Certification in Nanofabrication

Requirements for the Certification

Nanofabrication is a technology that grew out of making semiconductor chips. The need for faster computers has resulted in transistors getting smaller and smaller over time (~100 nanometers in length). These objects are so small that nanofabrication technology has become “machining at the atomic level” and it has spread from being used to make chips to being used to make a variety of technological innovations, including, artificial organs, tiny valves, and flat screen televisions. Nanofabrication and nanotechnology are engineering at the atomic length scale – a size range which until recently was only available to nature. Being able to engineer such small things opens the door to a multitude of new opportunities. These include making extremely fine diameter but incredibly strong fibers atom by atom, making extremely small probes that can look at individual strands of DNA for uses such as disease detection, and man-made capillary systems to bring nutrients to man-created replacement organs.

This Certification program is possible as part of an educational partnership between the SSHE System Universities and The Pennsylvania State University. Students wishing to earn a NMT Certificate must spend one semester at the Penn State Nanofabrication Facility in a hands-on nanofabrication “capstone experience.” Students enrolled in the NMT program are required to take six courses (18 credit hours) at Penn State main campus. These courses can be taken in one semester (preferred) and or spread out to two or three semesters. These courses can be taken in any semester after sophomore year preferably summer or after graduation from Slippery Rock.

Requirements for entry into the Nanofabrication Program

• Introductory or General Chemistry with Laboratory
• College Algebra or higher math course
• Introductory Statistics
• Technical or Engineering Physics including electricity and circuits
• Microcomputer basics
• College Writing I
• Department recommendation