Every time I’m about to take a bunch of finals, my brain somehow wants to write a blog post instead of actually studying for them. I usually write something like: “I leave for home in a week, but I have to get through all of these finals first. The end is so close, yet so far!”
Well, yeah, I just wrote it. This week: 4 finals (1 in class) + wrapping up research. Luckily, I spent last weekend writing an essay due this week so I don’t have that extra assignment hanging over my head.
Every week has been so busy that I never even mentioned that I was doing research in the Goddard Group which has a focus on computational chemistry and material science. The project that I am working on (and currently wrapping up) is simulating Ruthenium based polypyridine dyes on a Titanium Dioxide surface using the ReaxFF force field (which was developed by one of my mentors here at Caltech). I really enjoy the computational side of it since that means I don’t have to be in lab running experiments. I can also see atoms and molecules and how they interact :). Also, the project directly relates to creating better solar cells, an area that I am very interested in.
I decided to eschew a potential SURF (summer research) this summer for the ability to focus 100% on creating an internet startup. Although I wanted to do both chemistry research and work on my startup, I knew that splitting my focus will lead to neither project being very successful. My startup idea is to develop a new type of wiki while providing services around it. I’m really excited about working on this project so it is kind of difficult to concentrate on my finals when I have this idea lurking in the back of my mind all the time. Summer is going to be awesome :).
2 Comments
Yes, we are so close but yet so far. Please take a look, much is happening to feed your love of chemistry, and its big brother, physics. For that matter, we might through in chemistry’s little sister, the biological sciences, too, and do not for get cousin computer science. You graduation is called commencement for a reason, it is the real beginning of your education. You have the tools, you have learned use the tools, now, it is up to you to use these tools.
Yes, with solar energy we are oh so close, thank for the most part to Nanotechnology. Yes, teh inefficiency of photoelectric cells continue to increase and the cost per kw/hr continues to slowly decline. But, I must submit that photoelectric cells is not not the final answer and is but one of many solutions which are developing. As you develop your photoelectric cells for our space program, do not forget those few of us who are still trapped on this little blue marble circling a small yellow star at the edge of a galaxy among billions.
I gave you my blog at the start, but here is my life: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~chtank/thinktank.html
Hi Charles, thanks for reading my blog and sharing your wisdom with me.