Document 2339865

Career Center
utb.edu
The next in this series will appear on Nov 17.
KNOWLEDGE KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES.
The next in the edition of this series will appear on Oct. 23, 2008
BIG GAIN, MICRO SCIENCE
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contact the Office of Admissions and
Recruiting at 956-882-8295.
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information, contact the Academic Advising
Center at 956-882-7362.
Financial aid checklist
1. Apply for financial aid using the Free
Mkhitar Hobosyan, a graduate student in physics from Yerevan, Armenia, works with Dr. Karen Martirosyan, an
Associate Professor in UTB’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, in a nanotechnology lab.
UTB to Establish Nanotechnology Concentration
For Mkhitar Hobosyan, 27, a
master’s degree student in physics
from Yerevan, Armenia, now is a good
time to research materials useful to the
field of nanotechnology.
Hobosyan is one of the first
students at The University of Texas
at Brownsville to work with new
equipment purchased in recent months
by the Department of Physics and
Astronomy to conduct research in
nanotechnology and renewable energy.
Nanotechnology is a “small”
science with big results creating
materials with superior properties.
It is the “processing of separation,
consolidation and deformation of
materials by one atom or one molecule,”
as defined by Professor Norio Taniguchi
of Tokyo University of Science in Japan
who first used and defined the term
“nanotechnology” in the 1970s.
People encounter nanotechnology
daily in electronics, sunscreen, eye
glasses, cosmetics and other items.
The department now owns equipment
to conduct research on rechargeable
batteries. The department also has a
glove box used to perform experiments
in a non-oxygen environment. The
equipment is in the Nanoscience
Lab in the Science, Engineering and
Technology Building.
Some of the work Hobosyan is doing
now is involving thermodynamic
analysis
and
studying
how
nanomaterials can be used to increase
the energy capacity in batteries.
“This is a fast-growing field, and the
things researchers did several years
ago are old. There are new methods
and approaches,” Hobosyan said.
“Students can not only hear about the
nanotechnology academically, but they
can come here and feel it physically.”
Dr. Karen Martirosyan, an Associate
Professor in UTB’s Department of
Physics and Astronomy, said students
SAVE
THE
DATE
can pursue nanoscience through their
studies in chemistry, engineering and
physics.
Martirosyan has big plans for how
the university sees the emerging field.
“I want to establish a high-level
nanotechnology and nanoscience
program for students and researchers,”
Martirosyan said. “My goal is to
establish a Nano Institute at UTB. We
need to create a new facility which
people in nanotechnology can share.”
His department was recently awarded
a National Science Foundation Major
Research Instrumentation Grant of
$437,970 for two years. The grant’s
objective is to acquire a cuttingedge commercial multi-functional
instrument Cryogen-free Cryocoolerbased Physical Property Measurement
System to support fundamental and
interdisciplinary research projects and
the applied physics education program
in South Texas.
Martirosyan has also received NSF
funding to establish a nanotechnology
concentration that any UTB major can
take. He said this could be offered in
two years.
“Nanotechnology” is derived from
“nanometer,” which is one billionth of
a meter. To get an idea of how small a
nanometer is, a strand of human hair is
80,000 nanometers wide, according to
the National Nanotechnology Initiative.
Nanotechnology job projections
could rise to 2 million workers
worldwide by 2015, according
to the National Nanotechnology
Infrastructure Network, a consortium of
14 nanotechnology research facilities
at American universities. University
graduates interested in nanotechnology
are needed in several fields including
engineering, food science, forensics,
national security and materials science.
Salaries in nanotechnology for
bachelor’s degree graduates start at
$35,000. Master’s degree graduates
begin making about $40,000 yearly.
Graduates with doctoral degrees
start in the nanotechnology field at a
salary of $75,000 per year, according
to the National Nanotechnology
Infrastructure Network and Penn
State
University’s
Center
for
Nanotechnology
Education
and
Utilization.
UTB had its first master’s of physics
degree graduates in December 2004.
The Department of Physics and
Astronomy continues to attract faculty
and students from around the world.
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(FAFSA) online to apply for federal
and state grant, work-study and loan
programs (fasfa.ed.gov). Parents and
students should apply for a pin number at
pin.ed.gov.
2. Students must apply for admission to
the university and make sure all official
transcripts are sent to the Office of
Admissions and Recruiting. Transfer
students must request evaluation of
transcripts.
3. Take the COMPASS/e-Write exam or other
Texas Success Initiative (TSI) test. Check
with the Testing Office at 956-882-8875.
4. Students will receive either a Student
Aid Report (SAR) or a Student Aid
Acknowledgement and must review the
information for accuracy.
5. A financial aid advisor will review the
application and may need to request
additional documentation from the
student. Comply with all Office of Financial
Aid requests for verification of information.
6. Once the file is completed and cleared, the
student will receive a letter stating
his/her eligibility status and/or award offer
email.
7. Register for classes before the designated
deadlines as indicated in the course
schedule, and pay balance at the Business
Office before payment deadline. Six credit
hours are required for most financial
aid programs. Email your financial aid
questions to [email protected].
The College of Science, Mathematics and Technology will host
a Career Exploration in Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics Field Day for the community at
2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31 at the
Science, Engineering and Technology Building.
Contact 956-882-6701 for more information.
UTB Homecoming 2011
Mark your calendar to attend the Scorpions Forever Homecoming 2011 from Friday, Nov. 4 to Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011.
The series of events include Field Day, Coffee with the President and the Distinguished Alumnus Awards.
For more information, visit utb.edu/homecoming, or call the Office of Alumni Relations at 956-882-4332.