Priyanka's Blog - Fabrication+Assessment of Ag NanoRods @ Governor's School of Engineering and Technology
Priyanka D.'s Blog
Fabrication+Assessment of Ag NanoRods @ Governor's School of Engineering and Technology
Hello! I am Priyanka Dilip, a rising senior at Montgomery High School. This summer, I'm grateful to be one of 72 fellow senior scholars across NJ at the 2017 Governor's School of Engineering and Technology. This incredible residential research program of 4 weeks has shaped my future career goals and personality in every aspect possible, and I cannot be more grateful to all those who have supported and guided me to this opportunity. The rigor of interdisciplinary research, the incredible courses and electives, and the strong relationships with every person I encountered - these will always be a core of my professional life and core personality.
Based on my previous research experience in Materials Engineering, and on my interests in Nanotechnology and Physics, I collaborated on the research project "Fabrication and Assessment of Silver NanoRod Synthesis" with Prof. Dr. O'Carroll and graduate student Jill Tracey of Rutgers University, as well as 4 other GSETers.
My research group @ GSET 2017 Final Symposium, right after our presentation
Pre-Program
The exhaustive application process involved two rounds - first, nomination by the school based on written essays, academic and extracurricular achievements, and school records; upon passing the first comes the second, selection by the NJ Governor's School Committee. This year, the selected pool was even more restrictive, with only 72 students chosen (compared to nearly 100 in previous years).
Extensive forms to determine research project choice, course scheduling, rooming and more are sent out in the weeks directly before the program. And then the intense, frantic packing begins...
My view of BEST West as we drove away from GSET on the last day... ironically similar to my view on the first day
Week 1
June 25: Move-In Day
The first sight of 72 unknown faces at the Opening Orientation was a breath-taking, yet unnerving, experience. These 72 would become my closest friends, collaborators, mentors, and mentees over the next 4 weeks. We moved into our suite-style rooms at the Busch Engineering, Science, and Tech (BEST West) building of Rutgers, and I must say, the rooms were impressive ^_^
After an inspiring talk by Keynote Speaker Dr. Franklin Moon, we competed in 4 large teams in "Process Engineering" - a rocket mission simulation where teams battled against technical difficulties in a timed environment with real-time ranking.
That first day, we trudged back to our rooms at 10:35 pm, with curfew at 11 pm - a pattern that would continue for the entirety of the program. This exhausting schedule surprisingly made me more efficient than ever, because I finally had the time to work independently on whatever I chose, as long as it accomplished the long-term goals, without artificial constraints of "assignments" or "homework" or "grades". The lack of grades was probably single-handedly the biggest factor in the amazing collaborative, caring atmosphere throughout the program!
Week 2+3
^^With Keynote Speaker Dr. Biju Parekkadan
^^ Modern Physics Lecture - taught by the professor who, by far, is and will be one of the best STEM teachers I have ever had.
For the first time in my life, my mind was fully and truly blown by concepts he explained lucidly - the theories of Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, Stellar Evolution, Black Hole Astrophysics, and so much more!
^^ Site Visit @ThorLabs, one of the most innovative companies in the Photonics industry!