Jordan Alexander-Passe, (Materials)
This past summer, I had the amazing opportunity of conducting an international undergraduate research placement (IROP) at Cornell University in the USA.
My mentor and I used MBE to investigate the effects of strain on the superconducting properties of ruthenate and cuprate thin films. Superconductors become perfect conductors, having zero electrical resistance. Key applications include the future creation of a lossless energy system, the ability to make high-powered electromagnets used in MRI machines and elsewhere, and utility in magnetic levitation technology seen in the latest bullet trains being created in Japan. My direct role in this research involved the preparation and characterisation of the substrates and films.
I greatly gained from my time on this IROP placement, and not just from the scientific aspect of my project. I found the opportunity to experience living in the USA fascinating, as I could experience the culture of the USA and that of an American college town. Ithaca was an especially beautiful place to live, with the hills, gorges and waterfalls being spectacular to visit. During my time in the USA, I was able to meet and bond with new friends from across the world and experience the local area. A personal highlight of my time was a trip to Taughannock State Falls in Trumansburg, the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains in the USA – and definitely not a sight one can see anywhere in the UK! Additionally, it was really nice to get to know people from across the USA and the world in the research group I was working with and understand how academic culture varies across borders.
I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who made this incredible experience happen for me, in particular my supervisor, my amazing mentor and the IROP team at Imperial. I felt I grew massively from my experiences, both academically and personally, and none of this would have been possible without the support from these people.