>>2) Apply broadly to different programs, and tell all of them that you
Tom McKendree
>>want to work in the area outlined in NANOSYSTEMS (assuming this remains
>>true after you read the book).
>
>Hm, are you referring to specific Nanotech-centered programs? I'm
>currently struggling with the fact that it's difficult to, say, enter an EE
>program and specialize in cross-disciplinary molecular nanotechnology. Or,
>on the other hand, enter a Chemistry, Physics, or Molecular Biology program
>and get the same cross-disciplinary experience needed to do real work in
>nanotech.
I'm talking about programs that are in disciplines related to NT, which
could address NT if they wished. Examples include Chemistry, Physics,
Molecular Biology, Systems Engineering, Industrial Engineering,...
For example, at USC there is an Electrical Engineering Department which
includes a strong Robotics Group. One of the robotics professors became
interested in nanotechnology, and is now working on Scanning Probe
Microscopy as an example of robotics. In many programs, people are starting
to look at NT as a possible extension of their work. So, if you already
have a background in Chemistry, then apply to a large number of chemistry
departments, but say "I want to work on those aspects of Chemistry which
relate to NANOSYSTEMS." Some places will say "huh?", and a lot of places
will
say "We're not really interested in that area," but a surprising number of
places, I think, will respond "You know, we've starting thinking about that,
and we kind of want to do something."
tmckendree@msmail3.hac.com