What is your role at WNF?
I joined WNF as a research engineer in October 2019. I support WNF users by taking care of our instrumentation. Ensuring that these expensive and intricate tools are operating optimally is critical for the ongoing research and development activities of our users. Currently, I oversee our SEM, Nanoscribe, and the bay of assembly and testing tools. I run preventative or emergency maintenance, provide training and advice to users on how to use the tools, and schedule service or repairs as needed.
Tell us about your background.
My first experience working in a cleanroom was as an undergraduate intern at the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology. In the process of supporting faculty research, I learned a ton about fabrication processes and tools including everything from physical vapor deposition and dry etching to electrical testing and imaging.
This experience provided me with a solid foundation on which to begin my graduate and professional work. I conducted research in labs where we built and maintained our own deposition, dry etching, and electrical testing equipment. The experience of building and maintaining these tools taught me a lot about how they work, but there is always more to learn! It’s been incredible to see the tools I thought I knew so well translated to what I now consider “real life” scale here at the WNF.
Why did you want to come work at the WNF?
Its purpose and its people! WNF exists to support academic and industrial users in their pursuit of answering fundamental scientific questions and/or developing devices that have the potential to affect our daily lives. Not only do I get to play a small role in helping to advance this work, but I get to work with people who are creative and curious problem solvers. I can’t imagine a better place to work!
What do you enjoy most about the work that you do?
While I love learning new things from our experienced staff engineers, the best feeling is when something goes wrong and I already know how to fix it. It is so satisfying to just grab the necessary tools and get to work. I also love when my work makes my users’ lives (or at least their research) a little easier.
To view our entire WNF staff visit https://www.wnf.uw.edu/about/staff/