Hello everyone, my name is Natalie Hernandez and I am currently at the University of Houston interning in Professor Baldelli’s lab. So far it has been an amazing experience.
Professor Baldelli and I met on Monday in order to discuss new research ideas. He gave me a few options, and then he brought out a research idea that just seemed like something that I would really enjoy doing.
The problem I am facing is the fact that our current microscopes are perpendicular to the current sample. This gives us the clearest image possible, but in certain situations a microscope needs to be coming in at an angle. For example, the sample may have an obstruction directly above it so we need to come in at an angle to see the sample. Unfortunately, when we angle the microscope the entire image cannot be seen clearly. Only a thin stripe of the sample can be. In our lab we are trying to help clear the image by utilizing what is called a diffraction grating and optical lenses.
Besides the meeting on Monday, my day mostly consisted of receiving reading material that will greatly expand my knowledge on the subject. I took notes and organized my material to split it up evenly for each day.
On Tuesday I was introduced to the materials and objects I would be working with. I am going to be working hands-on with a light source, image, objective, tube lens, grating, and other things that I have not been introduced to yet. I also spend Tuesday studying some more of the reading material given to me. Professor Baldelli also met with me and a few grad students in order to discuss the process the microscope goes through in a more defined manner, and to describe how the microscopes will be calibrated. We are still awaiting a day that works for everyone to actually calibrate a microscope so things can be more hands on.
Wednesday I designed my layout for a part of the microscope. I had to research each part and figure out what sort of distances they needed between them. Created the layout and then checked with professor Baldelli. He told me that I had the right idea, but that I am giving myself a disadvantage by not using the right angles and straight lines on the breadboard. If I followed the lines given then it would be much simpler to make sure everything is aligned correctly, height and lengthwise. I also got my light source set up securely.
Un-ideal set up
Ideal Set Up
Thursday began with connecting the television to the camera that we started off with. We began by looking at the image and looking at what adjustments we needed to make with our set up in order to create the most ideal image possible. We then began looking at the things we would need to make the ideal set up. I started and finished my final draft with all my dimensions as well. I will probably need to revise this draft some more, but for now its what we need.
Final design Draft
Friday was mostly a day for getting more information soaked in. We had a meeting where the professor told us all the great information he got while he was at the conference in Colorado. We also attached a new CCD camera that will give us better images. I began looking through the program we will be utilizing for the lab called image J. This program was super cool to look at because it gives you all the information you need to know about your image in different ways. You can gather ratios, dimensions, and most importantly receive graphs that give you very important information about your image.
Friday night was a night of fun. Our RA took us to the galleria where we shopped. It was so much fun and crazy to see how big it was. I also had the best gelato.
Gelato
Saturday we went in for a short period of time and set up a program called mathematica. We had some technical difficulties and I was pretty confused about the computer set up I had to complete. We did as much as possible, but did not get too far. I am hoping to get this set up done and running by Monday so I can progress my project.
There are no comments published yet.