Material Scientist

What is a Material Scientist?

Duties

Here are the job duties that are performed by a material scientist on a regular basis:

• Undertake research on the structural components of synthetic and natural materials, to gain new insights regarding the best possible use of that material or its ability to meet a certain need.
• Write detailed technical reports, proposals, guidance manuals and manuscripts to support other material scientists and individuals like clients or sponsors.
• Perform laboratory experiments and create computer models to observe the nature and physical or chemical aspects of metals or their alloys, especially their reactionary response to external phenomena.
• Design laboratory experiments to further assess the techniques and procedures used for materials production, including those with special properties.
• Develop novel ways to strengthen or combine different materials for a wide range of applications or production methods.

Day In The Life

As a qualified material scientist, you can expect to spend time performing different types of research related to the chemical and physical properties of materials, at the atomic level. You would run experiments to understand the structure and properties of metals and other substances, determine the strength of the bond between molecules, and the ways in which select materials could be utilized according to mechanical, electrical or chemical specifications.

Material scientists typically work frequently with engineers and processing personnel to confirm the application of their findings in the real world. The results of their study are used to further the development of new and unique products in various industries like aerospace, energy, electronics and nuclear power. You create and study materials while applying concepts like microstructural or analytical chemistry, and surface analysis processes.

In addition, material scientists are also involved with creating materials that display enhanced characteristics via materials processing technologies that function at the nano- and microscale.

Work Schedule

Material scientists generally work full time, at more than 40 hours per week. A material scientist might work at standard offices or research laboratories surrounded by computers and design technology. Some also work at factories and private development institutes in coordination with material engineers and scientists from other backgrounds. Project deadlines can be tight and overtime occasionally is expected, including on weekends and late nights.

Growth Of The Job

The job prospect for material scientists is the same as the average for other related occupations. Professionals holding an advanced degree like a Ph.D. are expected to get the best opportunities in senior management and research roles. Further, with an increased focus on new product design, a material scientist will be at the forefront of cutting-edge developments in the coming years. This is especially the case for those working in emerging fields like sustainable materials, high performance textiles, nanotechnology, biomedical materials, etc. In addition, material scientists may also switch to professions that require superior analytical skills, like business management, accountancy, banking and information technology.

Typical Employers

Entry-level professionals in this industry can find job opportunities with diverse industries starting with mining companies to multinational research and development firms. Academic institutions like colleges and universities, technical consultancy organisations and the defence forces also require the expertise brought in by a material scientist. Computer modeling and simulations, are taking the place of more expensive laboratory testing techniques, to understand the performance of various materials. Therefore, aspiring applicants that have a strong background in computer modelling will find more promising job opportunities than others.