Occupation information for Materials Scientists District Of Columbia

description

Research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop 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.

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details

Currently Employed: Not Available

Projected Annual Job Openings: Not Available

Typical Hourly Wage: Not Available

Typical Annual Salary: Not Available

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typical training

Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

Typical work experience needed for a job in this occupation: No work experience

Typical on-the-job training once you have a job in this occupation: No on-the-job training

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typical job duties
  • Conduct 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.
  • Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications.
  • Plan laboratory experiments to confirm feasibility of processes and techniques used in the production of materials with special characteristics.
  • Devise testing methods to evaluate the effects of various conditions on particular materials.
  • Prepare reports, manuscripts, proposals, and technical manuals for use by other scientists and requestors, such as sponsors and customers.
  • Perform 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.
  • Recommend materials for reliable performance in various environments.
  • Test material samples for tolerance under tension, compression, and shear to determine the cause of metal failures.
  • Test 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.
  • Test individual parts and products to ensure that manufacturer and governmental quality and safety standards are met.
tools & technology
Tools:
  • Abrasion testers
  • Corrosion testers
  • Laboratory box furnaces
  • Scanning probe microscopes
  • Spectrometers

Technology:
  • Analytical or scientific software
  • Data base user interface and query software
  • Development environment software
  • Electronic mail software
  • Object or component oriented development software