Nanoscience and nanotechnology have been referred to as the Industrial Revolution of the 21st century. Nanoscience refers to the scientific phenomena that occur at sizes around a nanometer, which is one billionth of a meter. An example of scale is the walls of cells, which are five nanometers thick. Demand for graduates in nanotechnology has been increasing steadily, but currently, only a few universities offer degree programs. UNM's interdisciplinary NSMS degree program is offered jointly by the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering evolving from the traditional disciplines of solid state physics, chemistry, biology, materials science and engineering. More than 70 faculty in nine academic departments worked together to develop the degree program. This program is a great example of how our faculty's leading-edge research benefits graduate as well as undergraduate students in a formal curriculum.
This exciting program bridges the distinct properties of the nanoscale to microsystem functionality. The integrated academic and research activities highlight our capabilities and unique breadth in materials synthesis and self-assembly, nanolithography, interrogative platforms, and functional micro/macrosystems. Special emphasis is placed on translating these technologies to radical changes in the way we diagnose, treat and ultimately prevent cancer. The Nanoscience and Microsystems Program highlight three technical thrusts: Informational Nanotechnology, Nano-Bio Interfaces and Complex Functional Systems. All participants in the Nanoscience and Microsystems Program are American citizens or permanent resident working towards their Ph.D. degree in a participating UNM graduate field. The program requires that IGERT fellows complete a curriculum of integrated courses.