Engineering Have trouble finding work (PhD in Materials Science & Engineering)

[AMEP_101]

I am about to graduate with a doctorate in a Materials Science & Engineer degree. I have the following experience:

- Mechanical testing such as indentation and bend testing
- X-ray/neutron diffraction characterization (in/ex situ)
- Basic proficiency in MATLAB
- Data analysis and applied mathematical modeling
- Sintering and diffusion couple experiments
- Scanning electron microscopy
- Metallographic sample preparation

I have authored/coauthored a number of journal publications, research proposals, and progress reports. What job do you think that I would be suitable for? I can give more details if desired.

 

[berkeman]

Welcome to the PF.

Where are you located physically? Are you willing to relocate for work opportunities?

One possibility would be to work at (and eventually manage) a physical testing lab, like the ones we use for product failure analysis. There are a number of them here in Silicon Valley, and probably some near where you currently live. I'll see if I can find some representative websites to show you what I mean (back in a bit...).

EDIT / ADD -- It looks like a Google search on Failure Analysis Labs gives a good sampling of the kinds of labs I have in mind...

https://www.google.com/search?q=failure+analysis+labs&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1

 

[AMEP_101]

Welcome to the PF.

Thanks.

Where are you located physically?

I am in the U.S.

Are you willing to relocate for work opportunities?

Yes, very flexible as long as moving expenses are covered by the company.

One possibility would be to work at (and eventually manage) a physical testing lab, like the ones we use for product failure analysis.

Sure, sounds interesting. However, will I get the chance to publish? That is a big criteria for where I would work.

There are a number of them here in Silicon Valley, and probably some near where you currently live. I'll see if I can find some representative websites to show you what I mean (back in a bit...). EDIT / ADD -- It looks like a Google search on Failure Analysis Labs gives a good sampling of the kinds of labs I have in mind...

Reference https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...-phd-in-materials-science-engineering.963565/

Thanks for the link, I will check it out.

 

[berkeman]

Sure, sounds interesting. However, will I get the chance to publish? That is a big criteria for where I would work.

I think that you would want to look at the larger failure analysis labs then, especially those that are inside larger companies (like aerospace companies and similar). With a larger captive lab like that, you would be working on product lines (versus whatever customers brought into the lab for analysis), and you could probably plan your research activities to dovetail with your work by discussing the possibilities with your managers. There could be some proprietary issues involved, depending on the products you are working with, but there are also some patent opportunities if your work leads to improved processes or designs based on the failures you are finding.

 

[ZapperZ]

I am about to graduate with a doctorate in a Materials Science & Engineer degree. I have the following experience:

- Mechanical testing such as indentation and bend testing
- X-ray/neutron diffraction characterization (in/ex situ)
- Basic proficiency in MATLAB
- Data analysis and applied mathematical modeling
- Sintering and diffusion couple experiments
- Scanning electron microscopy
- Metallographic sample preparation

I have authored/coauthored a number of journal publications, research proposals, and progress reports. What job do you think that I would be suitable for? I can give more details if desired.

So why did you give the title of this thread as "... Have trouble finding work... "? From this post, it appears that you haven't been looking. Don't you attend conferences with job recruitment? The APS March Meeting and/or MRS meetings should have been something you should have attended. Have you also talked to your advisor on job prospects?

Zz.

 

[CrysPhys]

I think that you would want to look at the larger failure analysis labs then, especially those that are inside larger companies (like aerospace companies and similar). With a larger captive lab like that, you would be working on product lines (versus whatever customers brought into the lab for analysis), and you could probably plan your research activities to dovetail with your work by discussing the possibilities with your managers. There could be some proprietary issues involved, depending on the products you are working with, but there are also some patent opportunities if your work leads to improved processes or designs based on the failures you are finding.

Yes to this. If the opportunity to publish is a major priority for the OP, then he should avoid contract analysis labs. Most of the work done there is under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the client: (1) the contract lab staff member cannot publish the results on his own; and (2) even if the client does choose to publish the results, the contract lab staff member is performing a service for a fee and (barring any special agreement) is not entitled to be listed as a co-author. In limited special instances, publication may be permitted. For example, a university professor may be acting as a consultant to the contract lab, and a contract lab staff member may collaborate with the professor on a research project. In this instance, publication will provide the contract lab with public relations (PR) value.

To OP: If you want to publish, you should try:

* Government R&D labs (pick projects not subject to security restrictions barring publication)
* Instrument manufacturers developing new instruments or applying their existing instruments to new fields
* Large corporate R&D labs developing new materials or processes or applying existing materials or processes to new fields. Once upon a time, there was a wide selection to choose from. But they have dwindled a lot due to the high expenses involved (and as many Megacorps have exited materials, device, and hardware manufacturing to pursue higher profit margins in software and services).