A whole weekend of summer vacation? Sweet!…. Seriously though, I already start work tomorrow? I feel like I just got out of my last final. My summer research project is in a chemistry lab at Caltech. The project is to…
Blog Archives
Was it worth it?
Doing research can be insanely frustrating and undergraduate research is no exception. Our lack of a complete formal education and hefty course load makes undertaking a research project that much harder. I know I have struggled with dedicating 10 or more…
Epic Fail
Since last summer I have been obsessed with building my own parametric array speaker: a highly directional loudspeaker in which sound can only be heard in the path of the acoustic beam (see holosonics.com for an example of this). After…
Mole-pocalypse
Don’t ask me how I came across this paper… Apparently blind mole rats can use the geomagnetic forces from the earth’s magnetic field to orient themselves in their completely dark underground environment. The study involved taking 30 or so mole rats…
Lab Gremlin
There is a gremlin in our lab. Every time I start a process that takes more than one day to complete, something goes horribly wrong over night. The most recent disaster happened when I put some samples in the water…
Anonymous and Operation Payback
Everybody has heard of the recent news story regarding Julian Assange and Wikileaks. But what I found more interesting was the underground, decentralized network of hackers, “Anonymous,” that is fighting back against the perceived injustices done to Assange. Operation Payback targets major…
The Coolest Thing I’ve Read in a While
Doing research on DNA nano structures has inspired me to explore the current developments of the field in order to gain a broader understanding of the direction and capabilities of using DNA for nanotechnology. One article I came across, “A proximity-based programmable…
Explosions
There comes a time in every researchers life when something explodes. That time came for me last week in the worst possible situation. My game plan was to pop into the lab, mix a few chemicals, and get out before…
DNA nanostructures
My current research goal working with Professor Fygenson in the physics department is to study the structural properties of DNA nanostructures. Our ultimate goal is to gain fundamental knowledge about different types of DNA building blocks such as tubes, ribbons,…
Alex Iteen is a second year student majoring in Biology. He is interested in bioengineering and synthetic biology. He is currently working in Dr. Fygenson's lab on DNA nanotubes. See all his posts
David Wallace is a third year student majoring in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology. He is currently working in Professor Weimbs's lab studying the pathogenic mechanisms of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD).See all his posts
Eneida Chesnut is a senior majoring in chemical engineering. She transferred from SBCC, where she studied chemistry. She works with organic materials for solar cells and is very interested in renewable energy research.See all her posts
Erzsebet is a second year chemical engineering major. She is interested in biotechnology and biophysics, and is working in Professor David Awschalom's lab investigating how cephalopod skin responds to different types of stimulation by light.
See all her posts
Madison Cornwell is a second year student majoring in Biochemistry and Spanish. She is a EUREKA intern through the California NanoSystems Institute and the Resident Assistant of the Women in Science and Technology House in Manzanita Village. She will be working closely with Dr. Kosik and graduate student Israel Hernandez for the remainder of her time at UCSB.See all her posts
