Nanotechnology tops hot jobs
We've reported how one industry may be responsible for providing almost 1,000 new jobs in the Capital Region. Well no surprise that same career path ranks high on the nation's list of hot jobs. Our Erin Vannella has more on the field of nanotechnology.
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ALBANY, N.Y. -- "Ninety nine percent of all industries now are driven by nanotechnology," said Albany Nanotech Executive Director, Dr Alain Kaloyeros.
From suntan lotion to tennis rackets, cell phones to cars, it's a science that's driving our lives.
"Nanotechnology is learning how to manage individual atoms and molecules," said Dr. Kaloyeros. "That knowledge base is something that science and engineering is going to tackle for the next 50, 75, 100 years."
Look it up. The US Department of Labor lists nanotechnology as one of the hot jobs of the future. PhD candidate Mary Graham isn't waiting.
"We're doing a lot of this state of the art research here," said Graham. "So why wouldn't anyone want to be a part of it?"
Graham is a graduate research assistant at UAlbany's School of Nanoscale Science and Technology. She's creating bacteria-resistant surfaces for medical equipment that will help prevent infection.
"I think a lot of the research that we're performing here in the labs will have a huge impact in the biomedical arena," said Graham.
Graham's background is science and mathematics, but the school takes on everyone from community college grads to economists. All are qualified since the field teaches a new way of thinking that provided the opportunity to build whatever one can imagine.
"The 14 fastest growing jobs in 2014 did not exist ten years ago," said Kaloyeros. "Of those 14 areas, about eight are nanotechnology driven."
It's no surprise then, what an attractive field it's become for college grads like Graham who would rather skip the job of looking for a job and get right to it.
"We have a lot of the big industrial names right here on site," said Graham. "So we're doing internships, we're networking and half the time a lot of the students find jobs here."
But maybe you aren't convinced those clean room gowns are your style. Try these numbers on for size.
"The average wage in nanotechnology in the US this year I think it's somewhere between $100 to $120,000 a year," said Dr. Kaloyeros.