Materials Scientist
Research and develop metals, polymers, ceramics and composites for new products.
Analyze substances and develop new compounds, materials and products.
Chemists test what substances are made of, develop new compounds and improve how products such as drugs, fuels and plastics are manufactured. They run reactions and measure results with instruments such as mass spectrometers and chromatographs, then write up findings and safety data. A bachelor's degree in chemistry is the usual entry; research positions need a master's or PhD.
Take these courses in order, from beginner to mid-level.
The shared base every STEM career uses: working with numbers and units, testing ideas fairly, handling data and code, and explaining your work.
How chemists, physicists and materials scientists work: the science and math core, units and estimation, the research path, and how to read and record science.
The everyday computer, internet, safety and AI skills every tech and STEM job assumes you already have.
Write clear emails and documents, present and run meetings, work well on teams, and navigate résumés, interviews and networking.
The practical math behind tech and STEM work: numbers, algebra, functions, geometry, logic and counting, with short code exercises.
Clean tables, correct formulas, lookups, pivot tables and honest charts in Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc or Excel.
Learn to program in Python from zero: values, decisions, loops, functions, data structures, files, modules and a small data project.
Describe data, reason with probability, and draw honest conclusions from samples, with short fill-in-the-blank Python exercises.
Recognise lab hazards, read GHS labels and Safety Data Sheets, choose PPE, and understand the training and records that keep labs safe.
Atoms, bonding, gases, balanced equations, moles, solutions, pH, buffers, equilibrium and an organic and biochemistry preview, with short fill-in-the-blank Python calculators.
Load, clean, reshape and explore real data with Python and pandas, then turn the results into clear findings.
The calculus and linear algebra behind science, engineering and machine learning: derivatives, integrals, vectors, matrices, gradients and eigenvalues, with Python exercises.
The physics behind engineering and the physical sciences: motion, forces, energy, momentum, torque, circuits, induction, waves and heat, with Python exercises and a home pendulum lab.
Use NumPy arrays, plots, fitting, numerical methods, units and instrument data files to do real engineering and science calculations in Python.
Model uncertainty with random variables and distributions, then estimate, test and update beliefs from data, with Python simulations you run in the browser.
The laws of thermodynamics, steam tables, power and refrigeration cycles, fluid statics, Bernoulli, pipe losses, heat transfer, R-values and heat exchangers, with Python exercises.
How the structure of metals, ceramics, polymers and composites sets their properties: crystal structure, defects and diffusion, mechanical, thermal and electrical properties, failure, phase diagrams, heat treatment and materials selection.
Core bench skills and instruments: balances, glassware, pipetting, buffers, centrifuges, chromatography, spectrophotometry, calibration, microscopy and aseptic technique.
Keep trustworthy lab records, query LIMS data, run QC with Westgard rules, build calibration curves, estimate uncertainty, and work within SOPs, CAPA and accreditation.
Fit and check multiple regression and GLMs, design randomised, blocked and factorial experiments, and turn analyses into clear, reproducible reports for the researchers you work with.
Calculate results from titrations and gravimetry, compare methods statistically, read chromatograms and spectra, validate methods to ICH Q2, plan sampling, and work in GMP, GLP, EPA and ISO 17025 labs.
Research and develop metals, polymers, ceramics and composites for new products.
Study matter, energy and forces through experiments, theory and simulation.
Test blood, tissue and body fluids to help doctors diagnose patients.