IMEC: Take Two (Peter Nelson)

This is the second summer I've spent at IMEC working to further the research I do at Hopkins, so I've got a pretty good grasp at how life in Leuven runs. It has been very refreshing to return to Belgium and see all the old sights again. I don't feel pressured to run around Belgium and Europe, taking tons of pictures because, well, I've already done that. My focus this summer (culture-wise at least) is to relax and experience Belgian culture, instead of just observing it (which happens when you are in a rush all the time).

Welcome to IMEC!

Getting back into the gist of things at IMEC has been quite easy. I didn't have to do nearly as much training as I did last year, so I got quick access to the labs I need to use. Unfortunately, I have to wait a while to make the hydropolymers that are essential to my project (missing synthesis component), however, I've been completing some nanoparticle characterization tests and figuring out the best way to test the gels when I can finally make them. Basically I get to sit in a room using a laser for large parts of my day, which is awesome, because, you know, lasers... 

I'm still working on my Dutch, but I'm pretty sure this says "No Admittance, Laser Sharks," but I could be wrong.

 

Other than that, things have been quiet at work. I'm mainly waiting to receive one last component so I can start synthesizing composite gels, but I have lots of smaller tests that I can (and have been) doing in the mean time.

 

 

One thing that I've been trying to do (note the emphasis) is learn some Dutch this time around. I don't think I'll really use it much in conversation because I have yet to meet someone (in Flanders) who doesn't speak English better than I will probably ever speak Dutch. Even so, it's nice to actually know what people are saying, what warnings the signs have, and most importantly, what I am actually buying at the grocery store. So far, I haven't learned anything that is very practical, but I've got some basics down (like asking what someone is doing, where something is, and how many keys there are), so if you ever need me to ask a Dutch/Flemish speaker (who doesn't speak English) how many keys there are, I'm your man (as long as their answer is less than 12...I haven't officially learned any numbers higher than that). As you can probably tell, I'll be fluent in no time at all.

 

 

I'll update again when I get my research rolling and when I can count higher than twaalf. 

Until next time!

 

 

Blog post by Peter Nelson

Exciting research plus travel adventures

Nicolas Barbera at Bruges Monastery

While the research I undertook at IMEC gave me valuable experience with imaging techniques and cellular science, the most rewarding part of my time abroad was the travel opportunity. Before my time at IMEC, I had never been to Europe. As you can guess, I tried to make the most of my ten weekends, visiting a different city each time, including Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, Bruges, and Antwerp.

For me, each city was an adventure. The fun was not only in seeing all the different and amazing sights (of which there were a ton), but in learning to navigate and explore cities where the language spoken isn’t English. This was especially true for the food. Some of my fondest memories include finding an out-of-the-way burrito shop in Barcelona, a doner kebap shop on the streets of Berlin, and my first time ordering in a Belgian restaurant.

One thing that really struck me about Europe was the architecture. So many of the cities I visited had markets and streets with buildings dating back hundreds of years, something you don’t get to see in America. (The closest thing for me would be some of the older sections of New York City, but even those are relatively young by European standards.) Needless to say, a large portion of my photo album consists of the various facades and buildings I came across in my travels. This includes churches: I explored and photograph dozens of them all over, each one a work of art.

While the travel opportunities I had were my favorite part my time at IMEC, I can’t discount the research experience. Being able to work in a lab like IMEC was great for both building my lab skill set and acquainting me with a working culture different from the ones found in Hopkins labs, things that will come in handy after graduating.

All in all, I’d say my time abroad was a worthwhile experience for my personal life as well as my professional one.

Blog post by Nicolas Barbera

More photos follow!

Checkpoint Charlie

First steps in the Mediterranean

Entrance to la Sagrada Familia

Hopping the Berlin Wall

Touring Belgium

Town Hall.

Of course, I had to see some sights while in Europe. It was a lot of fun walking around the historic city center in Leuven. Their city hall is beautiful, with detailed sculptures all the way up the walls.

I also made it to Brussels for a long weekend before flying home. I took a tour of the city by bike and stopped in the park for some freshly cooked escargot. I might not add it to my regular menu, but I couldn't pass up giving it a try.

Working in an international environment was an experience that I believe will be helpful as my career develops. Seeing how people work in different labs, usually with varying goals and environments, was interesting.

Bike tour.

It was encouraging to have the group coalesce around innovative ideas. Hopefully, we will soon start a project looking at why some cancer cells migrate away from a primary tumor while others are more or less stationary. Contributing to our understanding about how metastasis occurs could help prevent cancer deaths in the future.

Blog post by Colin Paul

What is IMEC?

The Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology (INBT) International Research Experience for Students (IRES) program began in 2009. INBT’s IRES program, funded by the National Science Foundation, allows students to collaborate with researchers from Hopkins and The Inter-University MircroElectronics Centre (IMEC) in Leuven, Belgium.

Students work at IMEC’s world-class microfabrication facility and learn to design, fabricate and test chip-based platforms and integrated microelectronic systems for biomedical applications. The goal of the program is to help students gain a broader, global perspective of science and technology.

But what is IMEC? Here is a video explaining many of IMEC's capabilities and research projects.



Blog post by Mary Spiro

Getting used to a European pace

It is a bit of a culture shock when you first arrive-- things are more laid back in many ways. The open hours of stores are very limited, and many things close at nights except for restaurants.

Photo by Colin Paul

Service at restaurants is much slower. It encourages you to take your time and enjoy yourself, but if you are rushing to get somewhere, you will have to work hard to flag down your server.

Generally I have found people to be very nice and helpful. Not knowing Dutch (or French in the southern region of Belgium) is overwhelming at first. But most in most places you can find some people who speak English well, and they have tried hard to help answer any questions that I have or to direct me where I am trying to go. 

I have really enjoyed traveling to different cities around Belgium, and a few places abroad in Germany and Luxemburg. Although there are similarities between the cities, there is also a uniqueness to each one that makes each trip different from the last. The train system is great in allowing us to experience a lot of different cities in a pretty easy way.

Blog post by Sarah Friedrich

Ten weeks is too short!

That's me, front and center!

My time at IMEC has been a great experience!

As a PhD student, a lot of what I am exposed to is within the academic arena. It is also good, I think, to see how PhD's can use their degrees and expertise in a corporation, and the differences between working in industry versus working in academia.

People here have been very sociable and helpful, and I have certainly learned a lot. It is very cool to see the capabilities the company has, and how that can be used synergystically within so many different fields and disciplines, and with so many other institutions and groups.

Ten weeks seems like a long time at first, but with only a couple days left, I can't believe it's already time for me to head home!

Blog post by Sarah Friedrich

Waffles in the vending machines

Coffee break.

I knew I had made it to Belgium when I saw the waffles in the vending machine at the airport in Brussels. Maybe it’s a stereotype, but if so, I’m glad it’s one that’s true. I was excited to be in Belgium to visit the people and facilities at IMEC. My research advisor, Dr. Konstantopoulos, had asked me if I wanted to go to Leuven for a week to talk about potential projects with our collaborators at IMEC and do some preliminary experiments, and I jumped at the chance. Specifically, I brought cell migration devices fabricated in our lab to IMEC to perform proof-of-concept experiments with Nicolas Barbera, who works for Dr. Konstantopoulos, and member of Dr. Liesbet Lagae’s lab. Although the trip was short, I had great time, saw several interesting places, and met many wonderful people.

When I arrived in Leuven, I took a stroll to find some food and acclimate myself to the city. I eventually made it to the Leuven city center and enjoyed some steak and frites, a popular Belgium dish. I really enjoyed Leuven, with its historic city center and university town vibe. It is a very walkable city, and nearly everyone I ran into spoke English.

More later....

Blog post by Colin Paul