<p>Hello,</p>
<p>Is there any scope for nano engineering at MIT? Like, will there an undergrad program or something like that dedicated to nano? </p>
<p>Want to know, because I am interested in applying to MIT? I know its tough, but i have quite good grades, all above 90%.</p>
<p>For now, it looks like nanoengineering at MIT is a subdivision in the mechanical engineering department:
[MIT</a> NanoEngineering Group](<a href=“http://web.mit.edu/nanoengineering/]MIT”>MIT NanoEngineering Group)
[MIT</a> MechE - Research - Micro & Nano Engineering](<a href=“MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering | At MIT Meche, we strive to improve the quality of life of the known and yet to be discovered.”>Research Area: Micro And Nanotechnology | MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering)</p>
<p>There are researchers in nano in many divisions of engineering. Robert Langer of the Chem E dept. is a big nano guy who works on polymer delivery agents for drugs, among other things. I am sure there are nano guys who work on carbon nanotubes from many different departments, including material science, chemistry, and others.</p>
<p>You can work in the nano world with many different skillsets, so there are a lot of different majors you can work in.</p>
<p>I visited MIT and sat in on a world renowned professor/researcher’s lecture on carbon nanotubes. That was pretty great. </p>
<p>[/random somewhat related story]</p>
<p>nicksyn are u an undergrad student at MIT? WOW! Thats really cool man! What was ur GPA and how many extra currricluar stuff did u need to do?</p>
<p>Hey,</p>
<p>is nano also a subidvidon of Materials Engineering at MIT?</p>
<p>Nanoengineering is not a department or really a subdepartment at MIT. Instead, there are research groups and professors in several departments (mechE, mat sci, chemE, bioE, etcetc) who do nano-related research. This, to me, makes sense as nanoengineering is not really cohesive or fundamental enough to be its own department; it’s pretty interdisciplinary. </p>
<p>As an undergrad at MIT, it’s pretty easy to find research opportunities (UROPs) in nano engineering to get your feet wet. I know people majoring in cheme, meche, mat sci, and bioe who have gotten such experience. As far as classes go, look up the subject listings online. I’m most familiar with the meche and mat sci curriculum and some nano-related classes that come to mind are 2.674/5 Nano/micro engineering lab, 3.153 nanoscale materials, 3.47 Processing of materials on the nanoscale, and 3.155 Micro/nano processing tech to name few. </p>
<p>In short, no, you can’t major in nano engineering - although you CAN do a 2A or 3A degree (meche/mat sci with a concentration in nanoengineering) - but there are certainly plenty of chances for you to learn more about it and get some hands-on research experience.</p>
<p>it’s interdisciplinary, but much of it is in DMSE, which is the#1 ranked materials program</p>
<p>you may find this of interest</p>
<p>[MIT</a> DMSE NanoLab](<a href=“http://web.mit.edu/nanolab/]MIT”>http://web.mit.edu/nanolab/)</p>
<p>[New</a> lab is first at MIT to test tiny devices](<a href=“http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2002/nanolab.html]New”>New lab is first at MIT to test tiny devices | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology)</p>
<p>can physics majors delve into nanotech, or is it mainly for engineers?</p>
<p>^ There’s nothing to stop you from taking classes or doing UROPs in nanotech :)</p>
<p>Would the classes have prereqs that only engineers would have taken? Are there any lower level classes that could be taken to get some idea if you are interested? (Cornell has this, which is why I ask)</p>
<p>@Nerd123</p>
<p>No, I’m not, but I was lucky enough to visit MIT when classes were taking place :] I’m hoping to enter this fall.</p>
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<p>You are kind of looking at this the wrong way. Chemistry, physics, or pretty much any engineering major could prepare you for nanotech (although I will say that material science or chem E, and to a lesser extent EE probably has more potential applications than say mechanical or some other engineering disciplines). You should choose the discipline which intrigues you the most and which you are most suited for. After some background, if you want to apply it to the nano-scale, then look into that. Don’t put the cart before the horse. It’s way to early to be deciding to be a nano-scientist. In truth, there really aren’t such people. There are scientists or engineers who have chosen to apply their skills to the nano-world. </p>
<p>My opinion is that a chemistry major with advanced coursework in physics (say through quantum mechanics with some would probably be the best preparation for most work in nano-technology. Or a physics major with chemistry background through organic chemistry. But true novelty in science or engineering research is most easily discovered by applying a traditional discipline to a virgin field as opposed to getting a survey of what is being done in nano currently. For example, Linus Pauling was applied physics to chemistry in producing “The Nature of the Chemical Bond.” My advice is to become an expert in one or more fields, then apply this to the nano-world. In my opinion, this is the easiest way to achieve innovation.</p>
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<p>So I agree with collegealum314 quite a bit. “Nano engineering” is a very broad and interdisciplinary field - if you could even call it that. It makes much more sense to pursue it from the approach of a more fundamental discipline. </p>
<p>As for prereqs, most of the classes will have specific requirements depending on the department that it is offered by. However, the concept behind prereqs at MIT as far as I’ve observed is to make sure that you can keep up with the class rather than to keep you from taking the class. Just go talk to the professor if you don’t have a specific prereq and chances are, he or she will let you know what subjects you need to brush up on if you want to take the class. I’ve never had a prof tell me outright that I couldn’t take a class that I didn’t have the prereqs for (including many a nano/micro-related class).</p>
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As they say, prereqs ain’t nothin’ but a number. ;)</p>