Is nanotechnology a good field to go into?
Since Iʻm interested in science and technology and nanotechnology peaked my interest, I was wondering, is the nanotechnology field a good career path to follow? #technology #nanotechnology #science #stem #engineering
14 answers
Syed M. Sohaib’s Answer
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, is one of the most up ad coming feilds it combines engineering sciences from all major feilds to perform outclass innovative research, If that’s what motivate you there are lot of opportunities out there for you
Jacob’s Answer
Nanotechnology is a great field to get into, as the applications are growing every day and it will certainly be around for a long time to come. Nanotech enables lots of the new technologies you see today and is improving on several traditional technologies. The great thing about nanotech, is it allows us to make smaller devices that typically require less energy to operate, sense and react to very small changes in their environment (a good thing) and given their small size, allow us to use them in new applications. The other cool thing is that nanoscale features give us a new way to manipulate the properties of materials, be it electrical, mechanical, chemical, photonic, etc.
A couple of things to note. Nanotechnology can be pursued in many educational tracks, but generally speaking is highly multidisciplinary. For example you can go to school for physics, chemistry, biology, and almost any engineering discipline and find people working in nanotechnology. Also, there are generally two kinds of nanotechnologist: Bottom Up and Top Down. Bottom up are typically chemist and/or biologist who make nanostructures through chemical interactions. This typically is done in a chemical lab setting with chemical hoods, beakers, mixing solutions, etc. Top Down folks are typically engineers and physicist. They build nanostructures using highly specialized equipment, that which is based off the technology used to make computer chips. They do their work in what is called a cleanroom and typically design their structures on a computer program first and then go and make it.
You can get into nanotech with just a BS, but it is a bit difficult. I would recommend at least a masters degree and often times, people have a PhD, but not required. Another thing to note is that these jobs are typically located in nanotech hubs. The majority of them are located in Silicon Valley and Boston, but certainly they are located in other cities and areas (Texas, NY, Oregon, Colorado and others). What I am trying to say is that you can't find a nanotech job just anywhere, but there are lots of openings if you are willing to move to where the jobs are.
I hope that helps!
Carlton’s Answer
Also, I think you meant "piqued", not "peaked"... :-) It's a small thing, but in nanotechnology, small things matter... :-P (nerd humor)
Arman’s Answer
Keotshepile Isabella’s Answer
Md Arshad Rashid’s Answer
modern technology is mostly dependent on electronics, nanotechnology has become a good field to jump into.
Nanjappa Kempaiah
Nanjappa’s Answer
This is the only technology will survive for ever, it's excellent field to work on exploring this cutting edge technology, there is a lot of potential in this technology.
Anand Sai’s Answer
Craig’s Answer
MUMTAZ’s Answer
Nano-technology is a broad field, which covers diverse areas of research. Currently, nano-technology is on the lab-scale mostly, however soon it will compete in commercial / business world. specifically, Bio-nanotechnology, Environmental nanotechnology, Energy harvesting and storage systems related nano-materials will cover the most of commercial markets.
Apart from nano-technology; Biotechnology / biomass engineering and advance materials engineering (specifically for protective applications) will show a rise in the future.
Actually nano-technology is always coupled with another main research area. For instance, Nano-materials for electronic applications; here you would be expert on both electronics and nano-materials to work or study in that area. Depending on your research interest, you can choose the secondary field of inside nano-technology. But currently, bio-nanotechnology is going on TOP of nano fields: for instance low-cost diagnostics, nano-drug delivery, body implants, micro-robotics, health monitoring.......
My major is energy harvesting and energy storage nano-materials. Recent Nobel prize in chemistry was on Li-ion batteris, so you can also guess that Nobel prize-winning fields usually show a boom in the near future. Battery consumption will show a rise in the near future, and so the battery industry growth.
I must tell you a negative point about nano-technology; the industrial applications/industry of nanotechnology are currently less than other fields. For example, nano-energy (solar cells/piezo-electrics) makes almost negligible part as compared to hydral power/coal power plants. The opportunities for research are a lot in nano-technology, however, their commercialization is not sure yet. Only few nano-fields are on a commercial scale for example; in electronics/mobile devices Nano-lithography covers most of the manufacturing part.
sudhanshu’s Answer
Nanotechnology is one of the very sought after field and a lot of scope is there for cutting edge research work. Is it good? Will depend on what you are seeking from the degree. Presently nanotechnology opportunities are more in to research and development. Means it is more into academia rather than industry but it is going to change with the rapid change in the technology. Nanotechnology has lot of applications in various fields ranging from electronics, semiconductors, medical sciences, chemical engg, and bio technology and soon in agriculture too. I have seen many nano technologist either have bachleors in polymer science / chemistry / physics or material science and then pursuing nano tech in masters and phd. Demand for nano technologist is certainly going to increase tremendously in future and will make it one of the lucrative career paths to follow. Also this fields require a certain level of exploratory and analytical skillset. Hope this will help. Do reach out for any help.