1. Here is what I did this summer…what did you do? Mrs. Fernandez
RET: FIU 2016
Here is what I did this summer…what did you do?
Mrs. Fernandez

2. Lab safety & selecting a project a new appreciation for details & research
I was assigned to Dr. Shekhar Bhansali’s lab in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
My first task, as an intern…lab safety! Not just your average hair pulled back, closed toed shoes, etc…
Blood borne Pathogens
Environmental Awareness PT 1 and PT 2 
EPA: Hazardous Waste Awareness & Handling
Fire Safety
HAZCOM: In Sync With GHS
Laboratory Hazard Awareness
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Laboratory
Safe Handling of Biomedical Waste
Safe use of Biosafety Cabinets
Safe Use of Fume Hoods
Security Awareness Training
Small Spills and Leaks

3. In the first lab Passaging ovarian cancer cells
We were given the opportunity to sub culture and ovarian cancer cell line
It was a very meticulous task that involved the use of:
Human ovarian cancer cells
Biohazard hood
Pipets
Vacuum
Media
Centrifuge
Incubator (near body temperature)
The key in this lab was:
Having a sterile environment to avoid contamination!
Cells could only be passaged ten times.

4. Ameri learning about nano-technology
The Advanced Materials Engineering Research Institute
The Institute contains the Motorola Nanofabrication Research Facilities, which is supported by a class 100 clean room and nanofabrication (ameri.fiu.edu)
Each Tuesday we were introduced to processes and topics dealing with production of pressure sensors at the nano-scale
We created a large scale sample to understand the nano-fabrication process
This was the souvenir we would be learning to create!

5. In the second lab Growing nano-wires
We completed our internship in a lab that is responsible for creating cortisol sensors
Our PhD student is researching how to thermally grow silver nano-wires to use as conductors
How do you grow silver wires?
Through the VLS (vapor liquid solid) process, the substrate vaporizes and forms different nucleation seeds (so far it has been done with silicon, they then coat it with silver)
First we had to take a diced silicon wafer and prepare it by:
Soaking it in acetone
placing it in the ultrasonicator
drying it
Soaking it in methanol or isopropyl alcohol
Then cleaning it off with deionized water and drying it

6. After preparing the diced wafer…
Palladium deposition needs to take place.
Why palladium? Its is the most efficient metal after testing
A vacuum state must be reached (so they do not collide)
The CHA machine electron gun shoots out electrons and it pushes out atoms on the target
Uniform deposition takes place

7. …finally the furnace The palladium coated wafers are put in a furnace
1500 Celcius
For 10 minutes, 30 minutes, and one hour
When the metals become an alloy the silicon forms wires
They are then coated with silver (we did not get to do this)

8. A tour of the facilities
3D printing lab:
They were printing an AORTA!
A tour of the facilities
On Thursdays we were able to explore the engineering labs throughout our “summer home.”
Make It Lab – 3D printing
Smart Grid
BEIL Virtual Reality
Driving Simulator
Photo courtesy of: A. Shepard
Clip art:

9. This Jetta is on the third floor!
Photo & Video courtesy of: A. Shepard
Car simulation lab
Photo courtesy of: M. Hernandez
This Jetta is on the third floor!
With coding they create the animations and then use scenario definition language to create the scenarios

10. Virtual reality & smart grid
Secure it in its place
Place smart phone in eye-piece
You can then actually see the virtual reality world and it panes around as you move your head!
The Smart-Grid test FIU
simulates a power grid that includes operational and energy measures
Photo: FIU

11. Friday Workshops Team building, resources & protocols
That’s me
Each Friday, we would gather for Professional Development participating in team activities, protocols, brainstorm, and learn from each other

12. I also got to work with some pretty great people!
Internships and you…
This was one of my best educational experiences!
Make it a point to find an internship/shadowing program this summer
Choose an unfamiliar topic
Open up your minds to new worlds of knowledge
Future Possibilities
Networking
I also got to work with some pretty great people!
Photo courtesy of: S. Strange