Big Opportunities in a Small World
Summary posted by Meridian on 7/24/2009
Source: Nature
Author: Virginia Gewin
The article says that cutting-edge jobs in nanomedicine are abundant, but it is often difficult to find people with the right training to fulfill these positions. Governments all over the world are investing in the field and academics are turning to nanotechnology as the solution to myriad medical problems. The article says that what the field needs are "...greater numbers of highly trained students, and a sound regulatory infrastructure." Nanomedicine hubs in Houston, Texas; the United Kingdom; and Singapore are highlighted for their common problem: being in the enviable position of needing to hire workers; but often finding it hard to find acceptable candidates. Freddy Boey Yin Chiang, head of materials science and engineering at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, plans to expand his lab by 20 faculty positions, but says "[M]y problem is not capacity, it is finding good people." Medical schools are beginning to heed the call, with both the University College London (UCL) and Swansea University, both in the United Kingdom, adding degrees in nanotechnology and medicine. The article also says that as nanomedicine continues to expand its reach, more career opportunities will be created as regulators with science training will be in demand to assess safety and efficacy of nanomaterials. According to Mauro Ferrari, of the University of Texas Health Science Center, "[N]anomedicine has unbelievable transformational potential. But we must be as brave, persistent and smart as the biotechnology innovators were when that field was emerging 20 years ago." The article can be viewed online at the link below.
The original article may still be available at www.nature.com/naturejobs/2009/090723/full/nj7254-540a.html
As tagged by Meridian Institute:
Health And Medical:
Diagnostics, Devices, Diseases
Implications:
Human Enhancement, Human Health Risks, Worker Safety, Governance, Economic Competitiveness
Nanomaterials:
Carbon Nanoparticle, Metal Nanoparticle, Naturally Occurring
Regions:
North America, Europe, East and South Asia and the Pacific
Stakeholders:
Government, Industry, Academia
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