engineer4u
New Member
The Nanotech Engineer is at the Forefront of Cutting Edge Technology
By Natasha Bright
If there truly is a form of research that can be called cutting edge, it's nanotechnology. It's mainly still in the research end of development, but the applications are starting to appear as you read this. With the capability of changing everything from space research to fighting cancer, now is the time to enter this form of engineering.
The textbook definition of nanotech is the study of the controlling of matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with devices - robots - for lack of a better term, that are anywhere from one to 100 nanometers in size. In other words, they are so tiny you literally could have a thousand of them dance on the head of a pin - IF you program them to do that!
Because of their size, scientists theorize they can perform tasks literally on the molecular level, something nigh impossible for current technological processes. They think nanotech cannot only create new alloys and other materials, but could be injected into human bodies to directly attack cancer cells or repair a damaged heart, create new medicines, be used to clean up toxic wastelands with no cost to human life, and hundreds of other tasks.
Developing the various programs and the machines themselves will end up being the realm of a newly created occupation, the nanotech engineer. This highly elite engineering specialty is an interdisciplinary profession that incorporates electrical/electronic, mechanical, hardware and software engineering as well as its fair share of other applied sciences, such as CAD.
Anyone interested in entering the nanotech field should be prepared to be a perpetual student. One starts with exceptional grades in math and science in high school. From there, they should enroll in either a brick and mortar or online college renowned for its reputation in an appropriate educational curriculum. To find the right universities, it is highly recommended one consult a college career counselor, the National Science Foundation, and professional organizations relevant to this arena.
Obtaining one's BS in an appropriate engineering field is good enough to obtain initial employment, generally as a research assistant. With this, one can usually obtain a work-study or internship employment program with the research assistant working by day and studying online at night. Other financial assistance can also be obtained through organizations such as the National Science Foundation and related public and private institutions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 85% of practicing nanotech engineers have their PhD.
As it stands, this is a very new profession, one that the BLS is only beginning to collect data on. What they do acknowledge is the average salary of a nanotech engineer is just short of $90,000. As for growth, the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies estimates over 800 identified nanotech products were publicly available as of August 2008, with new ones hitting the market at a pace of three to four per week. That sounds a lot like growth.
What it also sounds like is this is an occupation with an incredible future ahead of it and those with a degree in engineering are on the forefront. There appears no better time to take the online classes needed to enter this growing and challenging futuristic field.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Natasha_Bright
By Natasha Bright
If there truly is a form of research that can be called cutting edge, it's nanotechnology. It's mainly still in the research end of development, but the applications are starting to appear as you read this. With the capability of changing everything from space research to fighting cancer, now is the time to enter this form of engineering.
The textbook definition of nanotech is the study of the controlling of matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with devices - robots - for lack of a better term, that are anywhere from one to 100 nanometers in size. In other words, they are so tiny you literally could have a thousand of them dance on the head of a pin - IF you program them to do that!
Because of their size, scientists theorize they can perform tasks literally on the molecular level, something nigh impossible for current technological processes. They think nanotech cannot only create new alloys and other materials, but could be injected into human bodies to directly attack cancer cells or repair a damaged heart, create new medicines, be used to clean up toxic wastelands with no cost to human life, and hundreds of other tasks.
Developing the various programs and the machines themselves will end up being the realm of a newly created occupation, the nanotech engineer. This highly elite engineering specialty is an interdisciplinary profession that incorporates electrical/electronic, mechanical, hardware and software engineering as well as its fair share of other applied sciences, such as CAD.
Anyone interested in entering the nanotech field should be prepared to be a perpetual student. One starts with exceptional grades in math and science in high school. From there, they should enroll in either a brick and mortar or online college renowned for its reputation in an appropriate educational curriculum. To find the right universities, it is highly recommended one consult a college career counselor, the National Science Foundation, and professional organizations relevant to this arena.
Obtaining one's BS in an appropriate engineering field is good enough to obtain initial employment, generally as a research assistant. With this, one can usually obtain a work-study or internship employment program with the research assistant working by day and studying online at night. Other financial assistance can also be obtained through organizations such as the National Science Foundation and related public and private institutions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 85% of practicing nanotech engineers have their PhD.
As it stands, this is a very new profession, one that the BLS is only beginning to collect data on. What they do acknowledge is the average salary of a nanotech engineer is just short of $90,000. As for growth, the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies estimates over 800 identified nanotech products were publicly available as of August 2008, with new ones hitting the market at a pace of three to four per week. That sounds a lot like growth.
What it also sounds like is this is an occupation with an incredible future ahead of it and those with a degree in engineering are on the forefront. There appears no better time to take the online classes needed to enter this growing and challenging futuristic field.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Natasha_Bright
