Research Update

So I figured I should give an update on our research. Things are progressing well for the both of us, finally. Krista has nearly completed her mutated cell lines. This is a big deal because no one has made this mutation before. If they work out, Krista will be able to generate data that no one else is capable of. She has also started work on some chemistry that she wanted to do. She originally was writing a paper for publication, but then realized that the paper would be much stronger with several new sets of data. These data sets required her to make several new benzodiazepine compounds. The other front that she is currently attacking is money. Krista and I will both run out of funding in August. Something about being in grad school for 4 years... Anyway, she is applying to the American Heart Association for a grant to continue her research with outside funds. Hopefully she'll get the grant. It's a fairly prestigious award to get (and she keeps getting paid).

My research is accelerating right now. I wish I could start my creep tests as they take the longest time, but I need to be patient and smart about how I organize my testing. Currently I am running High Temperature tensile testing and getting very interesting (read unexpected) results. My advisor has given me the green light to go on his funding after August (Krista's will support her too, but she has more opportunities for funding than I do). If I prolong my work past December of 2007, it may become significantly more difficult as funding is uncertain for that semester. Either way, I'll have to start writing my dissertation in the next few weeks. I can't put if off much longer. Now that I am actually generating data again, I need to push towards my goal. We are both feeling it now. We're close. A lot of work remains, but we're close. Stay tuned as this will get more exciting through the new year.