Harold Garner, PhD
Professor of Internal Medicine and Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Educational path
· Undergraduate in Nuclear Engineering (University of Missouri)
· PhD in Plasma Physics (University of Wisconsin)

Special training for nanotechnology
I have an Honorary Professional Engineers (PE) degree.

Tips/Advice to jumpstart a career in nanotechnology
Today's world requires multi-disciplinary people. You should be cross-trained in a number of different areas. You need to know something about physics and material science and you need to know about the area where it might be applied, like biology and/or medicine. Different areas of engineering are also a good idea.

Why did you choose the field of nanotechnology?
It kind of chose me. Primarily I am interested in making very small structures and using nanotechnology to make biological structures.

How did you first get into nanotechnology?
At my previous job at General Atomics in San Diego. I helped develop paint for a stealth aircraft as well as a few other things. I didn't know I was working on the stealth aircraft until two years after they developed it. It was before the stealth aircrafts were known to exist. I've also been developing a lot of technologies here at Southwestern that cross into what people refer to as nanotechnology.

What is it like to work in nanotechnology?
It's a challenge because nanotechnology is still in a stage of infancy. A lot of basic research needs to be done before we see real products coming out. There is still a lot that needs to be done before we can really establish this field and we see a lot of great applications coming out.