I was too tired to blog last night so I am updating today. Yesterday rocked in the research department. It was such a productive day and I think we are going to hit a milestone we set for down the road sooner than we thought.
It started out with our new bioprinting system and being able to print faster. I was able to build up 3D walls of a square in a matter of minutes that will help us greatly in our research efforts. Its so exciting to finally feel like we are getting somewhere. What this means for us is that we can finally start to go 3D with out test system instead of only printing cells in 2D. So our next step is to get the process down for building up these 3D structures and then start to mimic structures within the body. Currently, we are only printing collagen gel, but its a great start!
On another good research note. I finally was able to produce 4 batches of beads without any problems or failures. This is great because now I can start in on my other half of my project and hopefully turn the information into a publication. It will be a 10 week study hopefully starting next Wednesday, but at least it is finally going to start and I feel like I am finally doing research instead of just prep. What a breakthrough day!!!
Classes are going good... I was shocked to find out that I got an A on my midterm for my polymers class. The one I thought I completely failed. So that is good news. I still have a midterm next Thursday, a presentation the following Tuesday and then 2 term papers to finish by the end of March. Guess I should start on those this weekend.
My website is coming along. Its my night job and last night I was hoping to get a lot done, but I didn't get home until 6 and then did my new workout (ChaLEAN Extreme) that totally kicked my butt. It will be interesting to see if I can make it through the next 90 days of workouts... hopefully to a more in shape me for the summer. Kayaking here I come!
Well this is an exceptionally long post for me, so signing off for now. Have a wonderful week everyone!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Another week
I've officially made it through the first midterm of the semester. Now just waiting to get my grade and see how bad I actually did. Hopefully there will be a make up exam as I think I really flushed this one.
This week is really busy again. I'm almost asking myself why I am doing this, but then I remember that research will pick up and progress will be made. It just takes time and a lot of mistakes to finally make a break through. Gotta love research.
Also I'm pushing hard to get this extra project done by April 22nd before I go to a conference in San Antonio to promote it. It is going to mean a lot of weekend work and no fun. Maybe come May I will take a big break for myself. I'm thinking it will start May 29th once finals are done!
Erika - I'm hoping that baby LaPean comes soon. You still look great and I hope all is well. Good Luck!!!
Signing off for now. Will write more once the week starts to fizzle out.
This week is really busy again. I'm almost asking myself why I am doing this, but then I remember that research will pick up and progress will be made. It just takes time and a lot of mistakes to finally make a break through. Gotta love research.
Also I'm pushing hard to get this extra project done by April 22nd before I go to a conference in San Antonio to promote it. It is going to mean a lot of weekend work and no fun. Maybe come May I will take a big break for myself. I'm thinking it will start May 29th once finals are done!
Erika - I'm hoping that baby LaPean comes soon. You still look great and I hope all is well. Good Luck!!!
Signing off for now. Will write more once the week starts to fizzle out.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Feeling blahhhh!
It has been another crazy week!!!
I have a new deadline for April 22nd with my new website 3DCellCulture.com. I need to have 1000+ articles enhanced by this date so that I can promote the functional website at a conference in San Antonio. It should be a great time as I have never been to San Antonio before, but it is going to be a lot of work and really interesting. At least I get to see what a conference is before I actually have to present at one. This will give me a great opportunity to network with others in my field. SOOOOOOO excited to go!
School/classes are frustrating me beyond belief. I feel like I am learning very little this semester. Maybe it's just that I need to push through and it will all make sense in the end. I had my first midterm and I think it went horrible. It was 12 questions and I half answered 2 of them, but he picks the best 10 out of 12 to give the final grade. Hopefully the other 10 were at least close to what he is looking for. I have a feeling that I will be very close to the failing mark and just scrape by, which is totally ironic as Polymers (what this class is about) was the reason I fell in love with what I am going to school for. Oh well...its just a grade. Who looks at grades on a resume anyways?
Other than that, I am trying to stick to a workout regimen that should help me get in shape for kayaking this summer. At least it gives me time away from school stuff.
Well enough for now!
P.S. Baby LaPean I am patiently awaiting your arrival!!!
I have a new deadline for April 22nd with my new website 3DCellCulture.com. I need to have 1000+ articles enhanced by this date so that I can promote the functional website at a conference in San Antonio. It should be a great time as I have never been to San Antonio before, but it is going to be a lot of work and really interesting. At least I get to see what a conference is before I actually have to present at one. This will give me a great opportunity to network with others in my field. SOOOOOOO excited to go!
School/classes are frustrating me beyond belief. I feel like I am learning very little this semester. Maybe it's just that I need to push through and it will all make sense in the end. I had my first midterm and I think it went horrible. It was 12 questions and I half answered 2 of them, but he picks the best 10 out of 12 to give the final grade. Hopefully the other 10 were at least close to what he is looking for. I have a feeling that I will be very close to the failing mark and just scrape by, which is totally ironic as Polymers (what this class is about) was the reason I fell in love with what I am going to school for. Oh well...its just a grade. Who looks at grades on a resume anyways?
Other than that, I am trying to stick to a workout regimen that should help me get in shape for kayaking this summer. At least it gives me time away from school stuff.
Well enough for now!
P.S. Baby LaPean I am patiently awaiting your arrival!!!
Monday, February 9, 2009
I'm a slacker
Well I missed my goal on blogging once a week already. It has been a crazy two weeks of non-stop go, go, go. Classes aren't difficult this semester, but research is getting busier. I have so much I want to accomplish before the semester is done.
I did nothing this weekend in the way of school. I needed to get so much done, so now my week is going to be crazy again. But it is completely worth it as I got to help put flooring in at a friends house. It felt good to do something other than school.
My roommate is moving out soon and I will miss her, but it will also mean I won't have to feel like I need to be home as much or that I am interrupting her, waking her, etc.
Well hopefully life will become more interesting and I can post a little more later this week! Have a great week all!
I did nothing this weekend in the way of school. I needed to get so much done, so now my week is going to be crazy again. But it is completely worth it as I got to help put flooring in at a friends house. It felt good to do something other than school.
My roommate is moving out soon and I will miss her, but it will also mean I won't have to feel like I need to be home as much or that I am interrupting her, waking her, etc.
Well hopefully life will become more interesting and I can post a little more later this week! Have a great week all!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Crazy
I feel like this semester is going to fly by and be extremely crazy. I really need to start kicking my but into gear. I have so much I want to accomplish and am going to make a plan tomorrow as to how I can get it all done. Also the website/database I have been working on is finally up with real data. I'm so excited!
I'm also trying to work out every day for at least 30 minutes. So far this week I only missed Tuesday. Pretty good for my schedule. Hopefully I can turn it into a habit and lose some weight. I also need to start lifting weights so I can get the kayak in the water and paddle around this summer in Lake Hartwell (hopefully by then it will be a lake instead of a stream).
Erika - you look like you are ready to have that baby! Good luck...
I hope everyone's year is off to a wonderful start.
I'm also trying to work out every day for at least 30 minutes. So far this week I only missed Tuesday. Pretty good for my schedule. Hopefully I can turn it into a habit and lose some weight. I also need to start lifting weights so I can get the kayak in the water and paddle around this summer in Lake Hartwell (hopefully by then it will be a lake instead of a stream).
Erika - you look like you are ready to have that baby! Good luck...
I hope everyone's year is off to a wonderful start.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
1 week in...
1 week down of the new semester. I've only had 3 classes and really the first two were just 'welcome to the class' lectures. Hopefully we will start really getting into the class this next week. The classes will have lots of writing associated with them so I am trying to at least work ahead and plan out a schedule for my self.
Research is coming along with a few bumps in the road. I made samples and wanted to test them at 24 hours, 1 week, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. But of course... the machine I am to test the samples on will not export my data and I can't see the raw data to be able to plug into an excel spread sheet. So I have delayed running the samples that I made almost 60 hours ago. So much for my first time point. Hopefully I can get them run tomorrow even without exportation and see if I can copy the files to another buildings software to export there. Research would be no fun without obsticles!
The other thing I am quickly noticing is how expensive my tests and samples actually are... 1 batch of the PLLA beads I make runs about $150 and I made over 45 batches since I started. I'm really racking up the bill. But I got on an assistantship this semester so I must be doing something right.
Well off to bed for the evening. Lots of work to get done tomorrow. It will probably be another 13 hour day in the lab. I'll try and post every week of the semester... maybe I will actually hit a goal.
Research is coming along with a few bumps in the road. I made samples and wanted to test them at 24 hours, 1 week, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. But of course... the machine I am to test the samples on will not export my data and I can't see the raw data to be able to plug into an excel spread sheet. So I have delayed running the samples that I made almost 60 hours ago. So much for my first time point. Hopefully I can get them run tomorrow even without exportation and see if I can copy the files to another buildings software to export there. Research would be no fun without obsticles!
The other thing I am quickly noticing is how expensive my tests and samples actually are... 1 batch of the PLLA beads I make runs about $150 and I made over 45 batches since I started. I'm really racking up the bill. But I got on an assistantship this semester so I must be doing something right.
Well off to bed for the evening. Lots of work to get done tomorrow. It will probably be another 13 hour day in the lab. I'll try and post every week of the semester... maybe I will actually hit a goal.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
And spring semester is off....
Well, its back to school again. Christmas break was fun and super busy, but not long enough. I barely got anything done I wanted to. I saw all sorts of weather and returned to South Carolina in all its wonderfully warm winter glory of 65 degrees. I miss the snow and cold already.
This semester is going to be extremely busy for me. I have so much to get done and I am hoping to make huge strides in research. Unfortunately, the grant money did not come through and funding is on the back burner until things can get switched around. At least tuition is paid. I get to start getting actually data this semester from all my work last semester. As well as working on getting my first publication out. I have a huge presentation to give sometime this semester (hopefully after data) and on top of all that I have to start writing my literature review for my qualifier next sprint. Although my two classes should be very interesting and hopefully will give me a break from the lab.
To keep me busy after school, I have another little job. I'm working on getting a website for 3-D cell culture up and running by the end of January. I have done a ton of work reading through abstracts and papers to post. It will be a great search engine for all those interested in tissue engineering and 3-D cell cultures of any kind. I might even get to go to a conference in April to spread the word and be the face of the website. YEAH!!
I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a happy New Year! Please come and visit if you get the chance.
This semester is going to be extremely busy for me. I have so much to get done and I am hoping to make huge strides in research. Unfortunately, the grant money did not come through and funding is on the back burner until things can get switched around. At least tuition is paid. I get to start getting actually data this semester from all my work last semester. As well as working on getting my first publication out. I have a huge presentation to give sometime this semester (hopefully after data) and on top of all that I have to start writing my literature review for my qualifier next sprint. Although my two classes should be very interesting and hopefully will give me a break from the lab.
To keep me busy after school, I have another little job. I'm working on getting a website for 3-D cell culture up and running by the end of January. I have done a ton of work reading through abstracts and papers to post. It will be a great search engine for all those interested in tissue engineering and 3-D cell cultures of any kind. I might even get to go to a conference in April to spread the word and be the face of the website. YEAH!!
I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a happy New Year! Please come and visit if you get the chance.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)