Week Three of PhD

Alhamdulilllah, finally meet the end of week 3 in my study, and more precisely the Week-1 of  ACTUAL research work here in UPM.

Started on Monday by registering myself in a nice and comfortable hostel room, at room 723 on the 7th floor of Kolej-10 UPM, just 15 mins walk to my reserach lab and manage to meet my supervisor in the late evening at KMP 102 (Makmal CAD, Blok G2.5, Kejuruteraan Mekanikal Pembuatan) just after finished unpacking stuffs inside the hostel room. Rezeki, got myself a temporary cubical workspace to start my work there. The lab is good, all the PC's with all sorts of softwares (CATIA,ABAQUS etc) is there, plus access to the internet. There is also a printer provided by my sv for his students to print. The lab is packed with nice n helpful fellow postgrad students, including a post-doc researcher, all under one research theme. The technician is also young n very helpful, so throughout the week  i've managed to settle down myself quite happily there. Not to forget, K-10 also have a nice cafe, water cooler, even service like vending washing machining.

Throughout the week, did plenty of literature downloading n discussion with supervisor n other students, and manage to see student preparing an pre-impregnated sample of his kapok-based composite. The natural fiber raw materials are also there, especially kenaf bast fiber and resin (PU, UP, epoxy, PF etc) + hardeners, so that a good sign. Got some info from lab members that most of the processing equipment are also available, either in Fak.Kej, INTROP or ITMA such as internal mixer, shredder m/c, oven, Uni.Test.Mc, impact tester, simple hot press compression moulder, injection moulder, pellet making m/c, and poltrusion m/c (although so far i've only seen the shredder n oven myself).

The travel from-to UKM is also a short one, especially using the highway but with a rm1.30 toll cost. Managed to get myself lost and end up at putrajaya while trying to try new no-tolled route from UPM to B.B.Bangi. So that's a relief coz i can meet n relax with wan j n afza without much hassle. Infact, still continuing tradition of having bfast together with hmate like in the UTeM days, but now at K-10 cafe :)

So, hopefully i'll make more +ve progress in days to come, got plenty of ideas to do but still haven't decided which one applicable and insyaAllah try to learn as much as possible here while maintaining a good time here.