Monday: Gel-ly Not What We Expected!

This Monday kicked off with a twist! Our new MOF material recipe, which we were hopeful about last week, was a gel instead of the anticipated precipitate in water. NaOH didn’t do the trick, so my mentor and I embarked on a quest for new modulators. Despite the setback, the search for solutions was an exciting puzzle.

Tuesday: Donuts and Discoveries

Our weekly group meeting on Tuesday was a delightful blend of camaraderie and confectionery, complete with donuts! These meetings are an excellent opportunity to catch up and share our progress. I also got a crash course in purchasing lab equipment from the chemistry building market, which was an enlightening experience.

Wednesday: Solo Scientist in Action

Wednesday was a day of deep-diving into literature as we searched for the perfect modulator. Amidst the research, I was challenged to make the MOF material independently using the original recipe. Completing all the steps on my own, with my mentor overseeing, was a thrilling milestone. It’s a waiting game for 48 hours until the reaction is complete!

Thursday: Kolaches and Knowledge

Thursday’s highlight was an inspiring journal review meeting. The presentation was incredibly informative and quickly the best meeting so far. And as if that wasn’t enough, we were treated to Kolaches for breakfast, making the experience both intellectually and gastronomically satisfying.

Friday: Market Adventures and Anticipation

Friday brought a mini-adventure as I navigated the chemistry lab grocery store to purchase essential materials for our experiments. Gathering everything needed was a bit challenging but also rewarding. With the 48-hour reaction period, we removed the autoclave from the convection oven and waited overnight for it to cool down before unveiling our MOF results.

This week was filled with learning experiences inside and outside the lab. I’m excited to see what the next week brings as we continue our research and experiments!