Skills
Instrumentation
Research Experience
High Field NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) and Single-Sided (or Unilateral) NMR
SEM-EDS (Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy)
TGA (Thermogravimetric Analysis)
XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence)
FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), also with ATR (Attenuated Total Reflectance)
Academic Laboratory Experience
UV-Visible Spectroscopy
Fluorescence
HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography)
GC (Gas Chromatography)
ICP-AES (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy)
AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy)
Capillary Electrophoresis
Cyclic Voltammetry
Scientific Software
Instrument Spotlight: Single-Sided NMR
As part of the Meldrum Group, my research utilizes a technique called single-sided nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to non-destructively learn about the molecular environment of materials. NMR uses a permanent magnet and radio frequency pulses to manipulate and measure the spins of the nuclei in the sample of interest. When a pulse of a specific frequency (typically 10-20 MHz) is applied to the sample, the nuclear spins align with the magnet. Once the pulse has occurred and the frequency is no longer being applied, the nuclei in the sample slowly relax to their natural state. Multiple pulses of differing frequencies determine the type of information that can be extracted from the sample. How nuclei relax after those pulses is characteristic of different molecular environments. The rate of signal relaxation provides valuable information about the transverse or spin-spin relaxation of the sample. This parameter (T₂) can be quantized to interpret the molecular environment of the material being measured. For example, restricted and immobile molecular environments have characteristically short T₂ times because they relax quickly.
Single-sided NMR has other advantages besides the valuable information it can provide. Unlike traditional NMR, single-sided techniques do not require sampling; therefore, they are non-invasive and non-destructive. Additionally, single-sided NMR instrumentation is relatively small and portable. It only needs to measure a small area on the surface of an object so it can travel to collect data in situ. These factors make NMR a promising candidate for cultural heritage research.
Collaboration
A lab is a group of cooperating individuals working toward common goals. In joining the Meldrum Lab, I became the only graduate student among many undergraduates. We split into groups to work on separate projects but frequently collaborate and learn from one another. I enjoy helping other students learn how to use the instruments and watching their projects progress at our weekly group meetings. With diverse majors and course schedules, each student brings a unique background and skillset to the team.
Our epoxy research is a collaborative project with professionals in other disciplines at other institutions. In our meetings, I'm the youngest and least-experienced on the call. Nonetheless, I've gained knowledge by simply watching and listening to how seasoned academics tackle a project, work with each other, and solve problems together. The more I become part of this team and learn about the project, the more confident I feel to ask questions, offer suggestions, and contribute ideas. Being in a room full of PhDs and still finding my place to contribute gives me hope for a future career merging the worlds of science and museums.
Our paint project is a smaller collaborative effort between myself, my advisor, and our collaborator's group at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. I've taken more of a central role in this project because my thesis stems from our research together. When our collaborator, Dr. Shimon, visited William & Mary in 2022, it was exciting to giver her a presentation about our progress and talk through next steps together. The partnership has provided insight as to how scientists can intertwine their areas of expertise to create a more powerful result.