Research
Advancing Material Science in Microelectronics through Atomic Layer Etching (ALE)
I explored Atomic Layer Etching techniques to improve microelectronic fabrication and energy efficiency, focusing on how surface chemistry shifts under precision etching.
Highlights
- Converted raw instrument logs into structured datasets with Python and SQL checks so every ALE cycle is traceable.
- Built XPS visualization templates and a labeled dataset package that sped up handoffs between summer researchers.
- Documented ALE process adjustments against solar efficiency targets so the lab could run faster iterations.
Inside the build
I joined a materials lab that was midway through a DOE-sponsored solar project and was asked to modernize the etch data pipeline. I converted instrument logs into cleaned tables using Python notebooks and SQL validation checks so every run captured temperatures, plasma recipes, and chamber pressure without manual rewrites.
Once the data was reliable, I produced XPS figures that traced atomic concentrations before and after ALE cycles. Those visuals fed directly into my summer research presentation and helped the next cohort continue the work without repeating characterization.