Materials Characterisation Scientist
Materials Characterisation Scientists and chemists work in a wide variety of chemistry materials characterisation business environments including the chemical manufacturing, chemistry, aerospace, engineering, renewable energy, chemical, information technology, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Materials Characterisation Scientists are involved in the measurement and analysis of a particular material's structure and properties, a chemical process known as materials characterisation. Materials characterisation techniques used by materials characterisation scientists are constantly evolving thanks to chemistry technologies such as electron microscopes and mass spectrometers which enable ever more detailed analysis of the chemical structure and properties of chemical materials down to a molecular level. Materials Characterisation Scientists will use the results from materials characterization to alter and improve materials for specific chemistry purposes or to develop new chemistry materials. Within the biomedical industry, new chemical materials for implants and other medical devices which do not have a negative impact on human cell tissues are being developed by materials characterisation scientists and analytical chemists.
Within the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology industries Materials Characterisation Scientists will typically be engaged in characterising API and drug products alongside other chemistry and analytical chemistry techniques. A Materials Characterisation Scientist will be primarily chemistry lab based utilising a range of physical and chemical materials characterisation techniques, which could include light microscopy, particle size analysis, powder flow, spectroscopy and thermal techniques. Accurate recording and reporting of large sets of chemical data resulting from the Materials Characterisation Scientist’s characterization work is always required.
Qualifications and Experience Required to become a Materials Characterisation Scientists
• Science based degree (usually chemistry)
• Experience with performing, designing and conducting chemical laboratory experiments either in industry or at university
• Desire to undertake hands-on chemistry laboratory work and work and the pharmaceutical industry in general.
• Familiarity with physical property materials characterization techniques e.g. laser diffraction particle size, specific surface area
• Use and interpretation of thermal methods including differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis
• Application of materials characterisation assessment methods to predict product performance
• Ability to interpret chemistry results and use this to suggest further materials characterisation where applicable.
• Time management skills, including the ability to plan, prioritise and organise own work
• Written communication skills (technical)
• Ability to work with others collaboratively in a team setting
• Enthusiastic, positive, proactive, flexible attitude and able to take the initiative