Got Chips? - Jaynie Criscione

The weeks are flying by here. Somehow, we are down to our last two weeks in Belgium. There are so many more places that I would like to go and so much more I would love to see, but the summer is coming to a close.

Next week, we have our presentations (on my birthday!). So, lab work has definitely ramped up. I have appreciated the independence that Erkuden, my adviser, has allowed me. These past two weeks, I have run two simultaneous experiments. The first experiment is the one that I have performed for the whole summer. I use a micro-electrode array (MEA) to perform an impedance assay on biofilms. In layman’s terms, I take measurements from very small sections of a bacterial layer using electrodes that send current through the layer. The amount of difficulty that the current experiences is referred to as impedance. The biofilm is known to have two characteristic sources of impedance: the biofilm stores charge like a capacitor, and the medium (liquid) that it is in provides resistance in the form of charged particles.

The MEAs that we use are remarkable: there are over 16,000 individual electrodes. That is a LOT of measurements! Working with MEA chips is challenging because they are quite delicate. You can’t even touch the surface! The chips have incredibly complex microstructures which can easily be damaged, even by dust.

Microelectronic array I use in my experiments. Photo courtesy of imec.

The fashionable gear we have to wear when working with microelectronics

I am using biological samples on the microchip, so I have to thoroughly sanitize the chip before using it. Once sterile, I add media and my sample to the chip. The well around the chip holds less than five milliliters of water, which is a very small amount! After I finish my measurements, I take images of the chip using the confocal microscope. With the microscope, I can see the bacteria because they glow green (not naturally, of course!).  My objective (no pun intended) is to find out if these electrodes can give different spatial information of the biofilm based on the actual surface area of the electrode.

The other experiment I’m conducting is what I mentioned in my previous blog post. I am co-culturing (growing together) two separate strains of bacteria: one that forms biofilms and one that does not. I am growing these on “dummy” chips, or chips that do not have wiring. The chips themselves cannot take any measurements, but I am using them to visualize the size and scope of the bacterial growth.

The IRES REU program has been a fantastic experience. Though I haven’t had much time to reflect because, I certainly have learned quite a bit. The work culture in Belgium is much more balanced, unlike the US. Europeans take holiday fairly frequently, and they receive ample vacation time. Even lunch and coffee breaks last significantly longer. Americans could perceive this as laziness, but I think that these breaks are crucial in having a productive day. I consider myself capable of working marathons, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy it. American students sometimes take pride in consuming and distressing ourselves with work. In Belgium and at imec, people work hard yet still take the time to give themselves a mental break. I’ve never truly appreciated balance until I came here and was able to perform hours of work without burning out.

As a pre-professional, I think that the culture at imec is a fantastic transition between being a student and being in the workforce. The internship offers the flexibility to come in a bit later than 9 am, which I definitely appreciate. My particular lab group, Cell and Tissue Technologies (CTT), has a close-knit and friendly atmosphere, while still maintaining professionalism.

This past weekend, all of CTT (except a few members who couldn’t make it) went to La Roche en Ardennes. We spent the weekend at a colleague’s family house and went on a high ropes course. The weekend was amazing because we went into rural, Wallonian (French) Belgium. The other weekend trips that I took were all to cities.

La Roche en Ardennes

The weekend prior, I went to Gentse Feesten, which is a huge cultural festival in the city of Ghent. The size is ranked only smaller than Oktoberfest and Fallas. Gentse Feesten went on for 10 days, but I only went for two. Luckily, the festival was free and very accessible by train. The public transport around Belgium is excellent and cheap, which I am forever grateful.

Celebrating the Gentse Feesten with an expensive waffle

I truly cannot believe how quickly this summer has passed. My research has been intense enough that I scarcely have time to think about my data before I collect more! These next weekends, I will travel to Vienna and Switzerland. I will also turn 21! Thank you for reading!