A career in Nanotechnology via pure sciences

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Admission to St John's College, Cambridge University for Natural Science includes a requirement to select three experimental sciences alongside mathematics. The individual is considering physics, computer science, and materials science as their focus areas, aiming for a career in nanotechnology with a theoretical emphasis. They express a strong interest in chemistry, particularly in applications related to nanotechnology, such as gold nanoparticles and graphene. Their background includes calculus, linear algebra, and chemistry, but lacks biology. They seek guidance on how to prepare for university, particularly in deepening their understanding of nanotechnology and its mathematical aspects. The discussion highlights the importance of defining nanotechnology in context, as it spans various fields, and suggests that molecular physics and materials science are closely related to their interests.
shezi1995
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I have been offered admission by St Johns College Cambridge University for Natural science. In the first year I have to choose 3 experimental sciences along with maths. My options are physics, chem, materials science, computer science and some biological options. I am looking into a career in nanotechnology with a more theoretical approach. What options would be best for this. Is chemistry useful? I am thinking of physics, comp sci and materials sci. Would this give me a suitable background as to be able to decide what specialisation is best for me? I have enjoyed physics and chem in my a levels especially the materials section of both subjects like polymers, nanotechnology etc.
Thanks
 
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You need to explain what you mean by nanotechnology. This word nis owdays used for all sorts of things -ranging from biochemistry to semiconductor physics- meaning it is more or less meaningless unless in a context.
 
I know that I was a bit ambiguous. I'll try to be more clearer. I have been doing a level chemistry which contains applications. We studied things like use of gold nano particles in targeted drug delivery, study of buckyballs, graphene and its properties and uses and nanotubes. I studied about their chemical properties, bonding and physical properties etc. i enjoyed those things. I am also fascinated by superconductors and also semiconductors and its uses it electronics like thermisors, LED, LDR etc. I want to go in depth in these fields and perhaps explore more in related fields. I do realize that I have barely scratched the surface and things become complicated at higher levels but I am expecting it. I want to get into the mathematical aspects as well which includes modelling using mathematical and computational methods.
My background includes single variable calculus, basic linear algebra, descriptive and inferential stats, algebra based electricity and magnetism, calculus based mechanics, a level chemistry. I haven't studied any biology what so over in my high school education except for biochemistry involving stuff about proteins, DNA, RNA, genetic mutations etc which i studied in a level chem.
So I want to know more about this field and that was my main motivation behind this thread. So i would like anyone working in such areas to help me. What should I do before my university life begins? I have about 3 months in which I will be completely free.
I hope I've made myself clearer.
 
I'm a biochemistry major, one of my classmates is a biochemistry and applied math double major and he wants to get into the field of nanomedicine, or targetted drug delivery. Honestly I think he's being a little naieve in his route but who am I to judge.

I think molecular physics and material science are probably very related to that field.
 
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