Nanosystems Engineers — Tasks

Task statements

• Provide scientific or technical guidance or expertise to scientists, engineers, technologists, technicians, or others, using knowledge of chemical, analytical, or biological processes as applied to micro and nanoscale systems.
• Supervise technologists or technicians engaged in nanotechnology research or production.
• Conduct research related to a range of nanotechnology topics, such as packaging, heat transfer, fluorescence detection, nanoparticle dispersion, hybrid systems, liquid systems, nanocomposites, nanofabrication, optoelectronics, or nanolithography.
• Synthesize, process, or characterize nanomaterials, using advanced tools or techniques.
• Prepare reports, deliver presentations, or participate in program review activities to communicate engineering results or recommendations.
• Design or conduct tests of new nanotechnology products, processes, or systems.
• Create designs or prototypes for nanosystem applications, such as biomedical delivery systems or atomic force microscopes.
• Write proposals to secure external funding or to partner with other companies.
• Generate high-resolution images or measure force-distance curves, using techniques such as atomic force microscopy.
• Develop processes or identify equipment needed for pilot or commercial nanoscale scale production.
• Provide technical guidance or support to customers on topics such as nanosystem start-up, maintenance, or use.
• Engineer production processes for specific nanotechnology applications, such as electroplating, nanofabrication, or epoxy.
• Apply nanotechnology to improve the performance or reduce the environmental impact of energy products, such as fuel cells or solar cells.
• Identify new applications for existing nanotechnologies.
• Design or engineer nanomaterials, nanodevices, nano-enabled products, or nanosystems, using three-dimensional computer-aided design (CAD) software.
• Design nano-enabled products with reduced toxicity, increased durability, or improved energy efficiency.
• Coordinate or supervise the work of suppliers or vendors in the designing, building, or testing of nanosystem devices, such as lenses or probes.
• Design nano-based manufacturing processes to minimize water, chemical, or energy use, as well as to reduce waste production.
• Design nanosystems with components such as nanocatalysts or nanofiltration devices to clean specific pollutants from hazardous waste sites.
• Prepare nanotechnology-related invention disclosures or patent applications.
• Reengineer nanomaterials to improve biodegradability.
• Integrate nanotechnology with antimicrobial properties into products, such as household or medical appliances, to reduce the development of bacteria or other microbes.
• Develop catalysis or other green chemistry methods to synthesize nanomaterials, such as nanotubes, nanocrystals, nanorods, or nanowires.
• Design nanoparticle catalysts to detect or remove chemical or other pollutants from water, soil, or air.
• Develop green building nanocoatings, such as self-cleaning, anti-stain, depolluting, anti-fogging, anti-icing, antimicrobial, moisture-resistant, or ultraviolet protectant coatings.