Gareth Hughes, PhD
Staff Engineer
Zyvex Corporation

Educational path
· BS, Chemical Engineering
· PhD, Biomedical Engineering
· Pursuing MBA

Special training for nanotechnology
Physics, chemistry, biochemistry, and physical chemistry courses; electron microscopy, confocal microscopy, and atomic force microscopy short courses and hands-on use; short courses and hands-on work with thin film processing and characterization.

Tips/Advice to jumpstart a career in nanotechnology
1. Obtain strong fundamental knowledge in physics and chemistry.
2. Get hands-on lab work in nanotechnology fabrication and characterization techniques.
3. Investigate companies developing nanotechnology and learn about their technologies.
4. Read through academic Web sites for professors involved in nanotechnology research.
5. Read some more, scan through journals and magazines focused on nanotechnology such as Nanotechnology, Nano Letters, Nanomedicine, Small Times, and Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (to name a few).
6. Due to the diverse nature of nanotechnology, it is probably best to focus efforts into a specific area to apply nanotechnology such as photonics, semiconductors, medical devices, drug delivery, materials, etc. 7. Finally, talk to people in the field, the best way to learn about the field is hear from those directly involved.

Why did you choose the field of nanotechnology?
I chose nanotechnology because it has the potential to revolutionize medicine, creating new ways to diagnose and treat disease and enabling higher quality of life for those in need. The field is still young with ample room for growth and innovation. Being part of the early stages of nanotechnology and developing novel technologies and products is exciting and fulfilling.

How did you first get into nanotechnology?
I was first involved with nanotechnology during my graduate school days (mid-1990s) developing biosensors. Part of my work involved self-assembled monolayers as binding sites for biomolecules to be detected with microfabricated sensors.

What is it like to work in nanotechnology?
Thought-provoking and challenging. Always learning something new. Nanotechnology is growing rapidly, keeping up with new developments and staying abreast of competition can be time-consuming. Nanotechnology is multidisciplinary, so one works with people from various backgrounds.