Ask Doc Rheo: Industries for Rheologists

Dear Doc Rheo:
 I would like to know more about rheology jobs in other areas besides polymers.
--A Student

Dear Student:
When I worked in sales and applications for a rheometer company, I looked at samples from adhesive, asphalt, building materials, cosmetics, food, ink, paint, pharmaceutical, polymer, and paper coatings industries.  This is by no means an exhaustive list; as materials and supplies have gotten more complicated and expensive, companies want precise methods of characterization.  If you would like to find out more industries that employ rheologists, do the following...

1. Take a look at job web sites like Monster or Careerbuilder.  My monthly job search shows results from all sorts of companies.  (Besides, it's never too early to start thinking about your job hunt.)
2. Take a look around your lab and note the instruments that are there.  Go to the instrument company web site and find the list of shows the company attends.  You will identify where the instrument companies have customers and prospects.

The good news about jobs in these other industries is that the top majors for rheologists are Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, and Polymer Science.


Respectively submitted,
Doc Rheo