Masters in Materials Science

With masters in Materials Science and Engineering, You can choose to specialize from wide range of subjects depending on your interest. We will discuss some of those specializations down below.

Fire Protection Engineering

Fire protection Engineering is the application of engineering principles with the sole aim of protecting people, property, and their environments from the harmful and destructive effects of fire and smoke. It is an interdisciplinary field of engineering which focuses on fire detection, suppression and mitigation.

Employment of fire protection engineers is projected to grow 9 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. As buildings, products, and processes continue to become more complex and new regulations are created, these engineers will be needed to reduce costs, save lives, and produce safe consumer products.

Mining Engineering

Mining Engineering is an engineering discipline that applies science and technology to the extraction of minerals from the Earth. The task of mining engineer is to design mines so that minerals could be removed safely and efficiently in order to use them in manufacturing and utilities.

Employment of mining engineers is projected to grow 8 percent  from 2016 to 2026. Employment growth in this sector is driven by the need of latest technology in order to extract minerals as much efficiently as possible in order to survive the stiff competition in the market.

Mineral and energy economics

Mineral and energy economics as a discipline combines tools from economics, finance and operations research specifically applied to minerals and energy. This specialization provides students with the skills necessary for understanding the complex interactions of markets and policy that influence the energy and mineral sector.

Under this specialization you can expect to find plenty of jobs in the field of private and public policy making. Energy sector is set to expand in low and middle income nations which will in turn boost the growth of employment in this sector.

Metallurgical Engineering

Metallurgical engineering is the study of physical and chemical behavior of metals. It involves the design, implementation, and improvement of processes that transform mineral resources and metals into useful products that improve the quality of our lives. Metallurgical engineering  has three branches:

• Physical Metallurgy
• Mineral Processing
• Chemical Metallurgy

Job outlook for people with specialization in this field stays bright because expansion is underway in developing nations and large numbers of experienced engineers are expected to retire in developed ones.

Ceramic Engineering

Ceramic engineering is the technology of creating objects from inorganic, non-metallic materials.
As ceramics are heat resistant, they find their use in wide range of crucial industries such as mining, aerospace, medicine, food and chemical industries. As a materials engineer, you may specialize in ceramic engineering and develop processes to convert ceramic materials into usable products like LCD screens, glass optical fibers or scintillators used in CT scans.

If you’re a critical thinker, a problem solver and an active listener, you’re well suited for a career in the field of ceramic engineering.

Composite Materials

A composite material is a combination of two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties. Composite materials finds its application in manufacturing many crucial items such as Kevlar vests, Parts of Aerospace industries, Parts of luxury cars, military hardware etc. Specialization in this field is a direct entry ticket for employment in Multi-billion dollar companies.

Mining and Earth Systems Engineering

Mining and earth systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of specialization covering subject areas such as mine planning and development, computer-aided mine design, rock mechanics, mine mechanization, mine evaluation and similar mining engineering topics. With this specialization you won’t just be able to work in traditional sectors like mining but also in construction sector which is today heavily dependent on techniques of underground excavation and tunneling.

Global Rank

Materials Engineer

Materials engineers are responsible for the research, specification, design and development of new materials in order to improve technologies and commodities. They are expected to have a good understanding of the properties and behaviors of different substances, from raw material to finished products. Median pay of $92,390 per year makes the job of Materials Engineer highly desirable.

Materials Scientist

Materials scientists study and analyze various natural and synthetic materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers etc at the atomic and molecular level. They research on ways to improve existing materials or develop new ones as per the requirements of a particular product or applications. Overall employment of materials engineers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2016 to 2026.

Process Engineer

Process Engineers use their understanding of the fundamental principles and laws of nature in order to transform raw materials and energy into products that are useful to society. They must create and develop product specifications, develop equipment requirements, implement manufacturing strategies, and monitor all of the processes they develop in order to ensure maximum productivity. With automation, job of process engineers becomes even more crucial to keep the manufacturing industry running.

Metallurgical Engineer

Metallurgical engineers develop ways of extracting metals from ores and then converting them into useful products. They work primarily in heavy metal industries such as iron and steel industries. Industries that make products using metals such as automobiles and industrial equipments also employ Metallurgical engineers. Ongoing industrialisation of developing nations promises job growth in this field in the coming decades.

Metallurgist

Metallurgists are materials scientists who hold expertise in metals such as iron, copper and aluminum. Metallurgists work on structural level to create metals with desirable properties. They also investigate and examine the performance of metals such as iron, aluminum, nickel and copper and use them to produce a range of useful products. Aerospace and semiconductor industries are some of the biggest job creators in this field.

Apart from them, there are many job profiles available for people who hold degree of masters in Materials Science and Engineering.

Job Prospects

Graduates of Materials Science and Engineering are in great demand to design new materials which are used both in traditional industries, such as aerospace manufacturing, and in industries focused on new scientific products.  Employment of materials engineers is projected to grow 2 percent  over the next ten years, slower than the average for all occupations. Materials engineers will be needed to design new materials for use both in traditional industries, such as aerospace manufacturing, and in industries focused on new medical or scientific products. However, most materials engineers work in manufacturing industries, many of which are expected to have declines or little change in employment.
Demand for materials engineers is expected to come from growing fields, such as biomedical engineering and three-dimensional printing. For example, materials engineers' expertise is crucial in helping biomedical engineers develop new materials for medical implants.
Research and development firms will increasingly employ materials engineers as they explore new uses for materials technology in consumer products, industrial processes, and medicine. Companies that hire Materials Science and Engineering graduates include GlobalFoundries, Apple, Intel, IBM, Western Digital, Ford, Boeing, Exxon, Dupont, Dow etc.