Nanotechnologist

Nanotechnologists can work in any scientific area, including agriculture, medicine, engineering, and technology. They enjoy learning new things, working with cutting-edge science, and developing solutions to society's problems.

Summary

Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary science that looks at how we can manipulate matter at the molecular and atomic level. To do this, we must work on the nanoscale -- a scale so small that we can't see it with a light microscope. The emerging field of nanotechnology is exciting, because scientists have learned that the properties of a material may be very different at the nano-scale than at the larger scale with which we normally work. These new properties allow novel and exciting applications.

By manipulating molecules to form in particular shapes, we can build materials with amazing properties. One example is a carbon nanotube. To create a carbon nanotube, you start with a sheet of graphite molecules, which you roll up into a tube. The orientation of the molecules determines the nanotube's properties. For example, you could end up with a conductor or a semiconductor. Rolled the right way, the carbon nanotube will be hundreds of times stronger than steel but only one-sixth the weight.

Where are the career areas?

Current applications of nanoscale science and technology, and thus career opportunities, exist in areas such as

Electronics/semiconductor industry
Materials science including textiles, polymers, packaging, among others
Auto and aerospace industries
Sporting goods
Biotechnology
Medical fields and pharmaceuticals
Environmental monitoring, control, and remediation
Food science including quality control and packaging
Forensics
University and federal lab research
Military and national security
Energy capture and storage
And many more areas

Educational Requirements

Nanoscale phenomena underlie many of the properties and interactions of matter, and thus the sciences of physics, chemistry, and biology. However, nanoscale science is an interdisciplinary field – one where science and engineering intersect. Studying science or engineering and paying attention to the developments in nanoscience that advance these fields can provide you with a solid foundation for any broad range of careers. Careers are available for those who hold bachelors, masters, or a PhD in the sciences. People with bachelor's degrees may find positions as technicians. University, government, and industry research laboratories usually hire nanotechnologists with doctoral degrees.

Median Salary 2022

According to indeed.com, the median salary for a Nanotechnologist in 2022 was $100,090.

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Information retrieved from indeed.com and How Stuff Works: What is nanotechnology?