Week #2 has been pretty good. Although I still feel particularly out of place (I blame you imposter syndrome), I feel a little more confident in my abilities to participate in the research my graduate mentor is conducting with her team. I spent most of this week researching a lot of background information in regard to my project, and I feel pretty good about it. I also learned new things about the ideas and innovations in the context of replacing fossil fuels with greener alternatives. I can now say that I sort of have a mental idea of how I am going to structure my presentation.

I went to go visit the library on Wednesday, and it was pretty cool. Sure, I knew libraries existed, but honestly, I have not been much of a bookworm, and I like to stick with digital books/articles. I found a particular book I wanted to read using the Fondren Library database, but they only had the physical book and not the digital article. So, I took this opportunity to go explore the library and learn how to locate the book. The book has been very helpful in aiding my research, and I find it crazy that the book I have was published in the year 2008, and last checked out in the year 2012. Sure, the book is outdated, but I find it astonishing how the research and development during that time is still being applied to my research today. I did struggle to read published articles, since it is my first time doing so, but thanks to the meeting I attended with the REU faculty, I was able to learn a few strategies. I am grateful for their support.

The journal club presentation I attended this Thursday was pretty cool. I learned a few things about presenting research to an audience. It made me realize I need to figure out a way to cater my research to a wide range of audience members. Some people will have STEM backgrounds, others won’t. I learned about designing my presentation my own unique way, and not relying on templates. Less text, and attractive images are the way to go as well. All these things I will definitely take into consideration when creating my presentation.

I’d say eighty percent of my time here at Rice is being spent in the lab. Which I think is a good thing, since I do most of my research at my cubicle or at home. I do shadow my mentor, but she also lets me do some of the experiments in the lab. I do get nervous sometimes because she quizzes me on my chemistry background, and I suck at doing mental arithmetic sometimes. Sure, I can solve integrals and derivatives but when it comes to adding two-digit numbers? I’m fried.  However, my mentor is very supportive when I want to learn new things. She encourages me to ask questions, use the lab equipment, engages my critical thinking and much more. She assigned me to read an article about creating a catalyst solution that will be sprayed on nickel foam. She said I would do the whole process myself and she would just supervise me, so I’m looking forward to that, but I am also nervous.

Overall, it’s been second week has been great. I already started thinking about how I will miss this experience here. I am looking forward for what is to come.

-Adrian