It was a banner year for the Nanoscience and Molecular Engineering (NME) program. The undergraduate track program started by Molecular Engineering & Sciences Associate Director for Education René Overney now has more than 120 students from across the College of Engineering in its ranks. This June, 27 of those students, having completed the NME curricular and research requirements, received degrees in engineering with a specialization in Nanoscience and Molecular Engineering. This was the largest class to graduate since the first NME cohort of 3 students graduated just 2 years ago.
The graduating NME class presented posters at the UW Undergraduate Research Symposium, a special opportunity to share their research with the community together as a class (See NME Students Showcase Findings at the UW Undergraduate Research Symposium). The NME Option Network itself also grew, with Electrical Engineering joining Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Materials Science & Engineering, to a total of 5 participating departments.
The NME program was initiated by a Nanoscience Undergraduate Education (NUE) grant from the National Science Foundation awarded to Professor Overney and colleagues in 2006. The program introduces students to nanoscale principles in molecular engineering and prepares them for careers in industry or academia through seminars, hands-on experience, and interdisciplinary coursework across a variety of disciplines. Participation in the program has grown as students recognize the benefit of cross-disciplinary training and experience working with faculty in cutting-edge research areas.