According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| 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. | 85% |
| Supervise technologists or technicians engaged in nanotechnology research or production. | 84% |
| 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. | 81% |
| Synthesize, process, or characterize nanomaterials, using advanced tools or techniques. | 80% |
| Prepare reports, deliver presentations, or participate in program review activities to communicate engineering results or recommendations. | 76% |
| Design or conduct tests of new nanotechnology products, processes, or systems. | 75% |
| Create designs or prototypes for nanosystem applications, such as biomedical delivery systems or atomic force microscopes. | 74% |
| Write proposals to secure external funding or to partner with other companies. | 73% |
| Generate high-resolution images or measure force-distance curves, using techniques such as atomic force microscopy. | 71% |
| Develop processes or identify equipment needed for pilot or commercial nanoscale scale production. | 71% |
| Provide technical guidance or support to customers on topics such as nanosystem start-up, maintenance, or use. | 71% |
| Engineer production processes for specific nanotechnology applications, such as electroplating, nanofabrication, or epoxy. | 69% |
| Apply nanotechnology to improve the performance or reduce the environmental impact of energy products, such as fuel cells or solar cells. | 67% |
| Identify new applications for existing nanotechnologies. | 67% |
| Design or engineer nanomaterials, nanodevices, nano-enabled products, or nanosystems, using three-dimensional computer-aided design (CAD) software. | 66% |
| Design nano-enabled products with reduced toxicity, increased durability, or improved energy efficiency. | 65% |
| Coordinate or supervise the work of suppliers or vendors in the designing, building, or testing of nanosystem devices, such as lenses or probes. | 63% |
| Design nano-based manufacturing processes to minimize water, chemical, or energy use, as well as to reduce waste production. | 61% |
| Design nanosystems with components such as nanocatalysts or nanofiltration devices to clean specific pollutants from hazardous waste sites. | 60% |
| Prepare nanotechnology-related invention disclosures or patent applications. | 57% |
| Reengineer nanomaterials to improve biodegradability. | 57% |
| Integrate nanotechnology with antimicrobial properties into products, such as household or medical appliances, to reduce the development of bacteria or other microbes. | 55% |
| Develop catalysis or other green chemistry methods to synthesize nanomaterials, such as nanotubes, nanocrystals, nanorods, or nanowires. | 54% |
| Design nanoparticle catalysts to detect or remove chemical or other pollutants from water, soil, or air. | 51% |
| Develop green building nanocoatings, such as self-cleaning, anti-stain, depolluting, anti-fogging, anti-icing, antimicrobial, moisture-resistant, or ultraviolet protectant coatings. | 47% |
