As an undergrad, I worked in the lab of Carlito Lebrilla at UC Davis. We were performing gas phase ion-molecule reactions on a home-built FT-ICR mass spectrometer. Well, if you have ever worked with home built instruments you know the amount of work it takes to keep them running. I remember early on having to help take it apart many times in a row, as we kept finding out some wires were touching and were grounded. I thought I’d never see a mass spectrum, but that first time a peak appeared on the screen instead of a bunch of noise, I was hooked!