing lab data effectively is crucial; this discussion covers the best software tools to streamline your processes.
Switched from stability to formulation last year — flat-surface, open-junction pH electrodes (gel-filled) saved us on creams and gels. For really gooey stuff, make a 1:1 DI water slurry and give it about 90 seconds to equilibrate; clean with warm DI and a quick isopropanol rinse if it’s oily. If you’re eyeing those “remote roles in wastewater”, the same probe handles sludge decently, but expect junction clogging and recal weekly.
Quick example: on viscous gels, a spear-tip food pH electrode with a PTFE sleeve junction plus ATC gave us stable readings in under 30 s; I let the sample equilibrate at 25°C and keep a slow stir to avoid air pockets. Tiny caveat to @Guide’s dilution trick: if you add DI, calibrate and measure at the same temp/ionic strength or you’ll chase a 0.1–0.2 pH drift, and please don’t store the probe in DI (3 M KCl all day), .
For really thick ointments, I set a small disk of pre-wetted lab wipe (DI + a drop of 3 M KCl) on the sample, then press the electrode onto the pad — keeps the junction happy and stops skating, and I get a stable read in about 30 s. Learned this while moving from stability to formulation like folks mentioned last week; just don’t over-wet the pad or you’ll bias low by a few hundredths. Hat tip to @Maya_S and this note from Mettler Toledo: https://www.mt.com/us/en/home/library/know-how/lab-analytical-instruments/ph-measurement-semi-solids.html.