Hello! My name is Christopher Siefe and I am going into my second year at UCSB now as a Chemical Engineering major, having just switched from Chemistry. Currently, I am working as a part of the Moskovits Research Group in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. With my mentor, Jose Navarrete, we are trying to discover more about the fundamental science behind surface plasmons, electron oscillations that occur in metal due to light. We are currently building a device that incorporates nanowires into a field effect transistor so that we can analyze this phenomenon. I have now been participating in the UC LEADS program for a couple of weeks. My first impression of undergraduate research? I love it!
Research is very new to me, so I have been adapting to the research environment while simultaneously diving into a load of advanced material. Many of the topics overwhelmed me at first but already many of those same topics seem to make more sense. During my very first week, my mentor and I grew tin (II) oxide nanowires using chemical vapor deposition. I had read about this process and how it works but it was designing and running the process that helped me truly understand the nanowire growth. Now I feel really comfortable with this subject, although there is always much more to comprehend, I feel confident in this aspect of my project. So bring on those questions!
More than anything, I cannot describe the feeling inside me when we had grown nanowires on our substrate. It was incredible! I could not believe that we had created something so tiny and complex, just like that! And then to be able to see scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the nanowires that we grew! It was intense. Additionally, I have been lucky enough to go into the UCSB Cleanroom, full suit and all! Though I cannot use any of the instruments myself (completely understandable, I would prefer not to spend thousands of dollars if something were to break), simply being able to go into the cleanroom and hear about the instruments and processes there; it is truly an amazing experience. Several times during these past few weeks I have had to stop myself from screaming with joy because this is such awesome science.
This is a great learning experience for me. Specifically since this is a remarkably different type of learning. Although I love taking classes on subjects and find this style of education very useful, I am not as familiar with learning in a research setting. Let me emphasize this fact: learning in a research environment is drastically different. The phrase “there is no answer in the back of the book” could not be more accurate. Some people may find this frustrating but to me this is exciting! I am learning in an entirely different way, using parts of my brain that I normally never have the opportunity to use. It is a nice change and a fantastic challenge. Besides learning about new subjects like surface plasmons, nanomaterials, field effect transistors, and more, I am learning a whole new way of learning. It is amazing.
To anyone who is considering or unsure if they should try undergraduate research, do it! It is such a great opportunity to appreciate current science! And this is real science! Besides the learning and experience of it, it is unbelievable to think that our work might contribute to something larger someday. I am so fortunate to be a part of the Moskovits Lab, everyone has been great to work with and very helpful. I still have quite a lot to learn but I could not be more excited! Thank you to everyone who has helped me to get here!