It’s hard to believe that we are almost done with the program; it feels like it was just last week when I walked into lab for the first time and had no clue what was going on at all. It definitely took a lot of time for me to get adjusted and to learn all the lab techniques and background information, but as the last 6 weeks has shown me, it has definitely paid off. I feel more confident when handling the fragile electrodes we test in lab and I understand the electric equipment a lot better than before (even though I still have a long way to go before mastering these techniques).
Research itself has proven to be interesting. I still have yet to compile all the data that needs to be used in my project, but I have prepared MATLAB files to complete the data analysis as soon as the data is obtained. This is mostly because I have spent a lot of time in lab working on the methods part of the experiment, as I have been comparing the reliability of a new impedance measurement system to an older but working one. This comparison is a crucial step in the project, as it ensures that the data I collect is valid in the first place. Thus, as I have been preparing to answer my question about impedance measurements over time in these electrodes, I have also explored in great detail how these data acquisition systems really work, at the cost of time spent on the question at hand. I don’t mind too much though, as the experience of researching and mastering the software on my own and sharing my results with the rest of the lab has really made me enjoy spending time in lab every day (and that’s what matters the most, right?)
These next two weeks will definitely be busier than the previous ones, but I am excited to see all the posters and all the hard work my BSURF colleagues have put into them and their projects!
