Most fields in science and engineering are concerned with materials, such as plastics or metals, in one way or another, but only materials engineers are experts in the connections between a material's atomic structure and its physical properties as well as the ways changing that structure can affect a material's performance.
Materials science engineers are at the forefront of developing and testing new materials that can stand up to extreme environments, such as high heat or high pressure, or that are lighter or stronger than their predecessors. These new materials may be used in diverse industries such as health care, manufacturing or energy.
Our students use state-of-the-art characterization tools such as electron microscopes, diffractormeters, and spectrometers to study these materials, and they gain both classroom knowledge and research experience as they work closely with our accomplished faculty.
Materials science engineers graduate with a broad base of knowledge, covering areas from extracting minerals and metals from ore to the development and fabrication of pure metals, alloys and other materials, development of materials for nuclear and fossil fuel reactors, development of advanced electronic and space-related materials, synthesis of novel catalysts to convert waste to energy, development of new high efficiency solar cells, development of new materials for energy storage (such as batteries), synthesis of novel materials to clean the environment, biomaterials and biomedical implants, This skill set is particularly useful for students who want to pursue a career in industry from aerospace to electronics, and the health sciences field.