About This Career

Researches and studies the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. Determines ways to strengthen or combine materials or develops new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications. Includes glass scientists, ceramic scientists, metallurgical scientists, and polymer scientists.

This career is part of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics cluster Science and Mathematics pathway.

A person in this career:

• Conducts research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones.
• Determines ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications.
• Plans laboratory experiments to confirm feasibility of processes and techniques used in the production of materials with special characteristics.
• Devises testing methods to evaluate the effects of various conditions on particular materials.
• Prepares reports, manuscripts, proposals, and technical manuals for use by other scientists and requestors, such as sponsors and customers.
• Performs experiments and computer modeling to study the nature, structure, and physical and chemical properties of metals and their alloys, and their responses to applied forces.
• Recommends materials for reliable performance in various environments.
• Tests metals to determine conformance to specifications of mechanical strength, strength-weight ratio, ductility, magnetic and electrical properties, and resistance to abrasion, corrosion, heat, and cold.
• Tests material samples for tolerance under tension, compression, and shear to determine the cause of metal failures.
• Writes research papers for publication in scientific journals.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Regular working hours and limited travel