When I arrive at the lab, I first power up the equipment, such as the vacuum pump, which takes approximately 40 minutes. During that time, I read scientific papers.

My mornings are mostly spent on self-study. I review the fundamentals of solid-state physics and compare these concepts with my experimental results.

I organize what I’ve learned and take notes to prepare for discussions with my supervisor.

I usually eat in the lab, bringing my salad, fruits, and vegetables. For Muslim diets, I buy my groceries at a nearby wholesale market. Sometimes, I share traditional dishes from my home country with lab mates.

I work on device fabrication and silicon wafer cleaning. I also conduct additional experiments at a separate facility on campus.

I terminate the experiment early since shutting down the equipment requires many steps. After that, I organize the data collected during the day.

I consider how to incorporate the experimental data into academic papers, and sometimes discuss them with my supervisor.

After returning home, I call my parents to share updates. I usually go to bed around 12:30 a.m.