What is a Materials Scientist?
A materials scientist is someone who studies and analyzes the chemical properties and structure of different man-made and natural materials. Glass, rubber, ceramic, alloys, polymers, and metals are all studied and investigated to learn or gain new knowledge. They then take this knowledge and devise ways to strengthen existing materials, combine particular materials, or create brand new materials with certain properties and characteristics for use in different applications and products.
What does a Materials Scientist do?
By experimenting with various materials and chemicals, materials scientists can determine how new materials can best serve and improve humanity. Materials science professionals have created many of the items that people use today such as shoes, soap, canisters, containers, makeup, packaging materials, and so on. The main goal of someone practicing materials science is to study and understand old materials in order to create new material with improved characteristics.
A materials scientist devises methods of testing certain materials to determine the effects different conditions have on the materials. They also plan experiments in the lab to determine the logical possibility of techniques and procedures used to create new materials with various characteristics. Preparing reports with material test results and findings for the perusal of other scientists and related personnel as well as recommending which materials would work best in certain experiments are all part of the materials scientist’s job.
Researching the methods involved in forming, processing, and acquiring different materials for the development of other materials like telescope lenses, tooth fillings, eating plates, and so on falls under the job description of these scientists. They will study and report the effects of applied forces on alloys and other metals while also determining the tolerance and cause of material failure under certain shear, tension, and compression tests. A materials scientist will also talk with customers to determine what kind of material or materials will best fit their needs.
These scientists are sometimes required to fill out grant proposals in order for the department to receive funding for research and development, while also determining the laboratory’s budget. They also have to make sure that all laboratory personnel follow all government and company safety standards.
What is the workplace of a Materials Scientist like?
The workspace of a materials scientist is typically in an office and or laboratory. Modern technology today allows these scientists to conduct many material experimental processes using software and computer modeling. Many biotechnological businesses, government organizations, computer manufacturing companies, gas and oil companies, and universities employ individuals practicing materials science. Working as part of a team or group is common in this field, and a standard 40-hour Monday to Friday work-week is typical as well, with overtime on occasion because of deadline restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a chemical engineer and a materials scientist?
Chemical engineers will apply chemistry knowledge to the process of converting chemicals or raw materials into viable products for human use. They run large scale chemical reactions, and focus on processes to get molecules to react with one another at scale and with a desired process yield.
A materials scientist translates between what the chemists and physicists are working on, to what the engineering researchers are working on. They are responsible for the research, design, and development of materials, and will focus on how the physical structure of a certain material will affect the property of the material. They are essentially applied condensed matter physicists.
What is the difference between a chemist and a materials scientist?
Most chemists and materials scientists work together as part of a research team. It is also common for chemists and materials scientists to work on teams with other scientists, such as biologists, physicists, computer specialists, and engineers.
Many colleges and universities offer degree programs in chemistry that are approved by the American Chemical Society with some colleges offering materials science as a specialization within their chemistry programs. Some engineering schools also offer degrees in the joint field of materials science and engineering.
The differences between a chemist and a materials scientists are as follows:
Chemist
Chemistry is concerned with reactions between elements and molecules, and how they can be controlled and improved upon. Chemists research and experiment with the properties of chemical substances, improve the quality of established chemical products, measure the effects of chemical compounds in various situations, study inter-chemical reactions, and establish new technologies in the field.
They work with simple forms of matter to either reach a greater understanding of the chemical itself, uncover the elements of unfamiliar substances, or create entirely new chemical compounds for use in a variety of applications. Many industries benefit from the theories and chemical compounds brought about by research done by chemists.
Chemists often specialize in a particular branch of the field - for example, inorganic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, forensic chemistry, theoretical chemistry, biochemistry, neurochemistry, and nuclear chemistry.
Materials Scientist
Materials science is concerned with how microscopic elements such as atoms and molecules together account for macroscopic properties of materials. It mainly deals with how objects are made, as in what materials and what processes are used.
Materials scientists study and analyze the chemical properties and structure of different man-made and natural materials, such as glass, rubber, ceramic, alloys, polymers, and metals. They then take this knowledge and devise ways to strengthen existing materials, combine particular materials, or create brand new materials with certain properties and characteristics for use in different applications and products. They have created many of the items that people use today such as shoes, soap, canisters, containers, makeup, packaging materials, and so on.
Materials scientists tend to specialize by the material they work with most often - for example, ceramics, glasses, metals, nanomaterials (extremely small substances), polymers, and semiconductors.
Materials Scientists are also known as:
Materials Science Researcher