TrUE Scholars
Over the past month, my project has made quite a lot of progress. While I am not the only one working on it anymore, I find it to be easier to gain insight and help along the research process with someone in the same position as me. My research is centered around LIBS or Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. This LIBS research, while not easy, is extremely interesting and can hopefully help in future extraterrestrial endeavors with its numerous similarities to the Mars rover.
Our lab has also purchased new equipment that will be used to analyze data from our
LIB. The depth profiler or profilometer uses two different lenses to present results
on crater depth and size and provide a 3D image. It can use either a laser or a confocal
lens that is typically used for smaller-sized pieces. This profilometer looks unassuming
at first, but depending on the size of the analyte it can take up to 4 hours for a
single 12 mm washer scan. This just shows the depth profiler's ability to provide
an accurate and very cool scan.
So far this semester, we have endured setbacks in our setup. The noise-to-signal ratio
has been optimized with cooling techniques, but we've begun to experience light bleeding
into the spectrograph. This will require us to think about our setup and possibly
rebuild to reduce light escaping into the spectrograph. While the research has not
only been challenging, it has also begun to help me realize I can work with more people
on projects that I started, and that help is a good thing. Working alone has usually
been more natural to me, but working in the Gamez research group has taught me that
help within the lab comes in all forms. Help can come from the laughter your colleagues
bring or the advice a graduate research student can give you. These colleagues have
helped me astronomically with both my research and becoming a well-rounded student
by helping me understand more about the research process.
Initially, I thought this project would be very hard to take on once my previous research
partner had graduated. But luckily, with the addition of a new person in our lab,
I was able to still contribute to the project and acquire new ideas as well. I think
along with my new partner and the help and guidance of Dr. Gamez, I continuously learned
more and more about the research process and our project.
Since I recently submitted the abstract for the URC, I can feel more anxiety about
the upcoming conference and the presentations required. Although I have never had
reasons to worry about presentations before, this seems very official and nerve-wracking
to me. But as discussed before, I have learned a lot during my time in the Gamez Research
group, one of them being presentations. I don't believe for a second that presentations
and scientific explanations in the field come naturally to me, but with the help of
the people within my lab and Dr. Gamez, it can become more natural and prepare me
for more presentations in the future.