Welcome to the Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization (CNEU) at the Pennsylvania State University, where you will find a group of people dedicated to nanotechnology education and practical training. As director, I have the privilege of leading this center, a global leader in nanotechnology education and workforce development, as we strive to better both workforce educators and students. Our mission is carried out on many levels: from student education (NMT partnership, Master’s program, ASTM certificate development), to equipping educators (NACK Support Center, workshops, webinars), to reaching under-served populations (UNESCO chair, LSRCE-SCENE, veterans initiatives). I am extremely proud of CNEU’s faculty and staff, and I am honored to be part of a team that excels, not only to make things happen, but to make things better.

Osama Awadelkarim

CNEU Director and UNESCO Chair

Teaching the Next Generation

Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology (NMT) Capstone Semester

18 credits

The NMT Capstone Semester is a six-course, one semester, hands-on experience exposing the student to state-of-the-art equipment and cleanroom facilities at Penn State. The 18 credits of coursework can be used toward an associate or baccalaureate degree, an NMT Certificate, or both depending on the specific program of the student’s “Home Institute.”

One-Year Master of Science (M.S.) in Engineering at the Nano-scale

30 credits

Our new one-year, non-thesis master of science degree program combines an interdisciplinary foundation in nanoscience and nanoengineering with significant hands-on nanofabrication experiences that are essential for graduates to meet the growing industry demand for skilled nanotechnology personnel or to continue towards their Ph.D. degree.

Educator Workshops and Webinars, Course Materials and Videos

Online Self-Paced

The Nanotechnology Applications and Career Knowledge (NACK) Support Center, an NSF-supported center housed within CNEU, offers a series of workshops, webinars, teaching resources and remote access to nanotechnology equipment to aid educators and administrators in their efforts to create nanotechnology-based curricula and programs within their institutions.

Engaging the Community

Building Innovation and Manufacturing Capacities through Advanced Technology Education

Dr. Awadelkarim is delighted and extremely proud to serve as the UNESCO Chair in the College of Engineering at Penn State. The first of its kind in a U.S. engineering college, the Chair’s mission is to enhance scientific research and upgrade the technological capabilities of the workforce in industrial sectors of UNESCO Member States.

Southeastern Coalition for Engagement and Exchange in Nanotechnology Education (SCENE)

A regional Louis Stokes Center for Excellence, SCENE utilizes nanotechnology and its many applications, through guided mentoring, research opportunities, and hands-on training experiences, as a conduit for engaging and inspiring talented students from traditionally under-represented minority populations.

NSF-ATE Nanotechnology Application and Career Knowledge (NACK) Support Center

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technology Education (ATE) NACK Support Center provides workshops, webinars and resource materials, such as lectures, notes, and access to the Remotely Accessible Instruments for Nanotechnology (RAIN) Network, for secondary and post-secondary educators.