Monday: This was exciting as my mentor introduced me to the centrifuge machine. I had the opportunity to use it for the first time, which was thrilling and educational.

Tuesday: Our weekly meeting was a great chance to catch up and share experiences. While I missed having kolaches, the donuts were a sweet substitute. These meetings always highlight the week, offering valuable insights and connections.

Wednesday: We embarked on a new experiment by preparing two samples of MOF material, utilizing both acidic and basic modulators. The reaction takes two days, followed by an overnight cooling period in the autoclave. The anticipation of results makes the wait worthwhile.

Thursday: Shadowing my mentor during the characterization step of MOF synthesis was a particularly educational experience. The detailed chemistry involved in each step allowed me to apply my academic knowledge to real-world experiments, significantly deepening my understanding of acid-base reactions.

Friday: I spent the day independently in the lab, focused on our MOF samples from Wednesday. The process involved carefully rinsing the material with DI water, DMF, and ethanol. It was a busy day, but it was very rewarding to see the progress.