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Materials scientist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Zippia Expert ,

Zippia Expert

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical materials scientist skills. We ranked the top skills for materials scientists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 9.5% of materials scientist resumes contained polymer as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a materials scientist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 materials scientist skills for your resume and career

1. Polymer

A polymer is a material containing large molecules made from several repeating subunits. There are two types of polymers, human-made like amber, wool, and hemp, and synthetic such as synthetic rubber, nylon, etc.

Here's how materials scientists use polymer:

Formulated own project concepts and executed technology projects regarding the research and development of novel polymer fiber reinforced composites.
Pioneered new methods for state-of-the-art fabrication and characterization of polymer matrix composites and ceramic-coated carbon-carbon structures.

2. SEM

Search Engine Marketing, SEM, is a set of digital marketing tools, techniques, and strategies that help optimize website and page visibility and reach potential website visitors through search engine result pages (SERPs). The aim is to appear more and better positioned among the search results when an Internet user searches for the brand keywords.

Here's how materials scientists use sem:

Designed layout and managed 1st NSC Materials Analysis lab which included TEM, SEM, and Auger services.
Analyzed elemental composition using SEM paired with EDS.

3. Materials Characterization

Here's how materials scientists use materials characterization:

Performed self-directed failure analysis and materials characterization.

4. Data Analysis

Here's how materials scientists use data analysis:

Conducted data analysis and submitted written reports.
Performed materials analytical research activities and data analysis, and documented concise technical reports with clear recommendations.

5. Technical Reports

Technical reports are a type of document that is used to indicate either the progress, result, or process of scientific research or the state of problems occurring within such research. A technical report may also showcase the report's overall conclusion and may also include recommendations. This kind of report does not require a peer review and isn't published officially but distributed within the organizations where it was formed.

Here's how materials scientists use technical reports:

Author of multiple U.S. patent applications and prepared technical reports
Authored technical reports for knowledge transfer to business and future researchers.

6. FTIR

Here's how materials scientists use ftir:

Determined composition of solid and liquid samples using FTIR.
Identify and report results of foreign material in beverages from consumer complaints or manufacturing using FTIR technology.

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7. Characterization Techniques

Here's how materials scientists use characterization techniques:

Utilized laboratory machinery and progressive characterization techniques to identify an unknown sample given.
Utilized state-of-the-art characterization techniques to identify the underlying causes of cell degradation.

8. R

R is a free software environment and a language used by programmers for statistical computing. The R programming language is famously used for data analysis by data scientists.

Here's how materials scientists use r:

Designed R-statistical algorithms and wrote R codes to develop numerical regression.
Design experiments and build predictive response surface models to optimize drug product quality attributes using SAS, R and JMP.

9. Additive Manufacturing

Here's how materials scientists use additive manufacturing:

Led pilot program which brought additive manufacturing techniques into operations at the research center.

10. DSC

DSC - Differential Scanning Calorimetry is a thermo-analytical technique used to measure how much energy a sample absorbs or releases while heating or cooling. Thus, DSC measures the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of a sample as a function of temperature or time.

Here's how materials scientists use dsc:

Synthesized novel materials for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSC) and battery applications using multiple synthesis techniques.
Characterized modified PLA on the DSC and Capillary Rheometer.

11. DOE

DOE, DOX, or design of experiments is a term used to refer to a part of applied statistics whose main focus is to conduct and observe controlled tests with the ultimate goal of understanding and explaining how information and results might vary under different hypotheses and circumstances and how such variables affect the results and tests. Design of experiments is used in marketing, politics, various sciences, and, of course, experiments.

Here's how materials scientists use doe:

Conduct calculations of different formulas for experimental compounds and DOE.
Served as expert reviewer, manager and point of contact for DOE SBIR proposal review process.

12. GMP

GMP stands for Good Manufacturing Practice. It is a system that ensures that all products like food, beverages, and medicinal drugs that are produced comply with the quality standards. It helps in minimizing the risks and hazards that cannot be eliminated after the testing of final products.

Here's how materials scientists use gmp:

Supported all GMP activities for manufacturing plant equipment release, including method development and validation, and cleaning verification.
Perform Environmental Monitoring to ensure manufacturing facility is in a GMP state to support drug substance manufacturing.

13. Product Development

Product development is the complete procedure of creating a product from concept until release of the final product. Product development has many stages after which a product is released into the market. Identifying the need, creating the opportunity, conceptualizing a product, and providing a solution, all are different stages of product development.

Here's how materials scientists use product development:

Worked on several product development projects with customers to bring new polymeric manufactured goods to market.
Collaborated with local and overseas production teams on new product development.

14. Laser

The laser is a device that stimulates atoms to produce light and then directs it into a narrow path producing an intense beam of light.

Here's how materials scientists use laser:

Proposed innovative cathode electron gun design to attach emitters to insulator component via laser welding, reducing production part count.
Studied the optical properties of several novel rare earth doped glasses for laser applications.

15. FDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services that regulates the production and sale of food, pharmaceutical products, medical equipment, and other consumer goods, as well as veterinary medicine. The FDA is now in charge of overseeing the manufacture of products like vaccines, allergy treatments, and beauty products.

Here's how materials scientists use fda:

Produced bottle that met FDA, Chemical compatibility and food contact usage.
Participated in several FDA audits and many internal audits.

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What skills help Materials Scientists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on materials scientist resumes?

Zippia Expert

They depend on the company and job they apply to

What soft skills should all materials scientists possess?

Zippia Expert

Working in a team and communication, in my opinion.

What hard/technical skills are most important for materials scientists?

Zippia Expert

I would guess it depends on the job our students are seeking. There are many industries they fit in, such as semiconductors and pharmaceuticals.

What materials scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Lisa Cuchara Ph.D.

Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Quinnipiac University

The first and foremost would be Critical Thinking. We live in a world where facts can be easily acquired, sometimes even by asking Siri/Alexa/ChatGPT/Google/etc. But critical thinking is timeless and priceless. I can ask anyone on the street what xyz is and they can look it up, but can they provide advice or interpret.

Also being a good steward towards science and being willing and able to communicate not just with peers as we are trained, but also with the public, the politicians, the board members. John Holdren*, stated that Scientists should be tithing at least 10 percent of their time to public service ... including activism. In the ever growing science denialism that is happening in our country being able to communicate science with the public is important. As Peter Hotaz states, "Anti-science propaganda is "killing Americans in unprecedented numbers,""

*Holdren is an American scientist who served as the senior advisor to President Barack Obama on science and technology issues through his roles as assistant to the president for science and technology, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and co-chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and a Research Professor in Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government

What type of skills will young materials scientists need?

Dennis Doverspike Ph.D.

Chief People Scientist, Doverspike Consulting/HR LItehouse

Seemingly a paradox, there will continue to be a need for very general, but highly fungible, skills and demand for too specialized skills, requiring advanced education. Coding, statistics, and data analysis related skills will remain a hot growth area. The aging of the baby boomers will create demand for medical and healthcare-related regions, especially nursing, nursing aides, and emergency services. Despite the automation of many people facing jobs, there will continue to be a demand for interpersonal and people skills, including various types of sales. The switch to remote work, due to COVID, will create a substantial future market to fill the leadership and managerial skills gap. In many areas of Technology and engineering, it is already challenging to find a combination of technical knowledge and people skills, and this demand will intensify.

Do you want to know more?

List of materials scientist skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a materials scientist resume and required skills for a materials scientist to have include:

Polymer
SEM
Materials Characterization
Data Analysis
Technical Reports
FTIR
Characterization Techniques
R
Additive Manufacturing
DSC
DOE
GMP
Product Development
Laser

FDA
TGA
HPLC
ASTM
Extrusion
Technical Support
Mechanical Properties
XRD
Sample Preparation
Analytical Methods
ISO
Sops
Scanning Electron Microscopy
GC

IP
Thin Films
CVD
Electrochemical
Failure Analysis
GLP
Raman
IR
AFM
DOD
Material Suppliers
EDS

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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