Desvaun Drummond

Desvaun, please tell us a bit about yourself.

In August 2023, I began my PhD in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) program at the University of California, Berkeley. I earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Howard University in May 2023. I had prior research experience in the Harvard University SEAS REU 2022 program, where I was a research intern at the NSF Center for Integrated Quantum Materials (CIQM) working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. My project at MIT had applications for advanced computing with the long-term goal of developing nanoelectronics devices that are incredibly thin, consume less energy, and achieve ultra-fast switching speeds in processors. At UC Berkeley, I will be conducting research within the physical electronics area, working with Professor Boubacar Kante. 

Thanks. can you tell us a bit about your IRTE research experience?

"As a member of the Global Quantum Leap 2023 cohort, I was a guest researcher at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Tsukuba, Japan, located approximately 50 kilometers from central Tokyo. The program lasted for 10 weeks from May 29 to August 4, 2023, and my project was supervised by Dr. Takuya Iwasaki, an independent scientist in the qubit materials group at the Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA).

What did your research project entail?

My project title was, “Fabrication and characterization of moiré superlattice devices” using graphene/hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) stacking structures. In a nutshell, the focus of my project was to investigate graphene as a potential replacement for silicon, which is widely used today as a semiconductor in electronics. Due to graphene having unique electronic properties, the material is being extensively investigated by researchers all over the world for possible future electronic device applications.

To complete the project, graphene and hBN were grown from exfoliating kish graphite and hBN flakes using scotch tape. An original transfer station was used to assemble the graphene/hBN heterostructures, and an atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to scan the heterostructure. A graphene field effect transistor was fabricated in the cleanroom using techniques such as electron beam lithography, reactive ion etching, and photoresist coating.

The goal of the project was to demonstrate the evidence of graphene in the fabricated device by determining its mobility. Graphene has an electron mobility that is significantly higher than silicon. Therefore, using a probe station at room temperature, this tool can measure the electrical characteristics of a device and confirm the presence of graphene. The results confirmed that graphene is evident our device and the project was successful.

You lived in Tsukuba for 10 weeks. Can you tell us about the laboratory and your experience living in Tsukuba?

At NIMS, you are getting the chance to work in world class facilities within a strong research community. For my field in particular, Japan is amongst world leaders in the semiconductor industry, and it was an amazing experience to conduct research at a national facility. There is no language barrier as your research hosts will communicate with you in English.

Living in Tsukuba was a great experience. Ninomiya House, a facility provided for foreign researchers, is built like a standard college dorm building but much nicer. Ninomiya House has community spaces, mini lounges, gym rooms, a library, and the rooms are large and comfortable. It is very simple to commute within Tsukuba using a bicycle that you rent from Ninomiya House. Biking to the lab, getting groceries, going to the convenience store, and the transportation center for the trains and buses are all within a close commute. For food, you can either choose to prepare your own meals in your room, eat lunch at the cafeteria at NIMS, or grab food at convenience stores like 7-11 or Family Mart. The quality of the food is great, and it is inexpensive.

Tsukuba is also safe and quiet. Many of us went on late night snack runs or returning from trips to Tokyo, or elsewhere, late in the night and got back home without any safety concerns. If you choose not to use a bicycle all the time, the lab and all essentials are within reasonable walking distance. There is also a shuttle bus provided by NIMS that you can take to get to various lab locations and the transportation center.

Please tell us about your weekend travel experiences.

I got to visit many places in Japan. I recommend going to as much places as possible to make use of this unique opportunity. There may not be another time where you have three months (mostly on the weekends) to explore the country and you do not want to have any regrets looking back at the experience! There are many different things to explore in Tokyo, based on your interest. Tokyo has a mix of nature, modern sites, attractions, and historical sites. Seeing the temples in Asakusa, roaming around the city in Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Akihabara, going to Tokyo Disney Resort, and seeing a Manchester City vs FC Bayern Munich football game were my highlights of Tokyo. Most of these locations in Tokyo are no more than 1hr 30 mins away from Tsukuba on the local train. I also went to Nikko using the local train which was 3hrs away. Nikko has a lot of beautiful scenery, and it was a great experience. Taking the Shinkansen bullet train, I went to Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and Hiroshima. This trip spanned over five days; my highlights included going to Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, seeing the red Tori gates and the bamboo forest in Kyoto, and the atomic bomb sites in Hiroshima. Lastly, I was fortunate to celebrate my birthday in Japan. I went to Yamanashi for a Disney Music and Fireworks event, celebrating Disney’s 100th anniversary, and I saw Mount Fuji from the distance.

Can you share any overall impressions of your experience?

This experience in Japan exceeded my expectations. Immediately upon arriving in Japan, the environment was clean, the locals were super nice, friendly, and willing to assist you. Japan is relatively inexpensive to enjoy yourself without spending all your funds for the summer. The transportation system is very reliable, and you can easily get around the country. My research project was well supported, and I will use the skills I learned during my PhD program. Overall, this trip turned out to be the best experience of my life so far and I see myself returning to Japan, whether it’s for a research conference, business related, or to continue exploring the rest of the country!