Learning in the lab
Pipetting, measuring and analyzing: Laboratory technicians are very close to the research - and support the scientists at the Max Planck Institutes. Almost all Max Planck Institutes in the natural sciences have laboratories for experimental research.
The majority of them provide training for
- Biology laboratory technician
- Chemistry laboratory technician
- Physics laboratory technician
- Photographic media laboratory technician.
The activities of the various laboratory technicians are very similar to the content of traditional school subjects; for example, biology laboratory technicians mainly deal with living organisms: they prepare tests on laboratory animals, plants, microorganisms and cell cultures and carry them out according to instructions. They compare and examine the structure of viruses or bacteria under an electron microscope. In biochemical experiments, they prepare cells, proteins, blood or tissue samples in chemical solutions and test the reactions. In animal experiments, they hold laboratory animals during procedures, take blood and tissue samples or inject drugs.
Chemical laboratory technicians produce chemical substances, analyze substances and separate mixtures of substances. They carry out series of experiments and evaluate the recorded results. When investigating the structures and properties of substances, they use a wide variety of methods: They make analyses taking into account volume, mass, concentration, pressure and the existence of electric or magnetic fields.
Physics laboratory technicians determine the properties of materials and systems through experiments or series of measurements. They document, analyze and interpret the results obtained and prepare them for physicists or development engineers. They also maintain and service the technical test and process equipment.
Photo media laboratory technicians master the classic laboratory craft as well as digital image processing on the computer. They learn to develop photos using developing machines, minilabs or manually in chemical baths. They also produce reproductions, scan images or slides or photograph them and then work in corrections and special effects. Or they combine image and text material on the screen and print it out.