Nanotechnology Careers

What is the Workforce Need?

As nanoscale science and technology come to have increasing impacts on many aspects of our daily lives, the opportunities for careers in these fields are expanding rapidly.  A major challenge for the field is the education and training of a new generation of skilled workers.

Nanotechnology job projections are estimated to be nearly two million workers worldwide by 2015.  In what countries will these jobs occur?

• 0.8-0.9 million – USA
• 0.5-0.6 million – Japan
• 0.3-0.4 million – Europe
• 0,2 million – Asia Pacific (excluding Japan)
• 0.1 million – other regions

In addition, nanotechnology will create another five million jobs worldwide in support fields and industries. *

Where are the Career Areas?

In areas as diverse as designing medical diagnostic devices to building better batteries, from creating cosmetics to enhancing energy efficient windows, from auto and plane manufacturing to researching the nature of matter itself, knowledge of nanoscale science and technology will be increasingly important during upcoming years and decades.

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 other
• Auto and aerospace industries
• Sports equipment
• Pharmaceuticals including drug delivery, cosmetics, among others
• Biotechnology
• Medical fields
• Optoelectronics
• Environmental monitoring and control
• Food science including quality control and packaging
• Forensics
• University and federal lab research
• National security
• Military
• And many more

Nanoscale science and technology are fueling a revolution in manufacturing and production, creating new materials and novel processes.  Not only will the areas listed above continue to grow and benefit from nanotechnology, but the following fields are expected to undergo explosive developments:

• Medicine:  diagnostics and therapeutics (e.g., drug delivery)
• Energy:  capture, storage, & use; fuel cells, batteries
• Environmental remediation:  in conjunction with GM microbes
• Robotics:  many uses
• Manufacturing:  self-assembly; “bottom-up” fabrication of novel materials
• Commerce: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)  “smart” tags
• Space exploration:  space elevator

As these lists of nanoscience-based applications indicate, our world is increasingly dependent on science for food, shelter, energy, etc.  For our democratic society to function effectively, citizens must become familiar with at least some basic science and, perhaps even more importantly, with thinking scientifically. 

What Education is Needed and in Which Fields?

Nanoscale phenomena underlie many of the properties and interactions of matter, and thus the sciences of physics, chemistry, and biology.  Studying these fields, and paying attention to the developments in nanoscience that advance them and the applications in nanotechnology that they support, can provide you with a solid foundation for any of a broad range of careers.

Potential fields of study include:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Environmental Science
• Agricultural Science
• Engineering
• Medicine
• Forensic Science
• Law
• Business
• Ethics

What Type of Education is Needed for a Career in Nanotechnology?

Not everyone working in the field will require a doctorate degree in one of the fields noted above.  A skilled workforce trained at a variety of levels is needed to meet the projected workforce challenge of 7 million workers.  Education levels include:

• Technical program
• Associates degree (2 years)**
• Bachelors degree (4 years)**
• Masters degree (6 years)**
• Doctorate (8 years)**

** This is the estimated time it would take a full time student to complete degree requirements after graduating from high school.

What Are the Expected Salaries?1

• Two Year Associates  $30,000-50,000
• Four Year Bachelors $35,000-65,000
• Six Year Masters  $40,000-80,000
• Eight Year Doctorate $75,000-100,000

1 Source: Pennsylvania State University; Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization

Some additional sites to explore:
http://www.nano.gov/html/edu/careers.htm
http://www.tinytechjobs.com
http://www.workingin-nanotechnology.com
http://www.nanostudent.com

*Source: Mihail Roco Nature Biotechnology vol. 22 No. 20 Oct. 2003

Ethan Allen
U. Washington

June 2005