7/7/09

Started off the morning with a informative meeting beneath Bob Callens and Joe Pow, with an overview of the plan for the day that did a good job of clearing up any misunderstandings. Spent the first hour and a half of the day reading from a textbook that I had read 40 pages in last night. However, I don't mind the extra "homework," although it is in summer, since it is interesting material on ultrasound technology. On the other hand, this information would be much easier to absorb if I had been given the option of reading up on the subject when I was first chosen for the internship. Maybe something to consider. 

Met with Aaron, who I will be assisting in building a neat mechanical hand for ultrasound imaging that we will send to an outside user. Good talk with him and Maria that set down everything we had planned for the next few weeks.

Maria did a great job of informing me of WHAT and WHY we are doing what we are doing. Helped me stay motivated and focused on what needs to be done and what I can do to help. So far I am LOVING the sound of what I'll be doing. I feel like a professional scientist... and that's a cool and new feeling.

At 1, the computer tutorial for IDL was hard to follow. This grad student was very knowledgeable, however didn't do a great job of organizing the information that he was presenting. I understand it is a hard topic to explain in a structured fashion, but I was trying very, very hard to follow and learn this material and I feel like I failed in that regard. Partly my fault, I'm sure, and partly his. I did try to ask questions to stay focused, because I did want to learn this neat programming technology, but even questions yielded little further understanding. Although I do not mind that I am personally not learning a great deal about this program, (even though I am truly excited about it), I am concerned that I will be able to provide less assistance for Maria. Since I have so much respect for her, I want to do everything possible to help her in our projects. Good first day... I am excited about the ultrasound projects.