Nanofibrous Target Developer | Flora

Flora was a nanofibrous target developer at TRIUMF, Canada’s particle accelerator research laboratory in Vancouver, British Columbia. Keep reading to learn more about how she landed this unique job in her first year of university!

How did you get to where you are today?

Getting to where I am today has been a journey of luck, determination, and a proactive approach to seizing opportunities. One pivotal moment in my journey was landing a research assistant position at TRIUMF during my first year of university. Prior to this opportunity, I had no prior work experience, but I was eager to enter the world of engineering and research.

I started my job search by casting a wide net and applying to every engineering and research-related opportunity that I saw. I knew that my resume lacked work experience, but I compensated for this by highlighting my relevant academic experiences. I emphasized the laboratory work I had completed during my early university courses, specifically mentioning projects and labs from my 1A and 1B terms.

Furthermore, I leveraged a personal project I undertook during my high school years — an Independent Assessment (IA) focused on calorimetry for my IB chemistry class. While this project might have seemed distant from my university studies, it was effective in showcasing my early interest and initiative in scientific exploration.

To prepare for the interview, I started by gaining a deeper understanding of the company, TRIUMF, and to familiarize myself with my prospective supervisor’s work. I did a lot of research into the company’s mission, vision, and recent projects. I also discovered that my interviewer had previously published an article closely related to the job I was applying for.

Taking it a step further, I learned about the technical details and concepts the paper presented. This effort allowed me to not only discuss the content during the interview but also to formulate thoughtful questions and ideas for potential contributions to the project.

In retrospect, the journey to where I am today was a combination of seizing opportunities, making the most of my academic experiences, and demonstrating a proactive and thorough approach to preparation.

What are the main responsibilities of your job? What project(s) have you taken on?

In my role, the primary focus was on optimizing the setup for the production of nanofibers. When I joined the team, a challenge faced by the team was the presence of beads in the nanofibers, which resulted in irregular and uneven fibers. This task required a systematic examination of various parameters to enhance the quality and consistency of the nanofibers. Throughout the duration of my co-op term, I investigated how different variables could influence the thickness and overall quality of the fibers. Some parameters I tried to change are needle thickness, polymer solution flow rate, and the distance between the spinneret and the collector. My goal was to fine-tune these variables to achieve smoother, more uniform nanofibers.

To assess the nanofibers produced, I conducted characterization tests such as using an optical microscope to visually inspect the fibers and employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for a detailed examination of their surface structure.

In addition to the primary responsibility of optimizing the nanofiber production process, two other noteworthy projects emerged during my co-op term. The first project was prompted by the observation of impurities within the nanofibers during SEM analysis. To address this, I embarked on an investigation to determine the nature and origin of these impurities. Analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were employed to analyze the composition of the impurities.

The second project aimed at enhancing safety within the electrospinning setup. This involved the design and implementation of protective components around the electrospinner parts. Using Solidworks, I generated designs for these protective elements. The objective was to create a safer work environment by minimizing risks associated with the equipment and the electrospinning process. These designs were then manufactured by our machine team.

My day-to-day activities included conducting literature review to find new optimization methods and spending time in the lab to test them.

What skills do you need for this job? What skills did you learn in your job?

In terms of technical skills, I would say having wet lab and material characterization experience is helpful. A lot of the job is spending time in the lab and preparing for the electrospinning process. This includes making the polymer solution and processing them after they have been spun. I also spend a lot of time with the SEM to characterize and analyze the fibers we create in their different states.

I did not know how to use an SEM before this job, so I actually learned during the job. Other than SEM, I also gained experience in using EDX and XRD, which are other material characterization methods. I also learned about picture and data analysis to gain helpful information on the fiber quality.

What NE courses had an impact on your career goals? What NE courses, if any, are helpful in your job?

Several courses built a strong foundation in various aspects of material science, engineering, and technical skills that helped me in this job. One of the courses that proved immediately useful in my current role was the Introduction to Nanotechnology Engineering course (NE100). This course included a practical component that involved hands-on experience with Solidworks which helped me with designing safety features for the electrospinning machine. The Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering (NE125) was also helpful as it was more relevant to my job in the context of working with different materials and how their properties change. If I had this co-op in a later term, the Characterization of Materials course (NE226) would have been really useful since we go more in depth with SEM principles and how to use it.

After taking the Semiconductor Physics and Devices (NE 242), I am very interested in pursuing nanoelectronics in the future.