Week 5

It is hard to believe the REU is already half way over!

The summer is flying by, and after filling out my midsummer evaluation it is encouraging to see that I've made progress, but still have some ways to go in completing my original goals for the summer. The experiment I performed this week could possibly have large implications, but I haven't been able to go use the SEM and TEM to find out for sure. My intuition tells me that I'm going to have to make a few adjustments before I get the desired results. DB and Scott were in Charleston, SC until yesterday, so I enjoyed sitting out in the sun most of the week . . . No, actually I was in the lab with Noah most of the time, and it was nice to get to know him a little better. We also have a new high school student working in the lab, so I'm no longer at the very bottom of the food chain.

So all things said, another great week!

Week 4

Another good week in the lab.

This week was somewhat of a transition week. DB is back from Norway, so on Wednesday we had a group meeting, where I gave a "blackboard presentation" on what I've done so far, as well as what I intend to do. Next week Scott and DB will be gone to Charleston, SC for a conference, so today my goal is to get the protocol done for my experiment next week so they can check over it before they leave. Yesterday I got to go with them down to use the SEM to check for nanoparticles on my membrane, and we think we saw some, so that was cool.
I've enjoyed working with Scott, Noah, Jason, Vasile, DB, and a new high school student named Lexsa. Everyone is extremely nice and a pleasure to be around.

Well, I think it is about time to go eat some pizza!

Week 3

Well I finally feel like I'm pretty well accustomed to the lab. So far everything is going fairly well, and I'm hoping that the experiment I'm working on right now will produce some good results. We ran sort of a trial version of it, and the results were good enough that we decided to go ahead and do the experiment and hope for the best. I'm working on a report right now to send to DB in Norway about everything I've learned and done this far, and I can honestly say that I think I've learned quite a bit, but obviously still have a lot of learning to do.

Overall I have truly enjoyed the experience so far this summer!

Week 2

Another good week!

It has been nice getting acquainted in the lab and further getting to know my lab mentor and advisers. Now that DB is in Norway we pretty much just goof off the entire time (just kidding). I have actually almost completed two experiments now, have figured out the goals for the summer, and am waiting to hear back from DB as to what he thinks of my powerpoint to be presented Monday. I can't believe how fast these weeks are flying by already, and I am looking forward to pizza this afternoon.