Careers in advanced high temperature manufacturing research and industries

About a fifth of carbon dioxide emissions in the US are generated by industrial processes. These industrial processes are essential to produce materials which are so common to us: steel, aluminum, plastics, glass, cement. All of these processes to produce and recycle the mentioned materials need high temperatures, which are associated with tremendous carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, customers and societies also demand ever more sophisticated materials such as superalloys. Change in customer demand and the need to increase sustainability of high temperature processes and materials provides many challenges and opportunities for research and development in industry and academia.

In this contribution we present several opportunities offered to students and young professionals pursuing a career in high temperature materials research in academia and industry. We provide examples from the perspective of research on heat treatment of materials, high temperature ceramics and refractories, foundry industries but also additive manufacturing, which are strong research areas at the University of Connecticut. Furthermore, we provide an overview of possibilities of international collaboration and exchange. We will also touch on the topics of gender equality and the opportunities of underrepresented groups in the mentioned industries.