"It's exciting and challenging work, but it may be difficult for some
folks to understand just what it is that we engineers do," says Srinath Viswanathan.
"Materials engineering is somewhat different from other engineering disciplines.
We're involved in the initial stages of the product rather than the final
stages, a period when it may be harder to visualize the end state or use of
the product."
Viswanathan is on the research staff at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in
Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He encourages prospective students to browse the Internet
in search of inspiration. "Research the web pages of technical societies.
They have a wealth of information about our discipline. Better yet, seek out
professors in the materials engineering department of your local university
to find out what they do.
"Originally, I kind of defaulted into an engineering program. I credit
one of my professors in the third year of a bachelor's five-year program
for inspiring me to take it seriously enough to want to go on to graduate
school."
Viswanathan's experience isn't unusual. In fact, a survey
sponsored by the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society shows that networking
with mentors and other role models may be the most powerful guiding force
for potential engineers.
As chairperson of the Synthesis, Control and Analysis of Materials Processing
Committee for the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, Viswanathan spends
additional time promoting knowledge of the science and engineering of materials
processing.
It was a summer internship with an engineering design and fabrication company
that made an indelible impression with Bob Stevens. "They had some corrosion
problems, and as a chemical engineering undergraduate, I had some of the chemical
background to help out. There was a welding engineer there who took an interest
in me, and was willing to mentor me."
Stevens now manages upwards of 100 people as a group leader at Los Alamos
National Laboratory in New Mexico.
Carol Handwerker, chief of the metallurgy division of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology, shares her perspective: "A solid background in
applied mathematics opened more doors for me than more qualitative information
and skills I acquired. I wish I knew more math!"
Handwerker has a broad scholastic background -- art history from Wellesley
College, materials science and engineering from MIT, and a PhD in ceramics
engineering.
Handwerker fills a mix of administrative and engineering functions. She'll
periodically need to check and respond to her e-mail, answer phone calls,
work on technical papers, chair meetings and assess and prioritize her next
day's schedule.
Materials engineer Jacob Kleiman stresses: "You must love what you plan
to do. I fell in love with the variety of subjects I'd encounter. It's
a great feeling to see the practical outcome of the effort I put into solving
a material problem or researching new materials. Sometimes you see immediate
practical applications. Find a subject area that is exciting to you, and you'll
find that the rest is easier."
Kleiman has worked in a wide range of functions -- common for engineers
who may change jobs at least three or four times throughout their career.
He's worked in a large corporate setting, taught as an adjunct professor
and done private consulting. "A hired engineer's normal load is upward
of 42 hours a week!" says Kleiman.