2023 NEWT REU Blog Entry # 3 – Leanh Nguyen

Hello! My name is Leanh Nguyen, and I am a rising junior at Rice University. I have just finished a week of my time at NEWT’s REU, and I had another amazing week with my mentors and peers. 

For our arsenic detection research, Naomi and I finished constructing our Faraday Cage with additional layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Using our phones, we were able to test that the cage was relatively successful in blocking calls from going through.

Faraday Cage Prototype

Additionally, we began work on constructing a switch box. In other words, we made a small circuit with a switch to help turn on and off a vibrating motor for the Rodeostat.

Switch Box

Then, after setting up some Python on our computers for the Rodeostat, Naomi and I started placing everything together, placing the Rodeostat inside the Faraday Cage and connecting the vibrating motor to the beaker on top of the vibrating plate. We are still waiting for some electrodes (metal wires/rods) which will complete the connection between the beaker and the Rodeostat. 

Rodeostat System in Faraday Cage

So, while we waited for the electrodes, we began to set up our pH meter using pH buffer solutions.

pH buffer solution

On Wednesday, we had a meeting with Dr. Paul Westerhoff from ASU regarding NABC, an acronym for forming a value proposition, and GRFP, the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program. This virtual session was really informative and interesting for me as I have plans to apply for graduate school, allowing me to know more about where and how to successfully apply for graduate research funding. 

Lastly, we had another group discussion with the professors and students from UTEP regarding Hueco Tanks where we explored existing organizations and groups working with Hueco Tanks. Next week, we will continue researching these groups to see what they have done and how our solution may complement their solutions, especially the DigDeep NGO group. 

Once again, thank Dr. Jorge Loyo, Dr. Silvia Chavez, and Dr. Eva Deemer for this amazing opportunity and for all of the guidance and knowledge they have given me.