I've been thinking a lot about my research experiences, so I thought I might as well blog about them. .. I break the experiences into three periods: the Howard Hughes program at Duke (from 6/2009 to 8/2009), Research in Chemistry (Rchem) at NCSSM (8/2009-2/2010) and now the International Summer Science Institute at the Weizmann Institute (7/2010). I am really thankful for all three because they've shown me how different research can be in different size labs, different working environments, and the lessons you learn from different mentors. I already blogged about my experience at Duke, but basically that was a pretty small lab, but I had so much independence and really felt a sense of responsibility for that project. That's why I worked so hard on it for so long, and I would take care of my research responsibilities before anything else. In Rchem I learned, acquired, and practiced the skills that research requires: organization (setting weekly goals), reading (and understanding) the literature, and communication (whether it be abstract, poster, paper, or powerpoint). The Howard Hughes program sort of hinted at these skills, I developed them extensively in Rchem, and I finally have to implement them "on my own" here at the Weizmann Institute (of course I still have my mentor for input and guidance, but I don't have anything remotely like the research 'network' at NCSSM). I get frustrated with how short the program is, and the lack of independence I have, but I understand why. My mentor at Duke was the PI of the lab, my professor at school was an experienced scientist and teacher, and my mentor now is a masters student - all very different but very amazing women.
We'll see what UNC has in store for me :o)
Side note: we just had a lecture about all the fun, amazing stuff we'll get to do in the desert, and Dead Sea. I'm super stoked!!!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
A culture without boundaries
So in keeping track of quotes that I find very interesting (or entertaining), the title of this post is referring to something the vice president of the Weizmann Institute said ("Science is a culture without boundaries") and I found that really interesting. Despite all the various nationalities represented in this program, you can always have ridiculously intense conversations about anything from particle physics to environmental ecology.
As to phrases I've gathered in the lab, "real chemists work in the hood" (I think that's just the way of convincing us to be safe with the chemicals) and "chemists are too good for micropipetters." I guess my research last summer was biology/biochem, and not chemistry. When I asked my mentor why she was so anti-micropipetters, her response was that since they are calibrated for water, they're only useful for water. Chemists use real chemicals. I've also discovered, from my own lab experience, that biologists use plastic microcentrifuge tubes, as compared to chemists using glass vials. And one more: Biologists use plastic transfer pipettes, chemists use glass pasteur pipettes. I still love bio though :o)
I will try and simplify my project as much as possible, and if you want more details as to the actual molecules and their interactions, comment/email me and I'll either reply with an email or just make a new blog post about it. Essentially we are building layers on top of either a silicon, quartz, or indium tin oxide slide (glass covered with indium tin oxide (ITO), so it serves as an electrode). Cleaning and prepping the slides is a rather long and arduous endeavor, but once that is done, we prepare the monolayer on top. Then after more cleaning processes, we make multilayers on top of the monolayer by soaking the slides in solution of BPEB (organic compound) or a palladium solution (PdCl2 [PhCN]2). Multilayers self-assemble on the monolayer ("self-assemble" meaning we don't have to superheat the solutions or use catalysts, etc. We literally just prepare the various solutions and drop in the slides). After each "layer" we collect data, and the final layer (the "whipped cream" on top of our tiramisu slide, if you will ;o) is osmium (after which we collect much more data). For silicon slides we see how light reflects off using an ellipsometer. For quartz slides we use a UV-vis to observe light absorption. I'm not really sure what happens with the ITO yet. . .The basic idea is that there are several layers of organic compound alternating with Pd, and BPEB which conduct electricity to the osmium, even though Pd isn't electro-active in the conditions we used. My mentor, Ariella, is thus trying to figure out how this happens, and what the electron-transport mechanism is, so then these multilayers can be used in electronic devices (i.e. if your motherboard screws up, right now you'd have to get a complete new one, and the old one is trash. If these multilayers were used, then you could "refresh" the chips in your motherboard by putting them back in solution and regrowing the conductive multilayer).
We use a lot more instrumentation to characterize/understand the multilayers after they are complete, but since we only finished the multilayer yesterday, I don't exactly know what comes next. . .
As to phrases I've gathered in the lab, "real chemists work in the hood" (I think that's just the way of convincing us to be safe with the chemicals) and "chemists are too good for micropipetters." I guess my research last summer was biology/biochem, and not chemistry. When I asked my mentor why she was so anti-micropipetters, her response was that since they are calibrated for water, they're only useful for water. Chemists use real chemicals. I've also discovered, from my own lab experience, that biologists use plastic microcentrifuge tubes, as compared to chemists using glass vials. And one more: Biologists use plastic transfer pipettes, chemists use glass pasteur pipettes. I still love bio though :o)
I will try and simplify my project as much as possible, and if you want more details as to the actual molecules and their interactions, comment/email me and I'll either reply with an email or just make a new blog post about it. Essentially we are building layers on top of either a silicon, quartz, or indium tin oxide slide (glass covered with indium tin oxide (ITO), so it serves as an electrode). Cleaning and prepping the slides is a rather long and arduous endeavor, but once that is done, we prepare the monolayer on top. Then after more cleaning processes, we make multilayers on top of the monolayer by soaking the slides in solution of BPEB (organic compound) or a palladium solution (PdCl2 [PhCN]2). Multilayers self-assemble on the monolayer ("self-assemble" meaning we don't have to superheat the solutions or use catalysts, etc. We literally just prepare the various solutions and drop in the slides). After each "layer" we collect data, and the final layer (the "whipped cream" on top of our tiramisu slide, if you will ;o) is osmium (after which we collect much more data). For silicon slides we see how light reflects off using an ellipsometer. For quartz slides we use a UV-vis to observe light absorption. I'm not really sure what happens with the ITO yet. . .The basic idea is that there are several layers of organic compound alternating with Pd, and BPEB which conduct electricity to the osmium, even though Pd isn't electro-active in the conditions we used. My mentor, Ariella, is thus trying to figure out how this happens, and what the electron-transport mechanism is, so then these multilayers can be used in electronic devices (i.e. if your motherboard screws up, right now you'd have to get a complete new one, and the old one is trash. If these multilayers were used, then you could "refresh" the chips in your motherboard by putting them back in solution and regrowing the conductive multilayer).
We use a lot more instrumentation to characterize/understand the multilayers after they are complete, but since we only finished the multilayer yesterday, I don't exactly know what comes next. . .
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Holiest of Holy
Holy. . .! No, really, that essentially sums up the past 2.5 days I've spent in Jerusalem, which has been a rather intense experience. First of all I'm still trying to get over the fact that I went into the lab today. Sunday here is like our Monday; the weekend here is Friday/Saturday, and Sunday starts the working week. It's weird to think about, no? Anyway, Jerusalem. . .
Tunnels:
First thing on the Jerusalem agenda was the City of David. This is the old/original Jerusalem, underneath which is an extensive tunnel system. The tunnels were meant to essentially safeguard the water supply in the event of war, so that no enemies could cut it off. We walked for about 45 minutes through pitch black tunnels that were usually about only 1.7m high (but it varied). I hit my head loads of times, but the cold water felt nice though (at times it was waist-deep, but mostly it was below my knee).
Western Wall:
The Western Wall is the holiest place for Jews. It represents the western wall of the platform that King Harod build on top of Foundation Rock (for Christians/Jews: where Adam and Eve came down, for Muslims: where Mohammad ascended into heaven). On top of the platform he built the 2nd temple (later destroyed by the Romans). We took a tour through the tunnels at the base of the wall, and our tour guide was excellent. He told us a very moving story about an old man that came to work as a guide at the wall, because he (the man) had survived Auschwitz.
Important Religious Places:
It's weird for me to think about the fact that I touched the marble table that the Christians consider to be where Jesus was resurrected from, and I walked by the cave that he was kept in. We went to the Holy Sepulcher, and Mary's tomb, and some other important places. I wish I knew more about Christianity (now that I know so much about Judaism), so I could have appreciated that experience more. Now that I think about it, most of what I do know about it is from studying European art. . .
Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum):
This is by far the most well thought-out building/museum in the world. Our guide explained that the triangular prism shape of the museum is significant because it repesents half of the star of David, and going through the museum is like going through a time line. The prism gets narrower as you reach "The Final Solution" but then it opens up to look out over the valley (representing hope for the future). There is just so much significance in the architecture alone, and there's no way I can explain how well the exhibits and artifacts (and how many there are) are displayed. I highly recommend looking at the website (yadvashem.org), and visiting Jerusalem just for this museum (you can take a virtual tour online in the meantime). We learn about the facts and what happened in school, but this experience was so emotional in how it emhasized the lives of the individuals.
The children's memorial was a separate building outside (dedicated/funded by a family whose son died in Auschwitz). It was essentially a dark room filled with mirrors, and there were an infinite number of reflections of candles. A voice reads off the names of children that died (1.5 million of them). The significance of that is that when one child is killed, an entire universe is lost (his children, grandchildren, etc), and so whenever a name is read, the room and the infinite candles represent his universe.
Intense.
On a happier note -> Fun Fact: I ate dinner at the restaurant that recently (Jan 2010) set a Guiness World Record for most hummus served at once (>9000lbs). The hummus there was excellent!
I'll talk about science-research things soon, I promise. I do actually work, as hard as that is to believe ;)
Tunnels:
First thing on the Jerusalem agenda was the City of David. This is the old/original Jerusalem, underneath which is an extensive tunnel system. The tunnels were meant to essentially safeguard the water supply in the event of war, so that no enemies could cut it off. We walked for about 45 minutes through pitch black tunnels that were usually about only 1.7m high (but it varied). I hit my head loads of times, but the cold water felt nice though (at times it was waist-deep, but mostly it was below my knee).
Western Wall:
The Western Wall is the holiest place for Jews. It represents the western wall of the platform that King Harod build on top of Foundation Rock (for Christians/Jews: where Adam and Eve came down, for Muslims: where Mohammad ascended into heaven). On top of the platform he built the 2nd temple (later destroyed by the Romans). We took a tour through the tunnels at the base of the wall, and our tour guide was excellent. He told us a very moving story about an old man that came to work as a guide at the wall, because he (the man) had survived Auschwitz.
Important Religious Places:
It's weird for me to think about the fact that I touched the marble table that the Christians consider to be where Jesus was resurrected from, and I walked by the cave that he was kept in. We went to the Holy Sepulcher, and Mary's tomb, and some other important places. I wish I knew more about Christianity (now that I know so much about Judaism), so I could have appreciated that experience more. Now that I think about it, most of what I do know about it is from studying European art. . .
Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum):
This is by far the most well thought-out building/museum in the world. Our guide explained that the triangular prism shape of the museum is significant because it repesents half of the star of David, and going through the museum is like going through a time line. The prism gets narrower as you reach "The Final Solution" but then it opens up to look out over the valley (representing hope for the future). There is just so much significance in the architecture alone, and there's no way I can explain how well the exhibits and artifacts (and how many there are) are displayed. I highly recommend looking at the website (yadvashem.org), and visiting Jerusalem just for this museum (you can take a virtual tour online in the meantime). We learn about the facts and what happened in school, but this experience was so emotional in how it emhasized the lives of the individuals.
The children's memorial was a separate building outside (dedicated/funded by a family whose son died in Auschwitz). It was essentially a dark room filled with mirrors, and there were an infinite number of reflections of candles. A voice reads off the names of children that died (1.5 million of them). The significance of that is that when one child is killed, an entire universe is lost (his children, grandchildren, etc), and so whenever a name is read, the room and the infinite candles represent his universe.
Intense.
On a happier note -> Fun Fact: I ate dinner at the restaurant that recently (Jan 2010) set a Guiness World Record for most hummus served at once (>9000lbs). The hummus there was excellent!
I'll talk about science-research things soon, I promise. I do actually work, as hard as that is to believe ;)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Cactus Fruit
I arrived yesterday, after one of the most interesting security experiences I've ever been through (just know that if you're flying to Israel, it will be a safe flight because of all the measures they have in place). The first thing I noticed during the drive from Tel-Aviv to Rehovot was how barren the landscape was. It was pretty sandy/desert looking and there would be occasional patches of grass or rows of planted trees (clearly ones that wouldn't grow there of their own accord). Seeing the palm trees was exciting though! Anyway, when we got into Rehovot it still looked barren save for a few buildings: desert, desert, desert, HIGH RISE APARTMENTS. But then we arrived at the Weizmann Institute and I have since deemed it the most beautiful place I've ever been fortunate to spend time in. There are so many types of plants and flowers wherever you look, and the architecture of the buildings is so much more interesting than the dull buildings on Research Drive that I was so accustomed to. I love being outside here, and honestly, it was/is hotter in NC!
Meeting people from around the world is always a fun experience; I'm practicing my Spanish with the Mexicans and Spaniards, making fun of the English language with the Brits, and explaining coordination chemistry terms to my Hungarian lab partner. Speaking of the lab, we met our mentors today, and mine is absolutely fabulous! She's a bubbly, energetic, workaholic masters student here at the institute, and is working on characterizing self-assembling oligomers. I forgot that feeling of knowing absolutely nothing about a subject, but was treated to a large dose of it today as I read the literature. It's a lot of organic chemistry (organometallic chemistry actually), and I regret not bringing my old notes.
So it goes. I can't really do this experience justice, just like I can't give cactus fruit a suitable description, but I'll do the best I can!
Meeting people from around the world is always a fun experience; I'm practicing my Spanish with the Mexicans and Spaniards, making fun of the English language with the Brits, and explaining coordination chemistry terms to my Hungarian lab partner. Speaking of the lab, we met our mentors today, and mine is absolutely fabulous! She's a bubbly, energetic, workaholic masters student here at the institute, and is working on characterizing self-assembling oligomers. I forgot that feeling of knowing absolutely nothing about a subject, but was treated to a large dose of it today as I read the literature. It's a lot of organic chemistry (organometallic chemistry actually), and I regret not bringing my old notes.
So it goes. I can't really do this experience justice, just like I can't give cactus fruit a suitable description, but I'll do the best I can!
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