Leading-Edge Research and Development > Research Profiles > Profiles Archive > CNSE Students Break New Ground as Part of Pioneering Undergraduate Program

It is rare that someone can point to an achievement as a "first in the world." However, 15 students at the UAlbany NanoCollege are on their way to just such a distinction as they pursue the world's first comprehensive baccalaureate degrees in Nanoscale Science.

CNSE's undergraduate degree program in Nanoscale Science, which commenced this spring - and will soon be joined by a bachelor's degree program in Nanoscale Engineering, set to launch in spring 2011 - builds on CNSE's pioneering graduate-level program, also a global first when it commenced in September 2004.

CNSE undergraduate students work in a lab with CNSE Associate Professor of Nanoscience Dr. Robert Brainard

The bachelor's degree curriculum is a cutting-edge interdisciplinary program that taps into CNSE's international academic leadership in nanoscale science and engineering. And judging by the reaction of students completing their first semester of studies, it is already proving to be very popular.

Brian Janiszewski, a Schenectady High School graduate, entered UAlbany as a freshman in fall 2009 as a physics major. When making the decision to attend UAlbany, Janiszewski had hopes that he would one day have the opportunity to take classes at CNSE.

"While in college, I want to get the most out of my experience," says Janiszewski. "When I learned about the undergraduate degree in nanoscale science at CNSE, I knew this was how I could get the most out of my college experience. Not many undergraduate students can say that they have the opportunity to collaborate on research with world-class faculty, using cutting-edge facilities like CNSE's Albany NanoTech Complex."

Michael Briggs is another UAlbany freshman who began taking courses toward his B.S. in Nanoscale Science in January. As a high school student in Cohoes, Briggs had the experience of attending one of CNSE's NanoCareer Day events, which gave him a firsthand look at the abundant opportunities in the field of nanotechnology. When it was time for Briggs to choose a college, he knew he wanted to be close to the unmatched opportunities that CNSE provided, so he chose to attend UAlbany as a chemistry major until he learned about the CNSE undergraduate program.

"I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of the undergraduate program at CNSE," says Briggs. "The program is challenging, but the skills and knowledge I have gained in my first semester as a Nanoscale Science major have made the hard work worth it."

CNSE undergraduate student Michael Hovish

As a student in the North Colonie Central School District, Michael Hovish learned about the unique graduate programs at CNSE. Out of a number of prestigious colleges to which he applied, Michael chose to attend UAlbany with the intention of applying to CNSE's graduate program after receiving his B.S. in Physics. The transition to CNSE's bachelor's degree program in Nanoscale Science was a natural fit.

"A huge asset to this program is the student to faculty ratio. The faculty truly cares about each student's success, and wants this to be a beneficial experience," says Hovish. "I really enjoy being a part of CNSE. The collaborative environment here is creating something impressive and shaping the future of our area."

The bachelor's degree programs in nanoscale science and nanoscale engineering both offer an academically rigorous preparation for students intending to pursue scientific, technical, or professional careers in nanotechnology-enabled fields or graduate studies in nanoscale science and nanoscale engineering, as well as other physical or interdisciplinary sciences.

And, without question, they provide students with a "first in the world" window into exciting career paths in a 21st century society increasingly driven by nanotechnology.