Materials chemist
A materials chemist specializes in understanding the relationship between the atomic and molecular structures of materials and their physical properties. They aim to enhance the performance of existing materials and innovate new ones, playing a vital role in various industries, including electronics, aerospace, and biomaterials. A career in this field typically requires a solid educational background, starting with a bachelor's degree and often advancing to a master's or doctoral degree focused on specific materials disciplines such as polymers or biomaterials. Practical laboratory work is a significant part of their daily tasks, involving quality testing, analysis of material properties, and the development of new processes.
Materials chemists also engage in research and may contribute to teaching in academic settings. As this field evolves with technological advancements, ongoing education and professional networking are essential for career development. The employment outlook is promising, particularly in growing areas such as electronic materials and renewable resources, with median yearly earnings around $87,180. Overall, materials chemists are crucial for driving innovations that impact a wide array of technological applications.
Materials chemist
Earnings (Yearly Median): $87,180 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023)
Employment and Outlook: Average (8%) (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022-32)
O*NET-SOC Code: 19-2031.00
Related Career Clusters: Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources; Architecture & Construction; Manufacturing
Scope of Work
Materials chemists work to understand the relationship between the atomic and molecular structures of materials and the physical properties of those materials, ultimately seeking to improve the performance of existing materials as well as develop new materials. Production processes are a significant aspect of materials chemistry, as these determine the physical structure of a material at the atomic level. Materials chemists may also study how materials change internally as a result of their everyday performance. All such structures and phenomena must be describable within the framework of atomic theory.
Materials chemists work in a wide variety of industries, particularly in research and materials management. Others use their knowledge to teach materials science in academic and industrial engineering programs. Ongoing research and development in materials chemistry and materials science, in general, is essential to a great many fields, especially with regard to the electronics industry and computer technology.
Education and Coursework
A career in materials chemistry typically requires significant specialized education. A bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement for materials science positions, and a master's degree or doctorate in a specific area of expertise is generally preferred. Materials chemists must have a solid background in mathematics, chemistry, physics, engineering, and technology, as well as administration and management practices. They must also be versed in communications and writing, as they may need to present their findings verbally or in writing to employers, government organizations, or peers.
The specific educational path an aspiring materials chemist takes depends a great deal on the type of materials that are of interest. A metallurgist, for example, would not be required to study the same areas that a polymer specialist, electronic materials specialist, or biomaterials specialist would be required to study. It is, therefore, very important to decide on an area of specialization before beginning advanced studies, as this will play a large part in determining which institution and program of study to attend. Advanced degree programs focus on academic training in specific areas of chemistry, which may include synthetic organic chemistry, advanced bioorganic chemistry, organometallic chemistry, and colloid chemistry. In addition, a student seeking an advanced degree must typically carry out an original research project and write a thesis.
It is possible for interested students to gain some experience in materials chemistry before committing to the years of study necessary to complete an advanced degree in an area of specialization. One way is to undertake a short-term training program through a private training facility or community college. For example, a short training program in advanced composite materials can provide a broad working knowledge of those materials and their properties sufficient to encourage further study and may also qualify the individual to seek employment in that field if further study is not desired. Organizations such as the American Chemical Society and the Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining provide numerous educational resources for potential and practicing materials chemists.
Career Enhancement and Training
Materials chemists are not generally required to hold licenses or certifications to work in the field. In some cases, however, a specific certification is required by federal regulations. For example, a materials chemist with an advanced degree in polymer science or advanced composites would still be required by regulations to maintain a government-recognized certification in order to work in aircraft maintenance with advanced composites. Because the field of materials chemistry changes as new materials and applications are developed, materials chemists must remain up to date on developments and changes that take place in their particular fields of expertise. Many institutions, therefore, offer postgraduate or extension-learning opportunities to allow individuals to upgrade their knowledge.
Conferences and seminars provide a means of learning about advancements in the field and developing a professional network with others working in similar fields. Networking is an essential aspect of careers in dynamically changing fields, such as materials chemistry. It is important to use such a network both to acquire new knowledge and to identify new opportunities for research, employment, or education.
Daily Tasks and Technology
Materials chemists perform a variety of functions in their daily work. Practical work is carried out in laboratories to test processes and methods by which specific materials are made or to examine the internal structures of materials and their responses to various applied forces, such as tension, compression, and shear. Another significant aspect of laboratory work is quality testing of materials and components made from them in order to ensure that they meet specified performance requirements and remain within required tolerances. In some industries, a materials chemist may oversee and carry out a single essential process and ensure that the product of that process meets standards of composition and quality. Materials chemists are typically required to prepare reports and communicate with different clients and associates on a regular basis.
In research-oriented roles, materials chemists may use a variety of analytical methods to examine the microscopic internal structures and physical properties of materials and relate those to material strengths and weaknesses. Materials chemists filling administrative roles may plan the testing and maintenance of material supplies, meet with customers in order to determine needs and the most appropriate materials to use, and interact with suppliers to obtain materials that meet the specific requirements of a particular application. In a teaching environment, materials chemists instruct others in the detailed science of materials and material strengths.
The technology applicable to the practice of materials chemistry is as varied as the materials studied, as different materials and processes call for specialized test methods. Typical analytical devices, such as spectrometers and other measuring devices, are used routinely for the study of material compositions. Other measuring devices are used to determine such properties as electrical resistance and material hardness. In the most advanced research applications, devices such as the atomic force microscope are used to prepare and study specific material combinations on the nanoscale.
Earnings and Employment Outlook
Overall employment growth within the field of materials chemistry was projected by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to be faster than average across occupations from 2022 to 2032. However, this should not be taken to mean that all specialized areas within the field will exhibit the same behavior. The field is subject to dynamic change, such that the development of a single new material, process, or application can spur rapid and significant growth in that area.
There are several areas that promise to experience rapid growth within the overall field of materials science. One such area is biomaterials, as scientists seek to develop new materials that can interact with or replace organic materials such as living bone, skin, and other tissues. Other growing areas of research include the development of fuels from renewable resources and the creation of advanced materials, particularly composites, for applications in aerospace and transportation technologies. Perhaps the most significant area of growth is the field of electronic materials, as electronic technology approaches the limits of the capabilities of present materials. As demand for materials chemists in these fields grows, it can be expected that wage standards will also increase until the supply of qualified persons exceeds the demand for their services, after which the wage standard will likely decrease somewhat. Unlike many other fields, however, materials chemistry offers significant opportunities for the development of residual incomes from patents for both materials and processes.
Related Occupations
• Chemical Engineers: Chemical engineers focus on the application of chemistry to industrial processes and may produce or design materials or systems.
• Polymer Chemists:Polymer chemists work within the broader field of materials chemistry, focusing exclusively on the properties of polymeric materials.
• Biochemists:Biochemists examine the properties of living things, such as plants or animals, and study their composition and biochemical processes.
• Quality Control Analysts:Quality control analysts ensure that the materials used by scientists in many fields meet specific standards of quality and composition.
• Materials Managers: Materials managers supervise the use and storage of specialized materials in order to maintain their usability and to protect the safety of others.
Future Applications
Materials chemists continually play a crucial role in the development of key materials and processes, and their importance to technological development as a whole should not be underestimated. The entire electronic revolution came about as the result of a single experiment that demonstrated the feasibility of the transistor. The original device was a crude conglomeration of components that occupied a space roughly equivalent to the palm of one's hand, based on theoretical principles of materials chemistry that predicted how the device should work. By the early twenty-first century, millions of functional transistors were routinely formed on silicon chips in an area the size of a fingernail. Using materials that are in development, scientists seek to allow for the storage of larger and larger amounts of data in smaller and smaller physical forms. Studies carried out by materials chemists using atomic force microscope technology began pointing the way to the production of transistors on the atomic and molecular scale. The chemistry of graphene and carbon nanotubes, in particular, promises to revolutionize not only electronics but also materials science in general, as new applications for these materials are found in areas ranging from biomaterials to advanced electronics.
Bibliography
"Chemists and Materials Scientists." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/chemists-and-materials-scientists.htm. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.
"Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023: 19-2031 Chemists." Occupational Employment Statistics. Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor, 3 Aug. 2024, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes192031.htm. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.
"Summary Report for: 19-2031.00 - Chemists." O*NET OnLine. National Center for O*NET Development, 9 Aug. 2024, www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-2031.00. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.