My first week back in Arizona has been hectic but yet marvelous at the same time. In between all the papers, lab work, and textbooks I am able to socialize with friends that I have not been able to see in a year.  I am starting to get acclimated to the arid heat and have found what I believe to be the best route with the most shade going to and from the lab.

Aside from the heat and my friend this week has been very productive. I started off by reading a lot of papers on titanium dioxide (TiO2) and have finally gained enough knowledge to start uncovering some of its properties pertaining to Photocatalytic Activity (PCA). At the beginning of the week, I attended a lab training session so that I could work in the lab for the duration of the summer. Soon after, Dr. Bi monitored me in developing a methylene blue (MB) and buffer mixture to be able to measure the light waves that it can absorb. As the week went on I began collecting data by a 96 multi-well plate technique on a TiO2 and MB mixture. By Thursday I was using a UV transilluminator and examining the effects of TiO2 on MB. Through these series of tests I was able to grasp a better understand of TiO2 and the meaning if PCA. Friday is known as meeting day. This Friday I met Dr. Westerhoff for the first time in a reflective meeting with his graduate students. Soon after the group meeting Dr. Westerhoff spoke to me and Dr. Bi about my research,progress, and the importance of them both. 

I look forward to the challenges I will face this upcoming week!