Computer science is not my forte- in fact, I would say it is my least favorite subject to study in any academic setting. Yet the most rewarding experience of my previous semester at DIY Diagnostics came about after laboring for 7 hours in lab slaving away at a 3D printer.
I was one of the first students to take on the enigmatic 3D printing project in which we had to print something- anything- of our choice. Being the design freak that I am, I immediately jumped on it and wanted to have my 2D creation brought to life. The only problem was that the printer wasn’t configured and the instructions written by other students and online forums were very vague. The design software was also foreign to me, as putting shapes together became increasingly difficult. I went through about 3 misprinted, amorphous blobs before I finally figured out exactly how to use the design software effectively, (as in, NOT accidentally placing a hole in the middle of the object), transfer the files using the right file type, (embarrassing, but true), and use glue sticks to prevent the printout from sticking to the plate. I eventually got to hold my first 3D printout: a house keychain I made for my mom to show her the up-and-coming technology we had available to us in our lab! I had finally conquered the machine.
I realized this was what it meant to be a researcher: own up to your endeavor, work tirelessly to achieve your goals despite the many failures that will inevitably come along your way, and be humbled by what you have created at the end of the day. At DIY Diagnostics, I have felt excited and motivated about every varied project I have been put on. The long hours spent in lab can be hard, but there’s something new everyday.
That’s what I love about DIY Diagnostics- you’ll never be bored! With ongoing projects ranging from testing the water quality of our Waller Creek to devising a device for Zika virus detection to identifying sulfur-reducing bacteria in industrial frack water, there are both comforts and challenges for everyone. People ask me about my lab and what kind of projects we can do, but I think the better question is: “What can’t we do?”.