CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. -- In the Capital Region, nanotechnology is undoubtedly a booming field.

Dr. Fernando Gomez-Baquero, CNSE PhD Graduate said, “This is where a lot of innovation, a lot of the new things you're going to use in the future are going to come from. So it's one of the most exciting, if not the most exciting industries to be in right now."

The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering is training students for a variety of careers in the Presidentially-promoted field, and on Saturday, 11 students earned PhD’s and another six received Masters degrees.

Dr. Pradeep Haldar, CNSE Nanoeconomics Constellation Head said, “You can't go anywhere today and get a degree in nanoscale engineering or nanoscale science. You have to come here to the college. The other major benefit that we provide to our students is working with state-of-the-art equipment and tools that are used in industry today."

Their new degrees have led to jobs with companies including Intel, GlobalFoundries and IBM. Three-quarters of the graduates are staying here in New York.

Dr. Ravi Bonam, CNSE PhD Graduate said, “It goes both ways. IBM needs the kind of workforce the college educates, and it's also that I need to contribute to the workforce. So I was educated here. I was given the right knowledge. And IBM needs that."

Saturday's graduates describe nanotechnology is a field that's growing exponentially - and smart one to get involved in.

Gomez-Baquero said, “It's great to be in a field that you love, that you really like, that is going to challenge you every day, that is going to wow you every day with something different. And at the end of the day, that is going to make your life very interesting and very enriching.”