To solve for the vibration issue the STM lab was in the basement of the building and the STM equipment sat on a multi-ton granite block that was suspended from the ceiling of the building. The building sits in the center of the U of MN campus right next to a major roadway so there were lots of opportunities for vibrations to enter into the structure.
One of the coolest feelings was the day that I successfully imaged HOPG at the molecular level. To point at the image on screen and be able to say "That's a carbon atom!" is insanely cool. I didn't end up staying in chem-e but the experience of working in a real research lab with highly intelligent and creative people has impacted my life in numerous ways.
Scene_Cast2•31m ago