Nanotech Career

Nanotechnology Overview

Nanoscience is a rapidly emerging interdisciplinary field at the interface between physics, materials science, chemistry, and biology.

Nanotechnology can be defined as any technology related to features of nanometer scale - one nanometer is one millionth of a millimeter. Nanotechnology is therefore more of an umbrella term to describe activities at the level of atoms and molecules that have applications in the real world.

Nanoscience and nanotechnology exploit the phenomena that occur on the scale of single atoms. It is likely to transform technology in the next century, with developments including new technology for the health industry, super-computers, and new materials that mimic the processes that occur in nature.

Despite the recent expansion in awareness, research in the field has been conducted for many years. In the last 15 years over a dozen Nobel prizes have been awarded in nanotechnology, including the development of the scanning probe microscope (SPM), and the discovery of fullerenes.

nanotech careers options

Nanoscience and nanotechnology are interdisciplinary. Therefore nanotechnology careers exist in such disciplines as chemistry, physics, materials science, biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, micro- and nano-electromechanical engineering, biomedical engineering and devices, microfluidics, microarrays, information technology, optics, mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering, and other relevant fields.

Research posts exist worldwide in universities, industry and government research facilities. Related careers exists in many other sectors, including information technology, consulting, investment, etc.

Would a nanotech career suit you?

A physics degree with a focus on nanotechnology would be the ideal preparation for a career in nanotechnology. However, other science graduates can progress in this interdisciplinary field, especially if they have undertaken postgraduate nanotech research work or have been employed in a research post.

If you have a science degree but are not seeking a research post, it is worth reading books about nanotechnology, plus technical articles and journals. Learn the difference between practical and theoretical research and gain a broad understanding of where each is relevant. Concentrate on expanding your knowledge of atomic and molecular chemistry, solid state physics, molecular/cellular biology, and similar fields. You can achieve this by absorbing some of the more popular nanotechnology books.

To optimize your chances of being considered for these positions, educate yourself as much as possible and emphasize your self-motivated research on your CV / resume.

Nanotechnology Career Ladder - Salary and Prospects

Nanotechnology companies are, on the whole, very selective, seeking specific knowledge of methods and procedures that can be documented. It is important, therefore, to locate vacancies that offer a very good match for your area of knowledge and experience. To maximize your likelihood of consideration for these positions, you really need to educate yourself as much as possible in the nanotechnology fields, and you need to emphasize that on your CV / resume.

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