Nanotechnology is science at the molecular level. Like biotechnology and information technology, it is a growth industry with the potential to greatly change the world in which we live. Nanosystems engineering can be considered the branch of engineering that deals with materials, devices, and systems smaller than 100 nanometers (1 nanometer is a billionth of a meter), especially with the manipulation of individual molecules.

Dr. Jenna Carpenter was recently featured on Sky Radio talking about the Nanotechnology Program here at Louisiana Tech University.

We are excited to announce a unique educational opportunity at Louisiana Tech University for students interested in nanotechnology. On February 24^th, 2005 the Board of Regents of Louisiana approved a new Bachelor of Science degree program in Nanosystems Engineering to be offered through the College of Engineering and Science at Louisiana Tech University. Our college chose to pursue the development of this innovative program to prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills to integrate basic nanoscale science and engineering fundamentals in order to produceuseful technology for society. Louisiana Tech University is well recognized in micro and nano education and was recently ranked 3rd in education in this field among U.S. institutions by the May/June 2006 Smalltimes magazine survey.

The program draws upon the strengths of our unique combination of laboratory resources and interdisciplinary research, education, and support programs. The curriculum utilizes the college's integrated freshman and sophomore engineering curricula while providing specialized courses in nanotechnology materials, measurement, and fabrication techniques in the upper level curriculum. The curriculum includes a capston experience on nanosystems engineering tied to ongoing nanotechnology-related research projects at the university's research center, the Institute for Micromanufacturing. The program offers students the choice toselect an engineering application focus area from biomedical, chemical, electrical, mechanical, or microsystems engineering.