Designing your materials career_ A personal perspective

This talk will reflect on my journey, and the transitions and transformations from undergraduate degrees in physics and metallurgy onto graduate degrees in metallurgical engineering. Along the process, the geographical transitions involved three different cities and two different countries. Following graduation, my professional career commenced in a small startup company on the east coast, which was developing an innovative new technology for making ceramic- and metal-matrix composites. My projects included research and development of unique high temperature superconducting composites, ultrahigh temperature ceramic composites, metal matrix composites and coated graphite. My work in product development of these new materials involved a range of applications including aerospace, automotive, semiconductor biomedical, manufacturing and processing. My journey continued with a midsize manufacturing company that had developed innovative polymeric products and had a unique culture. As a global R&D technologist with leadership opportunities, this was an exciting time. The next transition was to the academic world, and to a new place. Throughout this journey, the joy of finding things out and learning new skills has remained a strong and continuing motivator.