Materials Engineering - Career Outlook and Responsibilities - Research Paper Example

The research was conducted by going through written sources of information found within the Penn state university library system, the study of this engineering material leads to an occupation known as material engineering. Material engineers deal with the development, processing and testing of materials used to create a wide range of products. They employ the use of metals, ceramics, semiconductors, composites and plastics to create new materials that exhibit certain mechanical, electrical, chemical properties superior to the individual constituent materials, and they also come up with new ways of utilizing new materials.

The general roles covered by material engineers in all the occupations include: Monitoring performance of materials and evaluation of their deterioration, determining causes of product failure and developing necessary solutions, supervision of the work of other cadres of employees like technicians, designing and directing the processing and testing procedures , planning and evaluating new projects in consultation with other necessary personnel. In order to do this they study materials at an atomic level with the aid of computers to help in replicating the characteristics of the materials and their constituents, through this they are able to solve problems cutting across all engineering fields like: chemical, electrical, civil, nuclear and aerospace.

Material engineer may specialize in understanding specific types of materials like ceramics, composites, metallurgical materials, plastics or semiconductor materials. INTRODUCTION This research is based on the occupation of the various material engineers. The term material engineering stems from the word engineering materials, the in-depth understanding of materials used in engineering qualifies one to be called materials engineer. The information used in this research was gathered through written sources of information through the Penn state university library system, occupational handbook of the federal government of the United States of America and non commercial websites as indicated herein in the citations.

The content of the research majorly covers the study of engineering materials. Engineering materials refer to the materials that constitute part of structures, products, devices and mechanisms that are used daily to maintain or improve life and uplift the living standards of the people. Materials engineering refers to the process of the study of engineering materials, developing, processing and testing materials used to create a wide range of products. It also entails the creation of new materials and new ways of their application (Kenneth and Michael).

This research covers the career outlook of material engineers and their responsibilities in their respective fields, material engineering as a profession entails numerous carriers depending on the continuous and unending needs of the society. In every occupation discussed below in the major section covers the following; Description of the job and responsibilities, Education