What I'm doing when I'm not gallivanting around the country

           I have only four weeks left in New Zealand. It's going to be great to see everyone, but it will be hard to leave this amazing experience behind. Since I've been working at Bio-Mer for 6 weeks now I thought I'd share a little bit about what I do here.

            Bio-Mer is a small nutraceutical company that specializes in mussel based health products. For example, you've probably heard that fish oil is good for you because of omega 3 fatty acids, well mussel oil is similar to that. Bio-Mer's largest market is in mussel oil capsules which have some amazing health benefits. Seriously! Do a quick google and you'll see what I mean.
            I've spent most of my time doing research on product development. I don't want to spill the beans too soon on new products, but I will tell you that I've been looking at ways to incorporate some of the most recent developments in arthritis and cancer treatments into the existing products. It can be quite difficult to research, even using some really nice scientific databases, because not all of the answers are figured out yet for the relatively new area of study. It's difficult, but also very rewarding! Since I've only got one year left of study, I've got a pretty wide background in chemistry, but this research required some serious learning. None of my courses at school prepared me for this particular vein of research, but I knew enough to jump in and start trying. I think I have found a solution to my first research question and now it is just a matter of testing it out. For a variety of reasons that has been put on hold, but in the meantime I've been doing more research on oil purification. It's a big change from college, where the TA or professor can tell you if you've got the right answer. The staff here is pretty small and they keep busy with their own tasks so I've learned to work fairly independently. Everyone is willing to answer my questions when I have them though and sometimes I am even able to answer their questions!
          It hasn't all been paper based research, though. Since I've been here I've also done a variety of odd jobs in the lab and in the office. I've learned, somewhat successfully, how to use lab instruments that were completely new to me. I've also seen what it takes to run a business like this, even if I'm not much help with it. Six weeks does not seem like a very long time, but it's amazing looking back at how much I've learned. I can't wait to look back at the end and see everything I have accomplished.
            My internship is not what I expected when I first signed-up months ago, but I'm so glad to be here that I don't mind at all. Nothing will be quite like you imagine, sometimes it's better and sometimes it's worse. Even the most mundane things, like working, or talking with my flatmates, or grocery shopping have combined to make this one of the best summers I've ever had.