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TSSB
Recognizes Nanotechnology Technician Skill
Standards
May, 2009 -
On May 12, 2009 the Texas Skill Standards
Board (TSSB) recognized the Nanotechnology
Technician skill standards.
Nanotechnology is the science of very small
things and involves the engineering of
materials on the scale of atoms and molecules.
The word “nano” means dwarf in
Greek and refers to the very small size of
nanostructures, which are typically between
approximately .1 and 100 nanometers (nm) in
size. A human hair has an average width of
80,000 nm. Atoms have an average width of .1
to .2 nm.
Nanotechnology is not a single stand-alone
industry. Current applications for nano-scale
materials include computer hard drives,
non-volatile magnetic memory, automotive
sensors, landmine detectors, cosmetics, paint,
ink, glass coatings, and dressings for burns
and wounds.
According to the 2006 Texas Nanotechnology
Report published by the Governor’s
Office of Economic Development, Texas is
considered a global leader in nanotechnology
research and development and is top ranked
nationally for research, venture capital, and
commercialization of nano-materials. Also from
the Texas Nanotechnology Report, Texas had 20
start-up nanotechnology companies, ranking the
state third after California and
Massachusetts. There are a growing number of
Texas universities with nanotechnology
research centers, including Rice University,
the University of Texas (Arlington, Dallas,
and Austin), Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and
Texas State University. All of these efforts
represent the depth
of potential for expanding the
commercialization of nano-scale products, and
an indication of the potential demand for
trained technicians to support it.
As is common with emerging occupations, there
is currently not a Bureau of Labor Statistics
classification for the Nanotechnology
Technician occupational area. The closest
descriptors found in the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,
Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09
Edition, include electrical and electronic
engineering technicians, electro-mechanical
technicians, or industrial engineering
technicians. In Texas, workers in these
occupations earn an average hourly wage
between $23.00 and $30.00. Employment in the
state is projected to grow for all of these
occupations. It can then be expected that the
demand for technicians trained in the field of
nanotechnology to increase as
commercialization of new nano-scale materials
increases.
A Nanotechnology Technician job analysis was
conducted in 2005 which resulted in the
creation of a DACUM chart of duties, tasks,
skills, and tools. TSSB staff worked under the
direction of project sponsor Texas State
Technical College (Waco) and with industry
subject matter experts to revalidate the DACUM
and to develop skill standards elements based
on the DACUM. Staff coordinated online surveys
to engage subject matter experts to complete
and validate the resulting skill standards.
Employers from Dallas and Austin participated
on the development panel.
The Nanotechnology Technician skill standards
contain five critical work functions in the
areas of building, installing, maintaining,
and repairing nanotechnology equipment; such
as probing and nanolithography systems,
supporting nano-scale product development, and
manufacturing nano-scale product.
The TSSB recognized the standards in
accordance with its Guidelines for the
Development, Recognition, and Usage of Skill
Standards (October 2006). For
more information, please contact the TSSB at (512)
936-8100.
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