Breaking Boundaries in Glass: Innovation and Mentorship through Anodic Bonding
Ashutosh Shastry, PhD
Medical Device & Diagnostics Innovation Leader | Concept to Clinic Solution Catalyst | Strategist & Systems Thinker | Biosensors & Microfluidics | AI Advocate | Startup Mentor
Introduction
Mentorship is about seeing and trusting someone's potential before they do. It's about nurturing latent abilities and the joy of discovery. I am fortunate to have had incredible mentors, and I am grateful for their guidance and profound impact on my journey.
The Intrigue of Anodic Bonding
Anodic bonding, a process that fuses silicon with glass, unveils the intriguing intricacies of material science. Lacking a crystalline structure, glass becomes a playground for mobile ions under heat and electric fields. This distinctive process, mainly when bonding glass to aluminum, showcases the exceptional resilience of glass under compression at the interface.
A Leap into the Unknown: Glass-Glass Anodic Bonding
Could glass be bonded to itself using this technique? This question sparked a hypothesis – using lead glass with lower ion mobility might enable a new form of anodic bonding. Driven by curiosity and grounded in scientific principles, this idea represented a potential breakthrough in material science.
The Power of Belief: Mentorship as a Catalyst
I encountered initial skepticism when I first presented this concept to my advisor and later to a leading figure, Prof. X, at the world's top university. However, my advisor's unwavering support—" Prof. X doesn't get it, yaar"—was a game-changer. It bolstered my confidence to trust my instincts and reignited my passion for exploration, underscoring the immense power of mentorship.
The Value of Interdisciplinary Exploration
My time with Prof. Bellare during my Master's was a turning point, teaching me that true breakthroughs often emerge at the crossroads of disciplines. From delving into nanotechnology in chemical engineering to conducting DNA electrophoresis on glass chips, each project was a masterclass in observation, leveraging first principles and the indispensability of cross-disciplinary collaboration.
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Resourcefulness and the Joy of Experimentation
The journey involved considerable resourcefulness—sourcing the correct steel, constructing a high-temperature furnace, and developing a specialized high-voltage power supply. But it was not just a challenge; it was a joy. Preparing the metal-glass interface required precision and showcased the exhilarating pleasure of seeing theory meet practice in the lab.
Transferable Learnings: Beyond the Lab
The insights gained from exploring anodic bonding have broader applications:
Conclusion
My exploration of glass-glass anodic bonding was more than a scientific endeavor—it was a testament to the mentorship that fueled my curiosity, encouraged questioning, and inspired innovation. This journey reminds us of the incredible possibilities when we have the proper support.
Engage and Reflect
How have mentorship and interdisciplinary work influenced your professional journey? Share your experiences in the comments—I'm eager to hear your stories!
#Innovation #Mentorship #MaterialScience #Engineering #AnodicBonding #ScienceAndTechnology #CareerDevelopment #InterdisciplinaryResearch #ProfessionalGrowth #Inspiration
Life Sciences Strategist | Health Economist, Clinician | Former Diplomat | Board Member
10 个月I must confess I didn't know anything about anodic bonding until this article; it prompted me to "click" and read until the end. ?? Overall, the story is another reminder that challenging status quo can lead to new discoveries. Having dedicated mentors along the way is an accelerator.