My fifth week at the University of Houston has went by incredibly fast! Each time I write a new blog about my week, I realize just how much I had gotten done that week. While I did not further my research much, I was able to learn a lot this week, especially having to present twice during the week! This week was a lot of preparing for our poster presentations on Friday, so my research came to a halt to prepare for that. The poster presentations were mostly for the Welch group we were with, but we participated and created our own poster alongside them. The day after we presented our posters, the Welch group would sadly head back home for the rest of the summer.
a lizard I found while walking to lunch on Tuesday
Monday was spent attempting to use the plasma cleaner to clean our slides, but the pump attached did not have clean oil, so we sadly wasted a lot of time attempting to get the plasma cleaner started. Later in the day, I asked one of the graduate students to assist me with the vacuum tube furnace. The nitrogen flow took forever to set up correctly, even taking some of Tuesday to finish. Towards the end of the day Monday, I was hesitant to begin firing my slides, since it would take quite a lot of time to complete. I decided that I would open up my computer and fix a problem I’d been having for several months. This took a few hours to figure out, but I was able to fix the issue I was having. This little detour I took had me going home at 7pm!
a picture of the dipping machine I gathered for my poster
Tuesday was spent finishing several components to the tube furnace, and beginning lots of work on my poster. I began collecting images to show on my poster, and started creating a few diagrams that could clearly show what I was trying to convey.
Wednesday, I took a small detour to assist Katya with creating a solution of HCl and KCl, I did the math, and we were able to create the solution she needed (after searching the lab for the materials we could find.) This ate up a huge chunk of the day, and I did not have enough time to begin anything so late in the day. We fixed the last few issues with the tube furnace, and I gathered even more pictures for my poster!
my finished poster!
Thursday was spent finishing my poster, and preparing myself for the presentations the next day. I ran into some complications with my poster, and I had to fix quite a bit of the file before I was able to print it for the next day. Our quartz slides came in on Thursday, so we would have them ready for Saturday, or Monday to be able to use!
Friday was the poster presentations. Tiffany, Katya and I had to attend the weekly Baldelli Lab group meeting early in the morning, and then go to poster presentations a few hours later. After the group meeting, we got ready for our presentations, and made our way to the building where we would be presenting.
I ate many plates of sushi (the bill was very high)
We helped set up, and begun preparing ourselves to present to experts, and other students passing through the halls. Overall, I believe my presentations went really well, even if I wasn’t able to answer a few of the questions given to me. We wrapped up these presentations and cleaned the area. Later that evening, I gathered Katya and Tiffany to go with me to a revolving sushi bar! It was incredibly fun, and the public transport didn’t take too long getting there. I thought it would be good to have a celebratory dinner after this month of hard work.
Saturday morning, the Welch students moved out of the dorms, and it was so strange to see the next room completely empty. At 11, we would have our closing meeting with the Welch students, saying goodbye to our RA, and saying goodbye to everyone we had been working with for the summer. However, we did have to do a five minute “elevator talk” in the giant lecture room to all the parents, and Welch students. Everyone’s presentation went well, and I believe mine did too! Even if I stuttered an incredible amount. Tiffany and I said goodbye to Katya, and it was
a group picture with our RA and Professor Baldelli!!
incredibly sad seeing someone who we’d seen every day for the past month get back in her car and drive off. While I do have to be in the lab, I wish to take it easy, since the group members we had been working with would be going back to their own places, to do their own things. I may not have known them long, but I do know that being able to work with a variety of people really brightened my summer. This last week here with just Tiffany and I will be a little lonely, but I am glad I was able to meet the people I did.
Saida, it sounds like you have learned a ton and I am glad to hear that your presentation went well! Your poster is looking really great!