Research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and manmade 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.

Other names for Materials Scientists: Development Engineer, Engineer, Materials Engineer, Materials Lab Technician, Materials Research Engineer, Materials Scientist, Metallurgical Engineer, Metals Research Engineer, Microelectricalmechanical Systems Device Scientist (MEMS Device Scientist), Nanotechnologist, Polymer Materials Consultant, Polymer Specialist, Product Development Manager, Professor, Research and Development Scientist (R and D Scientist), Research Associate, Research Professor, Research Scientist, Technology Officer, Textile Technologist, Thin Film Development Engineer,

• Plan laboratory experiments to confirm feasibility of processes and techniques used in the production of materials having special characteristics.
• Confer with customers in order to determine how materials can be tailored to suit their needs.
• Conduct research into the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics in order to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones.
• Prepare reports of materials study findings for the use of other scientists and requestors.
• Devise testing methods to evaluate the effects of various conditions on particular materials.
• 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.
• Recommend materials for reliable performance in various environments.
• Test individual parts and products in order to ensure that manufacturer and governmental quality and safety standards are met.
• Visit suppliers of materials or users of products in order to gather specific information.
• Research methods of processing, forming, and firing materials in order to develop such products as ceramic fillings for teeth, unbreakable dinner plates, and telescope lenses.
• Study the nature, structure and physical properties of metals and their alloys, and their responses to applied forces.
• Monitor production processes in order to ensure that equipment is used efficiently and that projects are completed within appropriate time frames and budgets.
• Test material samples for tolerance under tension, compression and shear, to determine the cause of metal failures.
• Test metals in order to determine whether they meet specifications of mechanical strength, strength-weight ratio, ductility, magnetic and electrical properties, and resistance to abrasion, corrosion, heat and cold.
• Teach in colleges and universities.

• Laboratory box furnaces
• Manometers
• Rheometers
• Digital cameras
• Presses
• Milling cutters
• Viscosimeters
• Surface tension measuring instruments
• Creep testers
• Crystal growing equipment
• Desktop computers
• Power saws
• Spectrometers
• Calorimeters
• Thermal differential analyzers
• Oscilloscopes
• Electronic actuators
• Light scattering equipment
• Dynamometers
• Laboratory box furnaces
• Metal markers or holders
• Thickness measuring devices
• Abrasion testers
• Extruders
• Milling cutters
• Scanning electron microscopes
• Infrared spectrometers
• Freeze dryers or lyopholizers
• Fume hoods or cupboards
• Signal generators
• Spectrometers
• Mass spectrometers
• Isolation glove boxes
• Power grinders
• Laboratory evaporators
• Power saws
• Sampling manifolds
• Tube furnaces
• Presses
• Hydraulic press frames
• Hydraulic press frames
• Thickness measuring devices
• Impact testers
• Crucible furnaces
• Inductively coupled plasma ICP spectrometers
• X ray radiography examination equipment
• Injection molding machines
• Interferometers
• Ion selective electrode ISE meters
• Analytical balances
• Ultra pure water systems
• Notebook computers
• Interferometers
• Electro pneumatic transducers
• Loadcells
• Hardness testers
• Grinders
• Laboratory evaporators
• Metallurgical microscopes
• Calorimeters
• Photo attachments for microscopes
• Mass spectrometers
• Spectrometers
• Laboratory box furnaces
• Corrosion testers
• Scanning probe microscopes
• Reflectometers
• Laboratory box furnaces
• Binocular light compound microscopes
• Surface testers
• Radiation detectors
• Personal computers
• Polarizing microscopes
• Induction heaters
• Viscosimeters
• Porosimeters
• Potentiometers
• Surface testers
• Microcontrollers
• Safety glasses
• Laboratory crushers or pulverizers
• Laboratory balances
• Thickness measuring devices
• Spectrometers
• Semiconductor testers
• Viscosimeters
• Goggles
• Corrosion testers
• Scanning electron microscopes
• Scanning probe microscopes
• Scanning probe microscopes
• Scanning probe microscopes
• Abrasion testers
• Injection molding machines
• Proton spectrometers
• Particle size measuring apparatus
• Laboratory balances
• Power grinders
• Fatigue testers
• Laboratory mills
• Abrasion testers
• Ultrasonic examination equipment
• Spectrofluorimeters or fluorimeters
• Spectrophotometers
• Frequency analyzers
• Semiconductor process systems
• Electronic actuators
• Stereo or dissecting light microscopes
• Surface testers
• Swaging tools
• Casting machines
• Thermo gravimetry analyzers
• Blow torches
• Diffractometers
• Corrosion testers
• Transmission electron microscopes
• Tube furnaces
• Laboratory box furnaces
• Laboratory balances
• Lathes
• Ultrasonic examination equipment
• Ultrasonic cleaning equipment
• Wear testers
• Magnetometer geophysical instruments
• Tumblers or polishers
• Diffractometers
• X ray generators
• Accelerometers
• Vacuum ovens
• Atomic absorption AA spectrometers
• Scanning probe microscopes
• Spectrometers
• Light scattering equipment
• Laboratory mills
• Wear testers
• Laboratory mixers

Word processing software

Presentation software

Spreadsheet software

Data base user interface and query software

Development environment software

Analytical or scientific software

Internet browser software

Electronic mail software