What new ideas, challenges, or other issues have you encountered with regard to your project? How have these ideas or challenges shaped the bigger picture of your research? Has the scope or focus of your topic changed since you began this project? If so, how?

My project involves measuring exciton transport in materials using an optical device called the Tangerine, developed by the lab. A challenge that I’ve encountered is understanding how this complex device works.  To create a precise laser path, the Tangerine uses lenses and prisms placed at specific angles. If the laser path is modified in any way, the measurements are no longer accurate, and the experiment fails. Therefore, understanding the optics of the laser path is essential to judge the accuracy of the results. Reading textbooks and articles has helped me gain a stronger theoretical understanding of the Tangerine. Given my limited time in the lab, balancing theoretical study with experimental work has been challenging. I chose to prioritize experiments, knowing that I will continue learning the theory after the six-week program ends. By doing so, I will have a solid foundation to analyze my results in preparation for the poster presentation in the fall. 

Where does your research take place--or where is a favorite place to conduct your research? Post a photo!

I work in the Delor Lab, in the basement of the Chemistry building at Columbia. The lab has five different rooms: a wet lab, a dry lab, two laser rooms, and an office space. Everyone in the lab has their desk in the office space, though the graduate students often move around to help each other out. The collaborative environment in the lab has helped me immensely this summer. 

PHOTOS: 

1. The office space (including popcorn machine!)

2. The tangerine's laser room. The tangerine is in the big black box. Featuring my friend Sithmi working hard :)