The Half Decent Pharmaceutical Chemistry Blog

I mean, yes, this was my last exam of molecular biology as an undergraduate but, since my graduation thesis and, hopefully, my PhD project will have to do with this subject (ѱ*ѱ is probably shivering reading of someone whose hope is to spend his entire life doing molecular biology), it’s incorrect to say mission accomplished, isn’t it?

What can I say about this exam? Well, once again I’ve to say that molecular biologists do it better: unlike most of the exam you do in an Italian university, this was a proper written test, with multiple-choices, open-ended questions and a long, massively important final essay to write.
Otherwise, how can you, for example, decide whether a student deserves a 28 or a 27?! Asking him two questions and considering the reaction time?!

The only complain I could make to the professor (who, as you might have understood, will supervise my graduation thesis) is that I got the results two hours ago but the exam took place 18 days ago (June 11). But, you know, when you see the excellent result, you don’t bother any more, do you?

Moreover, only two exams left: so let the count-down begin! And bring me a beer! 

 

I know, it may not be the best translation and it’s not even the real name of the exam either, but it gives you an idea of what it was all about: (innovative) techniques to determine optical purity and assay other chiral properties of drugs (and metabolites in general).

Undoubtedly this is hardcore stuff: no one is likely to do such an exam, unless it studies industrial pharmacy. Even if you are a proper chemist and you’re particularly fond of chirality, the odds are that you can deal with some of the techniques I was lectured about, but not to such a degree of specialization for what concerns drugs.

As it turned out, the exam wasn’t that difficult, after all, as it often happens with this sort of advanced courses.

Still, one done and only three left over. I can announce, however, that from now on I’ll begin to write about normal subjects again, given that I should have a little bit more time.

Stay tuned. 

 

Yes, two exams in two days. Two exams which couldn’t have dealt with much more different themes. And, predictably, two diverse results, although neither of them bad.

On Monday, we began with toxicology, which has been one of the fastest oral exams I’ve ever done.

I don’t want to pretend that I deserved much more than the final 27/30 (the lowest mark I’ve ever got…) I received, but I do believe you simply cannot base a judgement on two sole questions, just because you want to have the exams finished by lunchtime.

I also considered refusing that mark, but, guys, a bit of calculations made me realize that in the end it would have virtually had no effect on my overall graduation score.

So, I simply glanced at the examiner and said I thought it was fair, after all. Mind you, I can’t waste my time on silly things like that, can I?

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This morning, on the other hand, it was time for a massively important exam: my very last exam of organic chemistry, whose practical part was described in the Laboratoire Organique posts.

A massive performance was needed and that was exactly what I brought out. As a result, brace yourself, the mark was an astonishing 32.5 out of 30! Yes, I know it looks impossible, in fact what I really got was a 30 cum laude (yup, it’s Latin, baby), but, you know, numbers, figures and statistics have a certain weight, haven’t they?

The professor (who is likely to be reading this) was rather impressed by the fact the my lab notebook was in English. Also the choice of four, instead of the required two, Fieser and Fieser's Reagents for Organic Synthesis monographs had some importance. Speaking of which, I eventually opted for DMAP, Potassium t-Butoxide, Potassium Fluoride and Triethylamine. Thank you to all the (two) readers who helped me to choose the substances for the exam.

Now, if you were thinking I was going to perform my usual pub-crawling (thank you for teaching me this expression, Chiara), you’d be wrong, because other exams are to come pretty soon, so, unfortunately, I can’t spend a couple of days drinking.

Still, at least I can have a beer while I post on my blog, can’t I? Moreover, there are 30.5°C in my room, right now…

Cheers!

 

Hello
ψ*ψ and I had a bit of an argument last week on ChemBark, as she revealed what she thinks about molecular biology.

Nevertheless, here I am to prove, once again (and for all, maybe), that a gentleman always does what a lady ask him. Even if there is a distinct possibility we would start a (posh) row, if we were to meet in a pub. Actually I should say “The Row”: the never-ending  debate between biologists and chemists.

Anyhow, ψ*ψ pointed out, in a comment to my previous post, that she reckoned I would receive much more comments if users didn’t have to type their name, email address and, eventually, website every time.

I have to say I have always thought the same but, because the software which powers the blog hadn’t been upgraded to its latest version, I couldn’t install the plug-in that would have made this possible.

To sum up, ψ*ψ’s complain made me realize I couldn’t wait any more: so, while Mitch upgraded the programme, I looked after the new plug-ins.

Accept my delicious cookie and, once you’ll have left a message, your personal information will be now saved forever.

EDIT: All the comments submitted in the last 24 hours have been automatically deleted by the software. I apologize for this inconvenience: I forgot to edit a command line in one of the php files. Still, now everything is fixed.

Goodbye
Yes, yes, yes! In your face! Today, ladies and gentlemen, I had my very LAST lecture, ever! Due to my outrageous organizational skills, although I’ve an entire year left before graduating, next year I’ll “only” have to work at a chemist for 6 months, follow a seven-days bioinformatics seminar and do my graduation thesis. And then…PhD!!!!!!!

Sadly, for our grand finale we had to go through, quite possibly, the most boring lecture ever: two hours of bioadhesive polymers utilized in advanced drug delivery systems. AHHHHH!

Do not think you’ll escape that: next month I plan to talk a little bit about delivery systems.
Still, I’ll never spend ages describing intestinal mucous.

I've to say it's great to be free! 

A bittersweet day, that's for sure. Yesterday, the news on TV showed dramatic pictures of the Blacksburg massacre.

Although I don't live in the US, like most of (self-proclaimed) scientists, I'd like to spend some time in an American university. Moreover, the sense of empathy was strengthened by the fact that most of the victims were students.

None the less, today has been a great day for me, as a student: today, in fact, I got an excellent mark in my exam of structural biology.

I'd like to say, preparing this exam has been awesome: so, I'm pretty confident I'll go on talking about structural biology here.

Besides, this morning was simply perfect: because the exam finished at 9:30-ish and I had to be in the lab at 2pm, I managed to go to the biggest park in town and spent a nice morning lying in the sun, listening to music and relaxing.

Now, as I said last Saturday, this week a new series (Laboratoire Organique) will begin: I hope it'll help increasing the number of organic chemists reading this blog, given that they seem to be majority of writers and readers of scientific blog. Or their blogs are just the best ones, who knows?

Anyhow, I believe we'll all have a great time in the laboratoire. So, stay tuned!