About this episode

The nanotechnology episode helps to define a technology that uses knowledge of atoms and molecules to enhance modern life through product development and medical research. The 30-minute presentation explores the technology and the related career opportunities with experts in the field, and it follows a former Penn College student, Mark A. Atwater, as he completes his education at one of the nation’s top nanotechnology education facilities, The Pennsylvania State University’s Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization.

Featured Interviews

• Dr. Eric Albert
  Associate Professor, Manufacturing Engineering Technology
  Pennsylvania College of Technology
  
• Mark Atwater
  Student, Manufacturing Engineering Technology
  Pennsylvania College of Technology
  
• Amy Brunner
  Project Engineer, Center for Nanotechnology Education & Utilization
  Penn State University
  
• Dr. Stephen Fonash
  Director, Center for Nanotechnology Education & Utilization
  Penn State University
  
• Jamie Houseknecht
  Teaching Assistant, Center for Nanotechnology Education & Utilization
  Penn State University
  
• Terry Kuzma
  Instructor, Center for Nanotechnology Education & Utilization
  Penn State University
  
• Joe Lonjin
  Advanced Engineering Aide, Center for Nanotechnology Education & Utilization
  Penn State University
  
• Dr. Jeff Rankinen
  Associate Professor, Electronics
  Pennsylvania College of Technology

Where are they now?

Mark Atwater

Mark Atwater is currently working toward his doctorate in materials science and engineering at North Carolina State University. Mark has been quite busy since his summer at the Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization at Penn State University. Following his capstone semester, Mark returned to Pennsylvania College of Technology where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering technology. Mark married his college sweetheart and enrolled in graduate school at the University of New Mexico.

In December 2009, Mark earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering/materials science concentration. During his time at the University of New Mexico, Mark’s research on carbon nano fibers was published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Similar to his time in New Mexico, Mark is serving as a research assistant in the doctorate program at North Carolina State. He hopes to have his Ph.D. by 2013 and eyes a career as a researcher/scientist in the biomaterials field.

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Credits

• Director/Editor
  • Chris Leigh
• Writer/Narrator
  • Tom Speicher
• Camera
  • Chris Legarski
  • Chris Leigh
  • Tom Speicher
• Music
  • 615 Music Library
  • JRT Music
  • Chris Legarski
• Transcriptions
  • Paula Neal

• Special Thanks
  • Eric Albert, Ph.D., Pennsylvania College of Technology
  • Mark Atwater, Pennsylvania College of Technology
  • Sheila Curran Bernard, Harbor Productions
    
  • Amy Brunner, Penn State University
  • David A. Dalton Stained Glass Studio, Williamsport, PA
  • Robert Ehrmann, Penn State University
  • Stephen Fonash, Ph.D., Penn State University
  • Jamie Houseknecht, Penn State University
  • Robert Hudzik, Penn State University
  • Shawn Kiser, Pennsylvania College of Technology
  • Terry Kuzma, Penn State University
  • Joe Lonjin, Penn State University
  • Bill Mahoney, Penn State University
  • Phi-Oanh Pham, Penn State University
  • Jeff Rankinen, Ph.D., Pennsylvania College of Technology
  • Kim Speicher, Pennsylvania College of Technology
    
  • The TMJ Association

• Images/video courtesy
  • Edward J. Basgall, Ph.D., Penn State University - Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization
  • David Evans, Ph.D., Pennsylvania College of Technology
  • David Hawxhurst, Woodrow Wilson Center National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
  • Alex Parlini, Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies
  • Penn State University
  • Jeff Rankinen, Ph.D., Pennsylvania College of Technology
  • Marvin Rich, Ph.D., Project MathMol,
  • New York University
  • Mike Ross, IBM Research
  • The NewsMarket
  • Yuko Yamamura, SII NanoTechnology Inc.

• Executive Producers
  • Elaine Lambert
  • Chris Leigh
  • Jennifer McLean
  • Tom Speicher