Visit to Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Hello fellows, what's new on this special 29th Feb? Did anyone of you just get engaged? Hmmmm, I didn't. Well, this time I'd like to share something related to my own research, and this exciting journey to Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.

I am currently looking into how Amyloid beta peptides (25-35) interact with membrane, and I use this monolayer made of pure lipids as a membrane model. In order to "see" what's actually happening to the membrane resulting from the interaction, we need some special instruments, or "eyes". Brewster angle microscope is one of them.

So we were heading to Rutherford Appleton Laboratory to use this microscope to have a look at the surface of our membrane. The pic shows how the surface looks like when it's not disturbed. Cool huh?

See, one of the many( well, maybe not many :p) great things about being a phd is that you get the chance to learn the very developed tech, and to know people who are really good in your research area, eg. how they do their research, how they manage to keep a balance on work and life, how they think. I am really happy to see and learn from the top people from this trip. They really love what they do, they really know how to deal with difficulties in both research and life, and most important, they really believe in themselves. All those inspire me!

I hope you enjoy your life and work, either as a phd student or not. Smile!

Holiday

Happy Chinese new year everyone! Greetings from China!

I'm currently away from Edinburgh for a holiday. Yeah, holiday!!! It's -26 outside and I'm sitting in the living room of my parents' place, cozy and warm. Holiday to me is all about sitting around my dear parents or grandparents, keeping them company. I've been away from home for 16 months. But to me, it seems like I never went away. I mean, when i got off the train, my hometown was exactly the same as what it looked like 16 months ago. Everything was familiar. And I picked up the famous northeast accent soon after I arrived. (ask a Chinese what that is, I'm quite sure you will be amused.)

I am very happy to spend time with family. I thought I would complain, given the fact that I used to prefer to stay with friends rather than relatives, and that the old me went after fun and didn't care too much about others. But i complaint nothing. I guess I just knew something about responsibility, and figured out what is most precious in my life. My grandparents were really thrilled to see me (and of cousr the presents i brought back). Likewise. I talked to them about every details of my life in UK, in a really patient way. Well honestly, that is new.

I think I learnt a lot during the time when I lived in UK all by myself. One thing is that, I start to appreciate, my friends, my lovers, and my family. Without them, I'm nothing. So i need to, and I'm willing to show my appreciation. Now I'm gonna come back to them, making them happy, and enjoy as much as I can... when I still can.

I hope everything goes on well, dear you. Don't forget to say I love you next time you call your family. Smile!