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As progress for nanotechnology research and development picks up speed, more and more universities in the U. S. are beginning to offer degree programs in nanotechnology. These programs now range from minor and majors in nanotechnology to Masters' programs to PhD's in any number of nanotechnology-related fields.
For those students seeking a higher education at a college or university that doesn’t offer a degree in nanoscience, a student could choose to go into chemistry, physics, engineering, biology, IT, or another technology fields. With the help of a college advisor or a trusted professor or mentor, students can navigate college-level science courses to learn a great deal about nanotechnology. And keep in mind that the further you get in your education, the greater the options and choices that become available to you.
Scholarships, Fellowships, Internships, and Postdoctoral Positions
NASA Space Technology Research Fellowships (NSTRF) — The goal of NSTRF is to sponsor U.S. citizen and permanent resident graduate students who show significant potential to contribute to NASA’s goal of creating innovative new space technologies for our Nation’s science, exploration and economic future. NASA Space Technology Fellows will perform innovative, space-technology research at their respective campuses and at NASA Centers and/or at nonprofit U.S. Research and Development (R&D) laboratories. Awards are made in the form of training grants to accredited U.S. universities on behalf of individuals pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees, with the faculty advisor serving as the principal investigator.
NASA Postdoctoral Program — NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) supports NASA’s goal to expand scientific understanding of the Earth and the universe in which we live. Selected by a competitive peer-review process, NPP Fellows complete one- to three-year Fellowship appointments that advance NASA’s missions in earth science, heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics, space bioscience, aeronautics and engineering, human exploration and space operations, and astrobiology.
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) — NSF funds a large number of research opportunities for undergraduate students through its REU Sites program. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other researchers. Undergraduate students supported with NSF funds must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions.
NIST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program — All six of the NIST laboratories in Gaithersburg, MD, participate in SURF programs. For example, the Materials Measurement Laboratory (MML) and the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) SURF program is designed to provide hands-on research experience in Ceramics, Metallurgy, Polymers, Condensed Matter Science, and Materials Reliability; available research opportunities in the MML/NCNR SURF program include structural and magnetic properties of nanomaterials. NIST also offers SURF research opportunities in Boulder, CO.
Science, Mathematics, & Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program — The SMART Scholarship for Service Program has been established by the DOD to support undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The program is an opportunity for students to receive a full scholarship and be gainfully employed upon degree completion. The program aims to increase the number of civilian scientists and engineers working at DOD laboratories.
NSF's NanoJapan International Research Experience for Undergraduates— Recognized as a model for international education programs for science and engineering students, NanoJapan provides U.S. undergraduates with structured research opportunities in Japanese university laboratories with Japanese mentors. The strong educational portfolio of this project focuses on cultivating interest in nanotechnology among young U.S. undergraduate students, especially those from underrepresented groups, and encouraging such students to pursue graduate study and academic research in the physical sciences.
Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program — Established in 2000 to fund basic research in areas of interest to the Intelligence Community, today, the program annually funds first- and second-year postdoctoral fellows researching topics as varied as molecular biology and robotics.
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering - Training & Careers — NIH/NIBIB training opportunities are geared for undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral candidates. See also the NIBIB Funding page and the NIH Training and Education page.
NIH's Cancer Nanotechnology Training Centers (CNTCs)— CNTCs are designed to establish innovative research education programs supporting the development of a multi-disciplinary nanotechnology workforce capable of pursuing cancer research. CNTCs target graduate student and post-doctoral researchers with backgrounds in medicine, biology, and other health sciences as well as in the physical sciences, chemistry, and engineering. The program of multi-disciplinary research education in cancer nanotechnology is primarily focused on mentored laboratory-based training through participation in dedicated training research projects.
Degree Programs
Below is a list of degree programs, including Bachelors degrees with majors, minors and concentrations; Masters degrees; and PhD programs.
Bachelor Degree Programs
Boston University - Concentration in nanotechnology
Clarion University – Minor in nanotechnology
Drexel University – B.S. Materials Science and Engineering with Specialization in Nanotechnology
Excelsior College - B.S. in Electrical Engineering Tech with Nanotechnology concentration
Florida Polytechnic University - B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with nanotechnology concentration
Georgia Tech - B.S. in Electrical Engineering with Nanosystems Specialization
Hampton University - Minor in Nanoscience
Johns Hopkins University - B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, concentration in nanotechnology
Lock Haven University - B.S. in Applied Physics (Nanotechnology Track)
Louisiana Tech University – B.S. in Nanosystems Engineering
Michigan Technological University – B.S. in Physics with minor in nanotechnology
New Jersey Institute of Technology - Minor in nanotechnology
Northwestern University – B.S. in Physics with Nanoscale Physics Concentration
Oregon State University - B.S. in Chemical Engineering with nanotechnology processes option
Pennsylvania State University - Minor in nanotechnology; Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology capstone semester
Rice University – B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering with Concentration in Photonics and Nanodevices, or B.S. in Materials Science and Nanoengineering
Rutgers University - B.S. program in Materials Science and Engineering with a focus on nanomaterials
Stanford University - B.S. Materials Science and Engineering with nanotechnology concentration
Tuskegee University - Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a Concentration in Semiconductors
University at Albany/State University of New York, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering – B.S. in Nanoscale Science, B.S. in Nanoscale Engineering
University of Arkansas - Minor in nanotechnology
University of California, Riverside – B.S. in Materials Science with a concentration in nanomaterials and sensors; B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a concentration in nanotechnology; B.S. in Chemical and Environmental Engineering with a nanotechnology concentration
University of California, San Diego – B.S. Nanoengineering
University of Central Florida – B.S. in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology track in Liberal Studies
University of Cincinnatti - Minor in Nanoengineering; Minor in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
University of Connecticut - Minor in Nanotechnology
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - B.S. with Nanotechnology Concentration
University of Maryland, Materials Science and Engineering – Interdisciplinary minor in nanotechnology
University of Notre Dame - B.S. w/ Concentration in Seminconductors and Nanotechnology
University of Southern California - Minor in Nanotechnology
University of Utah - B.S. w/ Emphasis in Micro/Nanoscale Engineering
University of Virginia - Engineering Science Undergraduate Program with either nanomedicine concentration or nanotechnology concentration
University of Washington – B.S. w/ Nanoscience and Molecular Engineering Option
University of Wisconsin-Stout – B.S. in Applied Science, Materials and Nanoscience Concentration
Virginia Tech University - B.S. in Nanoscience
Washington State University, Nanotechnology Think Tank - B.S. w/ Specialization in Nanotechnology
Master's Degree Programs
Arizona State University – Professional Science Master (PSM) in Nanoscience and M.A. in Applied Ethics (Ethics and Emerging Technologies)
Boston University - M.S. in Biomedical Engineering with a Focus in Nanomedicine
City University of New York (CUNY): M.S. Program in Nanoscience
Cornell University - M.S. Applied Physics with Nanotechnology Specialization
Johns Hopkins University – M.S. with Concentration in Nanotechnology; Nano-Bio Graduate Training Program
Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (collaborative project of North Carolina A&T State Univ. and Univ. of North Carolina Greensboro) – M.S. in Nanoscience and M.S. in Nanoengineering
Louisiana Tech University – M.S. in Molecular Sciences and Nanotechnology
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University - M.S. in Nanoengineering
North Carolina State University - M.S. in Nanoengineering
North Dakota State University – M.S. in Materials and Nanotechnology
Northwestern University - M.S. with Specialization in Nanotechnology
Princeton University — see Rutgers listing for joint program
Radiological Technologies University VT (Indiana) – M.S. in Nanomedicine
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and Princeton University- Integrative Graduate Education Research Traineeship (IGERT) in Nanotechnology for Clean Energy
Singapore-MIT Alliance – M.Eng. Advanced Materials for Micro- and Nano-Systems
Stevens Institute of Technology – M.Eng. with Nanotechnology Concentration and M.S. with Nanotechnology Concentration
University at Albany/State University of New York, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering – M.S. in Nanoscale Science, M.S. in Nanoscale Engineering, M.S. in Nanobioscience
University of California, Riverside – Online M.S. Nanotechnology Engineering
University of California, San Diego – M.S. Nanoengineering
University of Central Florida - M.S. and P.S.M in Nanotechnology
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Cancer Nanotechnology Concentration
University of New Mexico – M.S. in Nanoscience and Microsystems
University of North Carolina at Greensboro - M.S. in Nanoscience
University of Pennsylvania – M.S. in Nanotechnology
University of Pennsylvania – M. S. in Chemical Sciences (with courses in materials science and nanoscience included in the curriculum)
University of South Florida - M.S. in Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology
University of Texas at Austin – M.S. with Nanomaterials Thrust Area
Ph.D. Degree Programs
City University of New York - Nanotechnology and Materials Chemistry
Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering - Nanoscience or Nanoengineering
Louisiana Tech University - Nanosystems Engineering; Molecular Science and Nanoengineering
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University - Ph.D. in Nanoengineering
North Dakota State University - Materials and Nanotechnology
Northeastern University, NSF’s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) - Ph.D. in Nanomedicine
Northwestern University - Specialization in Nanotechnology
Rice University - Materials Science and NanoEngineering
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology – Nanoscience and Engineering program
Stevens Institute of Technology - Nanotechnology Graduate Program
University at Albany/State University of New York, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering – Ph.D. in Nanoscale Science, Ph.D. in Nanoscale Engineering, Ph.D. in Nanobioscience, M.D./Ph.D. in Medicine and Nanoscale Science or Engineering
University of California, Berkeley - Nanoscale Science and Engineering
University of California, Los Angeles - Ph.D. Chemistry w/ Materials and Nanoscience Specialization
University of California, San Diego - Nanoengineering
University of New Mexico - Nanoscience and Microsystems
University of North Carolina at Charlotte - Ph.D. Program in Nanoscale Science
University of North Carolina at Greensboro - Ph.D. in Nanoscience
University of Texas at Austin - Ph.D. w/ Nanomaterials Thrust
University of Utah – Nanotechnology
University of Washington – Dual Titled Ph.D. in (core discipline) and Nanotechnology & Molecular Engineering & Ph.D. in Molecular Engineering
Virginia Commonwealth University Ph.D. in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Washington State University - Graduate Certificate in Engineering Nanotechnology
Got a new program? Contact us at info@nnco.nano.gov to have it listed on this site.
For more opportunities, visit our Funding Opportunities page.
