<p>Hello,
Originally a MechE major, considering switching to either Nanoscale Engineering or Physics. While nano is on the cutting edge for sure, nobody can tell if a new field won't just pop up and shift the focus of things. I'm not sure if I should just go physics and be super future-proof. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Nanotech may be a pretty popular thing now, but its future is way too uncertain to specialize that much in it. Definitely advise against it.
Physics, your choice, but beware: the lab sciences are not doing too well right now. You might not have the easiest time with a career.
Unless you dislike MechE, it’s the best choice here.</p>
<p>^Neo is essentially telling you to stick with the safe bet and avoid the perceived risky choice.</p>
<p>I would say that if you want to major in Nanoscale Engineering because it’s more interesting to you than MechE, then go ahead and do it! I disagree that its future is too uncertain. It definitely is on the cutting edge and from time to time one can read about incredible new things people are doing with nanoscale tech.</p>
<p>I mean, if we had people who just stuck with the safe bet and never took risks, all the great inventors of our time would never have come to exist.</p>
<p>There’s no way nanotech is just going to die. There are so many potential applications that have been discovered and we’re barely on the cusp of making full use of it.</p>
<p>right now the rush is on CNT/nanomechanical fabrication & production; you can expect that once a viable method has been discovered and refined, a wave of engineers will be demanded in considerable amounts</p>
<p>I have no experience so this is just based upon my impressions, but it might be a good idea to major in Physics and take the nanotech classes for your electives (maybe do a minor/concentration if your school allows it). This will let you talk about your experience in that field if it continues to expand but also open other careers if it doesn’t go so well.</p>
<p>Also, I have a somewhat related question. I’m about to start college and I’m planning on majoring in Engineering Physics (Materials Science concentration) and minoring in nanomaterials because I’ve heard it’s a strong background for graduate school (PhD in particular), which I’m interested in. Right now I’m planning on getting a double major in MSE and EP because it’s only a few extra classes and my adviser said they have a plan of study that allows for it. If I decided not to go into nanotech research and go for an industry job in materials science, would employers not want to hire me because of the EP major and nanomaterials minor? I’ll probably go for a masters in MSE if I decide to go for industry, but I’m just worried that they might think the extra undergrad classes might look like I’m not really interested in practical application. Probably not a big deal but I just don’t want to get pre-sorted out of a job because an HR department sees a degree they’re not familiar with.</p>
<p>The state of nanotech is probably not quite how you imagine it. That’s what I’m warning you about.
This is a decent read. Adds a little perspective for nanotech growth.
<a href=“http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20111109/FREE/111109889/remember-nanotechnology-its-still-out-there-but-the-hype-has-gotten-smaller[/url]”>Remember 'nanotechnology'? It's still 'out there,' but the hype has gotten smaller;
<p>I firmly believe you’d be better off majoring in a more traditional field and get your nanotech exposure by taking classes and doing research instead. To really get why nanotech is supposed to be useful at all you need to understand why it’s a special case of bulk materials, and how/why they behave differently than traditional materials.</p>
<p>“Nanotech”, contrary to how its depicted in fiction, is not all about tiny robots (unfortunately), all “nanotechnology” means is technology where the parts are on the nanometer scale. This could be as simple as an acrylic chip with nanometer-scale grooves running in it (look up “lab on a chip”), or even simpler: nanofibers. Fibers that have a width on the nanometer scale. There are oodles of different paths in nanotechnology, from computer engineering (are ICs the original nanotechnology? I think they are…) to drug delivery stuff, etc. Anywhere you have tiny tiny parts on the nanometer scale, you have nanotechnology. Things are getting to where the term is just too darn broad, frankly…</p>
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<p>Many metallurgy processes have involved precipitating out nano-scale phases in order to improve properties. Humans have been doing it since well back into the bronze age. ;)</p>
<p>Before you major in Nanoscale engineering you should investigate whether you will likely need to obtain an MS or Phd before employment in your desired field.</p>
<p>Well RacinBeaver, let’s be reasonable and restrict ourselves to cases where people <em>knew</em> they were working with nanometer scale parts (otherwise you gotta include the first guy to make fire, or to boil water since you can say atoms and molecules are on the higher end of the nanometer scale), then I wonder what the first nanotechnology would be…</p>
<p>I’d have to say, probably still precipitation hardening alloys. Many of those mechanisms (particularly Gunier-Preston zones) were suggested before they could actually see them with the TEM.</p>