This summer, NC State Ph.D. student Alan Ferris (MSE, ’27) took part in a unique professional development experience: the 10th annual University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Electrochemistry Bootcamp. Hosted by Professor Joaquín Rodríguez-López, whose group is internationally recognized for advancing methods like scanning electrochemical microscopy, the program brought together nearly 40 participants from across the U.S. and abroad for three days of hands-on, intensive training.

The bootcamp combined foundational lessons, such as building reference electrodes and testing the Nernst equation, with advanced techniques, including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, in situ spectroelectrochemistry, and automated experimentation. Participants not only practiced methods individually but also worked in teams to tackle real-world electrochemical problems, presenting their results at the end of the program.

“The hands-on exposure to advanced techniques will allow me to probe interfacial phenomena more effectively, and the relationships I built form a professional network that I’ll carry with me throughout my career.”

Alan Ferris (MSE Ph.D., ‘27)

For Alan, who conducts graduate research under Jake and Jennifer Hooks Distinguished Professor Veronica Augustyn, the experience was transformative. “Strengthening my grasp of electrochemical principles gives me a stronger foundation for my graduate research,” he said. “The hands-on exposure to advanced techniques will allow me to probe interfacial phenomena more effectively, and the relationships I built form a professional network that I’ll carry with me throughout my career.”

This year’s bootcamp also featured expanded contributions from Professor Amanda Schoetz’s group in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, further highlighting the role of electrochemistry in energy storage and catalysis. One of Alan’s favorite moments was watching the Rodríguez-López lab’s custom-built Raman-SECM setup in action. “We saw how a graphitic substrate could be mapped simultaneously with both techniques and how the percent graphitization could be correlated with the interfacial voltage response,” he explained. “It was an amazing example of how combining spectroscopy with electrochemistry can reveal structure-function relationships.”

Not every highlight was high-tech, though. A favorite hands-on memory for Alan was fabricating his platinum ultramicroelectrode (UME) using a blowtorch, glass frit, and platinum wire. “It was challenging and fun,” he said, “and it reminded me that even the most advanced experiments are grounded in the craft of making precise tools.”

For Alan, the bootcamp was more than a short course; it was a formative step in his journey as a researcher. The skills, insights, and connections he gained will continue to shape his Ph.D. work and future career in materials electrochemistry. “Programs like this don’t just sharpen techniques,” he reflected. “They build community and prepare scientists to solve big technological challenges with creativity and confidence.”