Start a Challenging Career in Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is a rather recent science that has tremendous potential for the human race, it is believed to have huge potential for areas like manufacturing and production, creating new materials and novel processes.

A combination of numerous sciences, nanotechnology as an emerging science has huge attraction for those who would like to make a career in a challenging cutting edge science.

‘Nano’ in Greek means dwarf. Nanometer (nm) is a unit of measurement used to measure very small particles like atoms and molecules. Nanotechnology is a catch-all phrase for materials and devices that operate at the nanoscale. The worldwide need for nanotechnology workers is expected to reach 2 million by 2015.

The jobs in nanotechnology are likely to be concentrated in the USA, Japan, Europe and Asia Pacific in the initial years. Besides the 2 million jobs, the sector is likely to create another five million jobs worldwide in support fields and industries.

Where are the Career Areas?

It is envisaged that Nanotechnology will have a role in a diverse set of areas. Current applications of nanoscale science and technology, and thus career opportunities, exist in areas such as:

• Electronics /semiconductor industry
• Materials science such as textiles, polymers and packaging
• Auto and aerospace industries
• Pharmaceuticals including diagnostics and therapeutics  and cosmetics
• Food science including quality control and packaging
• Energy:  capture, storage, & use; fuel cells, batteries
• Environmental remediation:  in conjunction with GM microbes
• Manufacturing:  self-assembly; “bottom-up” fabrication of novel materials
• Commerce: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)  “smart” tags
• Space exploration:  space elevator
• Sports equipment
• Biotechnology
• Optoelectronics
• Forensics
• Military
• Robotics

What Education is Needed and in Which Fields?

Potential fields of study include:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Environmental Science
• Agricultural Science
• Engineering
• Medicine
• Forensic Science
• Law
• Business
• Ethics

Degrees in Nanotechnology in the US

• Associate Degree in Nanobiotechnology offered at community colleges in Pennsylvania.
• Dakota County Technical College (Rosemount, Minn.) offers an Associate in Applied Science degree in Nanoscience Technology
• City University of New York offers a Ph.D. in Nanotechnology & Materials Chemistry as part of the Ph.D. program in chemistry.
• Louisiana Tech University offers a Bachelor of Science in Nanosystems Engineering, a Master of Science in Molecular Sciences and Nanotechnology, and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Engineering that focuses on micro/nanosystems.
• Rice University offers a Professional Master of Science in Nanoscale Physics
• University at Albany College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) offers a Ph.D. and a MS in both Nanoscale Science and Nanoscale Engineering. It also offers two dual-degree “Nano+MBA” programs: MS in Nanoscale Science/Masters of Business Administration and MS in Nanoscale Engineering/Masters of Business Administration.
• University of Washington, Ph.D. in Nanotechnology
• North Seattle Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science-T degree in nanotechnology, soon to be joined by a certificate program.
• Cornell University, Nanobiotechnology Course
• Florida Institute of Technology, Nanoscience/Nanotechnology Lab Course
• George Mason University, Graduate Certificate in Nanotechnology and Nanoscience
• Kansas State University, Visual Quantum Mechanics
• Michigan Technological University, interdisciplinary minor in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (Nanotechnology)
• Normandale Community College, Associate in Applied Science Degree in Nanotechnology with emphasis in vacuum technology and surface science or semiconductor process technician.
• Penn State University, Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization, Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology (NMT) Capstone Semester, for two-year colleges
• Purdue University offers a, Graduate Level Courses in Nanoscale Science and Engineering
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a course in, Nanostructured Materials
• Rice University offers an Introduction to Nanoscience
• University of Central Florida offers a course in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Track (B.S.) Liberal Studies Major
• University of Maryland offers a  Nano-related Courses at UMD
• University of Texas at Austin’s offers a Doctoral Portfolio Program in Nanotechnology is a certification program which provides a formal mechanism for recognizing and rewarding students who obtain the broad educational background necessary to become leaders in nanotechnology after graduation.
• University of Washington, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the Joint Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology offers Intensive Courses in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
• University of Wisconsin – Madison and other institutions collaborating with the UW Materials Research Science and Engineering Center on Nanostructured Interfaces offers an, Nano-related Course Information and Syllabi
• University of Wisconsin – Stout offers a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science with Nanoscience Concentration and Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology with a Concentration in Nanotechnology. UW-Stout also offers four undergraduate courses in Nanoscience/Nanotechnology.

If you would like to do a course or research in nanotechnology in India, they are offered at

• The Amity Institute of Nanotechnology
• The Jawaharalal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore;
• The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore;
• National Physical Laboratory, Delhi;
• Solid State Physics Laboratory, Delhi;
• National Chemical Laboratory, Pune;
• Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Chandigarh;
• Defence Materials Store Research and Development Organisation, Kanpur;
• Indian Institutes of Technology – Kanpur, Chennai, Guwahati, Delhi and Mumbai;
• Delhi and Benaras Hindu Universities also offer research opportunities in nanotechnology;