Melody Siles participated in CELL-MET summer research experiences in 2018 and 2019. She worked in Dr. He’s lab at FIU and participated at the University of Michigan in Max Shtein’s lab with Steve Forrest as her mentor the following summer. She made a gold nanoparticle film on PDMS for Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) substrates and characterized the thermodynamic parameters of cysteine, valine, and threonine via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).
More about My Experience
Melody has always wanted to help people as much as she can, whether by volunteering in her community or trying to find solutions to today’s problem in the lab. She has previously worked in other research labs with Miami Dade College and the University of Miami. Siles also participated in the observer program at Baptist Hospital where she shadowed a pediatric oncologist.
Summer 2018, Siles worked in Dr. He’s lab in the Department of Physics and Biomolecular Science at FIU. She was able to conduct experiments with her assigned graduate student, such as making a gold nanoparticle film on PDMS for Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) substrates and many more.
Summer 2019, Siles participated in the REU program at the University of Michigan in Max Shtein’s lab with Steve as her mentor. She learned about physical vapor deposition methods including vacuum thermal evaporation, organic vapor phase deposition, and organic vapor jet printing, all of which have a strong basis in fluid flow and mass transport. Siles initiated, developed, and implemented a research project that characterized the thermodynamic parameters of cysteine, valine, and threonine via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). These parameters were used to find suitable printing temperatures and conditions for deposition via OVJP.
After her research experience, Melody Siles graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in Microbiology and Immunology and Public Health. She has since gone on to medical school at Lincoln Memorial University. Melody Siles
