The primary aim of this suite of degrees is to facilitate transfer of skills from another relevant area of engineering or science and technology to the study of nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology is science at the molecular level. Nanotechnology, a term that embraces a wide spectrum of technological endeavours across a range of scientific and technological disciplines – such as chemistry, physics, engineering, and biological and biomedical sciences – is attracting tremendous attention in industrialised countries worldwide both in terms of fundamental scientific research and technological development. Nanotechnology is predicted to be a technological hallmark of the 21st century.

Interest in nanotechnology from industry, government agencies, investors, entrepreneurs and from the general public is likely to grow rapidly over the next decade with growth rates exceeding those seen in other areas of science.

These courses will help you to:

• develop the capacity to understand the basic scientific concepts underpinning nanoscience and the properties of materials and biomaterials at the atomic/molecular level, as well as the scaling laws governing these properties
• understand current frontier developments in nanotechnology
• recognise and develop novel and innovative ideas
• demonstrate ability in a range of laboratory methods, specifically the fabrication and characterisation tools used in nanotechnology such as various microscopies, surface modifications and molecular-level construction methods
• demonstrate communication and problem based and critical thinking skills that will promote lifelong learning in your future career.

Whatever the environment, commercial or research, employment opportunities will be at the cutting edge of technology. Graduates of this specialisation may find research-based careers.

Potential occupations include:

• nanofabrication technologist
• nanomaterial scientist
• nanomaterials business manager
• nanosystems scientist
• production supervisor
• research officer
• technical officer.