Author: Lincoln Katleski
After a long Italian holiday weekend, I returned to Bologna on Tuesday with a fresh mind and one goal: unravel the secrets of my terephthalic acid sample. This wasn’t just chemistry, it was a captivating puzzle. The sample’s thermosalient behavior (yes, it jumps when heated) and intricate phase transitions had me hooked. 
The week kicked off with deep reading: I devoured multiple dense research paper on crystal structures and the thermosalient effect, fascinated by every shift and transformation it described. I read papers from leading researchers, including Profs. Naumov, Bernstein, Ito, Catalano (one of our project PIs), and many others. Afterward, I biked home through 85°F warmth and ended the day with pesto pasta on the porch—simple, satisfying, and just perfect.
Wednesday brought hands-on lab time. I shadowed PhD students using Raman spectroscopy, watching their precise work and soaking in their rhythm of the lab. I have been amazed at the information we are able to obtain in the lab! Lunch, as always, was communal. Professors and students gathered like family, combining science with warm conversation. I spent the afternoon buried in more literature, the questions only multiplying.
By Thursday, it was time to treat ourselves. After a sunny break, my friend Will and I biked over cobblestones into Bologna’s historic heart. We dined at a cozy spot outside, split wine, and stumbled into a night of laughter and shared stories with new UK friends at the next table. It was one of those rare evenings that felt like magic.
Friday, it was my turn on the Raman machine. I carefully adjusted the crystal and laser angles, and started acquiring data – tracking subtle spectral changes as we adjusted various parameters such as temperature. It was repetitive, yes, but almost meditative. Already, the data we are obtaining are helping to uncover the atomic-level dynamics that drive various bulk properties in these amazing crystals. The day ended with a group lunch, more reading (I couldn’t resist), and a sense of deep satisfaction as the weekend rolled in.
Science, food, friendship—this week had it all!
