Southwestern College Micro Nano Technology (MNT)

About

The Southwestern College Micro- Nano- Technology (MNT) Technician Education Program is a National Science Foundation-funded opportunity meant to provide structured educational opportunities for Southwestern College STEM students to acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities that will competitively prepare them for entry-level technical jobs in MNT-related fields. Students who do not desire to enter the MNT workforce right away may also use this training to align their resume for a post-baccalaureate career in MNT. Participants in this program will form a cohort who will receive mentorship, a small stipend, and additional professional development opportunities. Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive a certificate of completion.

Application Information

We are recruiting up to 12 Southwestern College students to join the Micro- Nano- Technology (MNT) Technician Education program per academic year.

Competitive applicants will be:

Excited about gaining hands-on experiences in micro- and nano- technology
Have completed Chem 200 with a grade of C or better
Either enrolled in or have completed Math 250, Math 121, or Engr 104 with a grade of C or better
Willing to take Engr 110 (Engineering Design and Graphics) and Engr 260 (Engineering Materials)
Willing to commit to an 8-week summer internship at UC San Diego, which meets on Fridays for the majority of the day*

*UCSD has not yet finalized its summer internship schedule

The deadline to apply is March 28, 2025, or until all spots are filled. Applicants will receive admissions decisions on a rolling basis.

1. Provide Southwestern College STEM students with a viable pathway to a career in a growing high-tech field
2. Deliver a structured mentoring program with professional development opportunities to maximize retention and completion of the program
3. Assess and refine the curriculum in consultation with representatives from the MNT-related industries
**The overall goal of our program is to build a diverse and equitable pipeline of tobacco control scholars.**
- Hands-on summer internship at UC San Diego’s Nano3 state-of-the-art research facility
- $1,000 Stipend to offset incidental expenses for the summer internship.
- Academic and mentoring support from Professors Juan Gonzalez and Dmitriy Kalantarov
- A community of like-minded peers
- Academic support from UCSD nanoengineering faculty
- Personal and professional development opportunities
- Opportunity to present summer project at a symposium
Participants must commit to participating in the full length of the program:
- Meet with an assigned mentor at least three times per semester
- Attend two cohort meetings
- Attend three professional development opportunities (in-person or virtual)
- Complete an 8-week hands-on summer practicum at UCSD
- Complete the coursework to attain the certificate of completion

Curriculum for the Southwestern College Micro- Nano- technology Technical Education Certificate

Course Name and Number	Units	Term	Transferability
Engr 104 (Essential Math Skills for Engineers and Scientists) or Calculus (Math 250 or Math 121)	3	Fall or Spring	UC, CSU
Chem 200 (General Chemistry)	5	Fall or Spring	UC, CSU
Engr 110 (Engineering Design and Graphics)	3	Spring	UC, CSU
Engr 260 (Engineering Materials)	3	Spring	UC, CSU
Bus 290 (Nanomanufacturing and Characterization Practicum at UCSD)	2	Summer	CSU
Engr 299 (Industry-aligned capstone project and ASTM Certification)	2	Summer	CSU

Total Units for Micro- Nano- technology Technical Education Certificate = 18

Participants in this program will gain experience in micro-/nano- manufacturing and characterization.
- Atomic Force Microscopy
- Clean Room Protocols
- Chemical Vapor Deposition
- Dry Etching
- Microfluidic Devices
- Optical Microscopy
- Photolithography
- Physical Vapor Deposition
- Scanning Electron Microscopy
- Vacuum Technology
*Hands-on work may be modified at the discretion of UCSD to suit the needs and availability of their resources
Participants in this program are required to attend at least three professional development events. These could include
- Approved club activities hosted by the Chemistry Club, SHPE Club, SWE Club, Mechatronics Club, and others.
- Approved events hosted by MNT-related workplaces
- Approved events hosted by professional organizations such as the ACS, IEEE, SHPE, SWE, and others
- Resume-building workshops
Completion of the certificate will also require participants to complete an industry-aligned capstone project or elect to take an American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) exam. The ASTM exams are an internationally recognized third-party certification that will validate the skills and knowledge students gain in this program. Participants in this program will not have to pay to register for the ASTM Exam.
Juan Gonzalez, MS
PrincipaI Investigator, Professor of Chemistry
jgonzalez3@swccd.edu

Dmitriy Kalantarov, PhD
Co-Principal Investigator, Professor of Engineering
dkalantarov@swccd.edu

About

Application Information

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