40 hours a week is a normal work week, so 39 hours ain't bad. Sounds about what I had in high school first and second year. 40 hours of classes, not necessary to attend everything, little homework. Last year was naturally 5 hours a week or so.
There are like 100 professors in the whole country, considering to become a professor you need a doctorate and something really worthy work behind you. Maybe when you're 35 or so if you're good. And considering there are 150-200 people starting physics just in my university alone...
Nanomaterials, new? Depends on what you compare it to. I've got an uncle who did his doctorate on nanotechnology. I think that was in the end of the 80's. To me that sounds pretty old.
Should get you a job pretty well, though. Here the researchers at the nanomaterial side are all pretty young. 30 or under isn't strange. But good luck on getting a lead researcher spot at some company with just master from physics.
