Amina’s summer project focuses on defect engineering in the ultra-wide band gap semiconductor alpha gallium oxide (α-Ga₂O₃). She is working on identifying dislocations between α-Ga₂O₃ and sapphire substrates, which limit electron mobility in the device. Amina appreciates the opportunity to work with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) under the guidance of Javier Garcia Fernandez, Holger Von Wenckstern and Øystein Prytz, her supervisors. She finds her research group to be very supportive, which has significantly contributed to her positive summer project experience.
This is Amina’s second summer project, but the first one that was funded by SMN. Her previous project was funded by UiO Energy, where she gained insights that provided her with a broader understanding of how research is conducted. Initially, she had worked with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), but transitioning to TEM had been an exciting experience. She was excited to find a topic that resonated with her interests. After three weeks of working on the project, Amina feels she has gained much more than she initially expected. Amina said, “This project has been instrumental in shaping my scientific persona and has shown me the beauty of science”.
Amina appreciates the practical experience she is acquiring and enjoys the experimental and theoretical aspects of her work. She acknowledges the importance of theoretical knowledge as a foundation that excites her to engage in research. She mentioned she had always been inclined towards science, and she initially started her studies in chemistry and biology. It was not until she joined the MENA program that she discovered her true passion for physics.
Recently, Amina completed her bachelor’s degree in materials science and is set to begin her master’s in the same field in the fall of 2025. Outside of her academic pursuits, Amina enjoys spending quality time with friends, such as watching movies and going on long walks together.