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Jobs in nanotech?Reid Maker writes "Hello, I am a senior in college graduating with a B.A. in computer science and history. I am also incredibly interested in the oncoming nano world, and have been reading any article I have gotten my hands on for the past few years. Are there commercial nano centers where people can find employment? Or even in the university setting? I would really like to be a part of the oncoming nano revolution, but am not exactly sure how. I have been eyeing a number of industries for next year, but I really haven't found anything about the nano job marketplace. If anyone has any information on this, it would greatly be appreciated. Thanks for your input!" 5 comments to Jobs in nanotech? |
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Tell you this, kids. there are essentially no ‘nano’ jobs unless you want to work at Universities or government labs.
Knowledge for nanotechnology research
The first thing you need to decide is whether you want to do research for the government or industry now or whether you want to do it as part of a graduate program planning to apply it as the government and industry efforts expand. The second thing is to realize how different paths to "real" nantechnology may develop.
At this time most of what is being called nanotechnology research could more properly be called nanoscale research. So the background I see being needed now would be solid-state physics or perhaps organic chemistry synthesis. Over the longer term there are two paths that I can see:
If you want to follow the first path then you probably need a background in ME & robotics. Experience that CEs or EEs would have preparing for semiconductor fab process development would be useful as well. So you would be looking for schools that have fabs and/or groups using AFMs, SPMs, etc.
If you want to follow the second path then you want to focus on organic chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, polymer chemistry, molecular modeling, and protein structure and design. So groups working with protein crystallography and or related computer methods (Folding@Home, Genome@Home, etc.) would give you some of needed knowledge base.
Eric describes the path that real MNT development might take in Nanosystems chapter 16, esp. Table 16.1. If one studies that table and thinks about the knowledge and experience necessary to develop some of those capabilities then I think you would be on the right track. You have to remember that the nanotechnology centers are just getting started — it will be a couple of years before they have "real" nanotechnology courses and curriculums in place. Until then you will have to pick the right combination of courses out of other departments. In the long run I'd place my bets on people who combine an educations in mechanical engineering, organic chemistry and protein structure. Not a very common combination at least at this time.
Re:graduating students
Yes, I'm in this situation too.
Working already, I have an MSEE, but I definitely want to work for nanotech in the not so far future and I am investigating what are the different options for me.
Do I need complementary studies (MS or Ph.D in molecular physics, …), or can I expect to find a job with my current expertise and grow from there?
Are there any classes which would be worthwile attending to? I remember Ralph Merkle did something at Berkeley last Spring, is something like that planned for this year?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Re:graduating students
What web sites? I'm in a similar situation . . like to enter the field, but finding these people is a bit tough . . .
graduating students
I've noticed here and at other sites that there are many (well, several) of us in similar situations. Either looking to enter the career or graduate field and curious as to where/what to do. Unfortunately the responses I've seen have been mostly from nuts out in the world who have no apparant knowledge, just looking to troll. Pity.